This week in History, Mr Wilson’s 4th Class stepped back in time to one of the most fascinating aspects of World War II — the top-secret world of codebreaking!
As part of their continuing WWII module, the class explored the incredible true story of the Enigma Machine — a complex cipher device used by Germany, and famously cracked by Allied codebreakers including Alan Turing. The girls were amazed to learn how vital mathematics, logic, and persistence were in helping to shorten the war and save millions of lives.
But the learning didn’t stop there! Inspired by this historical innovation, the class became young codebreakers themselves. Using their knowledge of maths and patterns, they created simplified cipher machines and developed their own secret codes. The classroom buzzed with excitement as they passed hidden messages to one another, challenging classmates to decipher their mysterious communications.
This hands-on history lesson brought together elements of STEM, literacy, and critical thinking, and gave the girls a deeper appreciation of how intelligence and innovation shaped the course of history.
Well done, codebreakers! 🕵️♀️💬🔐
