From Caesar Shifts to Kid-Enigma. The CS Unplugged-Like Path in the MuMa Science Centre
摘要
We present a proposal for a learning path for children to teach them cryptography during visits to the MuMa Science Centre. As the goal of the Math Museum (MuMa) for which the track is being developed is to make youngsters enthusiastic about mathematics and computer science, we have decided to focus on cryptography. In our past experience this proved to be very effective – children love secrets and spy games. We will prepare a set of CS-unplugged-like activities which will cover the broad range from the simplest, historical ciphers up to the Enigma cipher. In contrast to previously described CS-unplugged activities, we will focus on methods of breaking those ciphers, not on merely using them. Breaking of Enigma deserves attention thanks both to clever use of pure mathematics, but also due to its historical significance in ending WWII. In this paper we will present ideas for activities to teach cryptanalysis of the simplest ciphers, starting from Caesar and Vigenère ciphers, as well as the design for a simple, paper teaching aid that simulates the simplified Enigma to show its properties. We share pertinent feedback we have received after several presentations we had already made to small groups of children and adults.