Chapter 2: A New Nation "Spies!"

Introduction
Students have read about the significant battles of the American Revolution. In this lesson, students will examine the world of spying during the war—in particular the development of secret codes in order to conceal vital information from the enemy.

Lesson Description
Students will read about the various methods of information concealment and answer the accompanying questions. They will then work together to create their own secret message in the form of a Mask Letter.

Instructional Objectives
1. Students will be able to answer questions about various information concealment techniques used during the Revolutionary War.
2. Students will use this knowledge to create their own secret message.

Student Web Activity Answers
1. letters, symbols, or numbers that are used in place of real words
2. The invisible message usually was written between the lines of a harmless letter; the message then was deciphered by holding the letter up over a flame or treating it with a chemical.
3. The full letter, viewed straight on, conveyed one message, while the letter within it, viewed through a mask or grill, delivered a different message.
4. Accept works that display an understanding of a Mask Letter.

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