Mini Minds Hub · Free printable

Secret Message Spy Pack: Free Printable Game for Year 4

  • ForYear 4
  • StageKey Stage 2
  • CostFree
  • FormatPrintable PDF
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Secret Message Spy Pack is a free printable code game for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9), in Key Stage 2. Children use a number code to turn rows of numbers into secret words. They then write a secret word of their own in numbers. It is screen free, needs only a pencil, and suits one to four players.

It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to the children and keep page 2 for the grown up. Black and white printing works well.

What is on the sheet

Children meet rows of numbers, each one a coded word waiting to be read. They write the alphabet with numbers underneath, then use it as a key to swap each number for a letter. Once the secret words are cracked, they turn detective in reverse and write a secret word of their own in numbers, ready for someone else to decode.

  • 3 1 20
  • 4 15 7
  • 2 15 15 11
  • 19 21 14
  • 6 9 19 8
  • Now write your own secret word in numbers

Build your own spy kit

Code key strip

Write the alphabet in a long row on a strip of paper and put the matching numbers underneath. Keep it beside the sheet so every letter and number can be found quickly.

Spy name

Pick a spy name and write it in number code on a small card. Ask a friend or family member to decode it and say who the agent is.

Secret envelope

Fold a sheet of plain paper into an envelope. Seal a coded message inside and write 'Top Secret' on the front. Whoever opens it has to decode what is inside.

Message trail

Write short coded messages on separate scraps of paper. Put them in order so that each one leads the reader to the next.

Why codes make good practice

A code is a set of rules for changing a message so that only people who know the rules can read it. In a number code, each letter stands for a number. Changing a message into code is called encoding. Reading it back is called decoding. Children need to follow the rule carefully, one step at a time, which makes this a good exercise in accuracy.

Codes also give reading and spelling a purpose. To write a coded word, a child must know how it is spelt and break it into single letters. To read one, they must put the letters back together and see if a real word appears. The mystery makes careful work feel like play, and a fun reason to check answers builds good habits.

Fun facts about codes

  • A cipher is a way of changing letters so that a message is hidden.
  • Julius Caesar, a Roman leader, is said to have used a code that moved letters along the alphabet.
  • Braille is a code of raised dots that people read by touch.
  • Morse code sends letters as short and long signals, using sound or light.
  • Anyone who knows the key to a code can read the message, which is why keys are kept secret.

Skills and curriculum link

  • Decoding
  • Encoding
  • Spelling
  • Alphabet order
  • Problem solving
  • Checking work

What children will be able to do

  • I can use a number code to decode a message.
  • I can write my own coded message.
  • I can check my code by decoding it again.

Ideas for helping children crack the code

  • Start with the keyBefore any decoding, make sure the alphabet and its numbers are written out clearly. A tidy key makes every later step easier.
  • One letter at a timeAsk children to find each number in the key and write its letter above it. Reading the whole word only comes after every letter is filled in.
  • Look for real wordsIf a decoded word makes no sense, something is wrong. Ask children to check each letter again, as one slip is often the cause.
  • Check by decoding againWhen children write their own code, they can swap it with someone else or turn it back into letters themselves to see if the word is the same.

Key words

  • CodeA set of rules that changes a message so it is hard to read without the key.
  • EncodeTo change a message into code.
  • DecodeTo change a coded message back into words you can read.
  • KeyA list that shows what each letter or number stands for.
  • CipherA kind of code that swaps letters for other letters, numbers or symbols.
  • MessageInformation written down or spoken to pass from one person to another.

How to use it

  1. Print both pages. Page 1 is for the children. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
  2. Read the instructions together. Ask the children to write the alphabet with numbers underneath so they have a key to use.
  3. Decode the first secret word together, then let the children carry on by themselves. Talk about how they found each letter.
  4. Ask the children to write their own secret word in numbers. Swap with a partner, or hide it from the grown up, and decode it.
  5. Check against page 2. Come back to the sheet another day, because repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.

Help, stretch and game ideas

If it feels too hard

Make a code key strip first. Write the alphabet in a row with its numbers underneath, and slide a finger along it to find each letter. Decode one letter at a time, and ask a grown up to check the first word before carrying on.

To stretch confident children

Write a whole secret sentence for a friend to decode. Plan the message first, then turn each word into numbers. Leave a clear gap between words so the reader knows where each one ends. Check it by decoding it yourself.

Make it a game

Hide coded messages around the house for others to find. Each message can lead to the next, ending with a small prize or a final secret word. Players use their key strip to decode each clue and move on.

Talk about it

  • How does the code change letters into numbers?
  • What helped you find each letter quickly?
  • How can you check you decoded a word correctly?
  • Why might a spy want a secret code?
  • What would make a code harder to crack?
  • Who would you send your secret word to, and why?

Take it off the page

Spy mission at home

Hide a coded message somewhere in the house. The clue should point to the next hiding place. Children decode each note to follow the trail.

Secret diary page

Write a short diary entry using the number code for a few special words. Keep the key in a safe place so only trusted readers can decode it.

Code swap

Each player writes a secret word in numbers on a card. Swap cards, decode and say the word aloud. Swap back to check each answer.

Who it is for

Parents

Sit with your child for the first secret word, then let them lead. Ask them to explain how they found each letter. Keep sessions short and stop while it is still fun.

Teachers

Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.

Home educators

Print it as part of a wider plan alongside reading, spelling and puzzles. Children can write codes for brothers and sisters, so the same sheet works for more than one learner.

Where this fits in learning

Before this sheet, children are comfortable with alphabet order and can match one thing to another using a simple list or key. Reading numbers carefully and spelling familiar words also helps.

After this, children can try codes with different rules, such as shifting letters along the alphabet, or codes that use symbols. They can also write longer coded messages and explain to others how their code works.

Check it worked

Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.

  1. How does the code change letters into numbers?
  2. How can you check you decoded it correctly?
  3. Why might a spy want a secret code?

Questions parents and teachers ask

What age is Secret Message Spy Pack for?

It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9), in Key Stage 2. Older children can use it as a quick warm up, and younger ones may enjoy it with a grown up helping.

What will children practise?

They practise using a simple number code to decode and write messages. Along the way they use alphabet order, spelling, careful checking and problem solving, all with only paper and a pencil.

What if it feels too hard?

Make a code key strip first. Write the alphabet in a row with its numbers underneath, so each letter can be found easily. Decode one letter at a time, and work through the first word together before the child carries on alone.

Is it free?

Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or to revisit the game on another day.

Can teachers use it in class?

Yes. It works as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has help and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.

Is this a screen free activity?

Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Children write by hand and talk through their thinking with someone else.

Do I need to print in colour?

No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Print both pages, give page 1 to the children and keep page 2, which has the notes and answers, for the grown up.

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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.

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