Codebreaker Badge

I felt somewhat overqualified for this badge as I have been running a Cipher and Codebreaking Club at my local secondary school for the last 5 years. I therefore felt justified in backdating most of the clauses. The clauses I chose were:

: Learn Morse code. Trying to using https://morse.withgoogle.com/learn/

4: Research particular ciphers.  I have regularly used classic substitution, Caesar cipher, substitution (keyword and others), Vigenere cipher, and Playfair Cipher, and ran a masterclass on the Enigma code where students made working models using Pringles tubes! I researched the remaining ciphers in the list too.

5: Learn three practical ways to hide a message. I teach how to use many ciphers and codes, such as Pigpen Cipher, Railfence Cipher, and Substitution Ciphers.

6: Make a code wheel. I have made several Caesar Cipher code wheels over the years.

8: Learn about the history of codebreaking.  This comes up every year in the National Cipher Challenge run by University of Southampton, and as a club we look at the history of every new cipher that we come across. I have also visited Bletchley Park. I have also read several books on the subject as well as listening to blogs, radio programmes and watching TV programmes!

9: Plan your own escape room. I set puzzles for my students to hone their skills on before competitions which are cross-curricula. I don't plan escape rooms as such though. One example is below where they have to solve puzzles about local history and is aimed at new members. I am considering broadening this to a bigger challenge at a later date.

Caesar Shift:

Rpun Johyslz aol Mpyza dhz ptwypzvulk ha Jhypziyvvrl Jhzasl if Vspcly Jyvtdlss pu 1647,kbypun aol Lunspzo Jpcps Dhy. Ol haaltwalk av lzjhwl zlclyhs aptlz, huk nva zabjr pu aol dpukvd vu vul haaltwa! Ol dhz ayplk huk leljbalk pu Svukvu adv flhyz shaly

Railfence Cipher

TSDPLUGVONWMNBEEIERIGULENDTHGHUMACROAALDDNNHHECSMEFONAMEGLANTHRASITNLARHILNWSOUADRNTEITRAEAIHAYOALPOLLVNHROVSTNRGLRYHSICUEOEPOORPEJLAAGRTAEOPELUETAFELRTNYOATOCALSIKNADEBROERPARYLAIISULEMMROIEUTEISRDOTTOATEEDEBTEYEAAPRIHCIRTNTEPIGEIIEATELNDTARIREMNTREROESURRDENMSUEOFLGIOCSPFTIANHEST

Keyword Substitution Cipher: Keyword hint - world famous guitarist and singer.

sar vlpgd ihjltq bqgr li vbxas irqsbuhg erxhk bk 1968 bk xldqabgg, sark sllf mghnr bk vllsslk sar ilgglvbkx yrhp, erilpr sar 1970 rurks hs hislk dlvk; atxr hssrkdhknr arpr grd sl hk hns li mhpgbhjrks prqspbnsbkx sar ktjerp li mrlmgr hgglvrd hs sarqr rurksq vbsalts h qmrnbhg gbnrknr iplj sar glnhg nltknbg.