Pssst…Math is Cool! Pass it on! by Neena McBaer · Published February 13, 2016 · Updated February 14, 2016 Crazy 8’s kids became spies in training as they learned to use numbers and patterns to crack secret codes. The master spy awaits the math club. Are you here to learn to be a spy? Let’s get started! First we learned about a simple code called Pigpen code. Using one of our spy’s names, we coded it into pigpen. Now that everyone knows what to do, let’s try it ourselves. We can decode a secret message. We can even create our own secret message in code. The master spy obvserves a trainee. Everyone gets the hang of this code. Some of our spies create really tough messages. A new code…wait, some of the information is missing. First we have to use number patterns to figure out the missing information. Then we get started on our new code. Wait…all our words are different. We need teamwork to figure this out. Aha! It’s a mystery trail! We’ve found our second set of clues. Back to decoding the new message! Wow…we got that fast! Our code cracking team makes sense of the message. Very tricky! We find the last set of clues behind the clock! These spies are really observant! Back to decoding! Hmmm. this message is a tough one. We really need to think! We got it! We found a secret package. Magnifying glasses! Just what a spy needs… to become a super observant spy! One last job. Can you create a code for a number using letters? This telephone code is cool! This spy tests his code on the master spy! We all created a cool coded number. Spy training was super cool math! Watch out, world! We are number-expert, mystery-cracking spies!