- STEM
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Families
Are you ready to put your super spy skills to the test? CBBC Secret Agent Ben Shires is setting your top-secret Family Mission from a hidden location…
Mission Briefing
Mission Briefing
Family Mission Briefing Instructions
Can you crack the top-secret code in Agent Shires’ message?
STNEGA MRET FLAH REBOTCO NUF A EVAH
Top-secret clue!
Struggling to solve the code? Why not try looking at things in reverse…
Have you solved it?
Excellent work agents! Now that you’ve cracked the code it’s time to dispatch the message. You need to do this in the most inconspicuous way possible by hiding it in your home for the other special agents in your family to find. Once they’ve cracked the code you can send top-secret messages to each other!
Think carefully about how you do this, as top-secret messages can be intercepted at any time. Perhaps one of the other special agents in your family is secretly a DOUBLE agent trying to find your message and foil your mission!
Agents can use all manner of materials for their top-secret messages from a tiny rolled up piece of paper wrapped around and hidden in a hairpin to even using toilet paper, the more unassuming the better!
Don’t forget to tell us how you get on or even better show us your secret messages on IWM’s Facebook and Twitter (we promise we won’t reveal the top-secret message to anyone!) Good luck agents!
Need some inspiration on how to hide your secret message? Take a look at how fellow agents from the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in the Second World War hid their messages below.
Suitcase
Suitcase
Looks like a plain old suitcase right? Wrong!
Hidden inside this unassuming suitcase a stereo transmitter and receiver radio set used by British SOE and intelligence agents during the Second World War.
These sets were extremely popular with SOE operatives because of its lightweight, lack of bulk and reliability. This particular set was used by French secret agent Roger Flouriot, codename ‘Maltais’.
Silk escape Map
Silk escape Map
Wow that is one stylish scarf… and a handy escape map too!
Silk maps were often used by SOE agents as they could be easily folded and easy to carry.
This silk map belonged to SOE agent Michael Lis who was one of the SOE’s most successful agents!
Pencil
Pencil
Look sharp now! This ordinary looking pencil has a serious point to it.
Hidden inside this unassuming pencil is actually a compass!
Over two million compasses were distributed as navigation aids for undercover evaders and escapers during the Second World War.
