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Created by Special Agent P. Roth

The Top Secret Attaché case is intended to teach young people about history,
geography, problem solving, and puzzles. Solving riddles and puzzles begins as soon as
families check out their attaché. To access the material within they must solve a riddle to
get the combination for the lock on the attaché (though the answer will be on the back if
they get stuck). The riddle is as follows:

So, you think you’re the kind of

Person who can use your wits against
Insidious figures looking to commit
Espionage and sabotage? Then you
Should already know this lock’s combination.
Answer: SPIES

Inside families will find books, movies, and audiobooks about famous spies from
history, fun stories about kid spies, mysteries, and how-to books. They will also find a
webliography directing them towards online games and educational resources. Finally,
there are instructions on how to build your own periscope, how to write and reveal
invisible notes, a fun card game for friends and family, and instructions on how to write
coded messages.
The goal is that through the subject of spies, kids will gain an appreciation for
history, current events, geography, and solving mysteries and puzzles.

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Flier

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Please return the attaché case to HQ (the library) with the

following items inside.

• Books, DVDs, and Audio Devices

o George Washington, o The Secret Soldier (book)
Spymaster (book) o Spy Kids (DVD)
o The Real Spy’s Guide to o Vordak the
Becoming a Spy (book) Incomprehensible…
o Spy School (book) (book)
o One Dead Spy (graphic o File Under: 13 Suspicious
novel) Incidents (book)
o Redcoats and Petticoats o Liar & Spy (preloaded
(picture book) audiobook)

• Padlock • Scissors
• Duct tape • Watercolor paints and brush
• Hot glue gun • Card deck

Please keep the following:

• Two small mirrors
• White crayon
• The Classified Book List
• The Data Hack Web List
• Instructions for the Pigpen Code
• Rules for Spy Ring Roll Up
• Instructions on how to make a spy-scope
• Instructions for invisible ink

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Reading and learning are

essential skills for every spy.
We’ve filled your attaché with
important documents which will
teach you everything you need
to know about how to be a spy,
famous spies that came before
you, top secret recordings and
videos.
Do not let them fall into the
wrong hands!

Allen, T. Harness, C (illustrator). (2007). George Washington, Spymaster: How the

Americans Outspied the British and Won the Revolutionary War.
Washington, DC: National Geographic Children’s Books. 192 pages
The story of George Washington’s use of spies during the American Revolution. Readers
will learn about the revolutionaries’ invisible ink and other spycraft from 1776, as well as
Washington’s team of spies, the Culper Ring.

Earnest, P. Harper, S. (2009). The Real Spy’s Guide to Becoming a Spy.

Learn how to be a spy from former CIA agent Peter Earnest. Readers learn about the
various kinds of jobs available in the world of espionage, and what skills they’ll need,
such as learning a foreign language. Includes quizzes, games, and puzzles.

Gibbs, S. (2012). Spy School. New York, NY: Simon Shuster Books for Young Readers.
304 pages
Awkward, clumsy Ben Ripley’s gets accepted to a magnet school for math wizzes like
himself. But a mistake has been made. Ben’s new school isn’t for klutzy math kids, it’s a
secret front for a CIA school. Despite some hilarious mishaps, Ben might become a
decent spy.

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Hale, N. (2012). One Dead Spy. New York, NY: Abrams Books. 128 pages
Part one of a series about American History, Nathan Hale is being lead to the gallows,
trying to figure out what his last words should be. He and his hangman are pulled into
the Big Book of American History and Hale tells his story about his role in the American
Revolution.

Kirkpatrick, K. Himler, R (illustrator). (1999). Red Coats and Petticoats. New York, NY:
Holiday House. 32 pages
Young Thomas’s father is arrested by British soldiers and soon after they lose their
home. During the Revolutionary War, Thomas’s mother uses their clothes line to send
coded messages to Washington’s army. At war’s end, they are reunited with their father.

McGovern, A. Goodwin, H (illustrator). (1990). The Secret Soldier: The Story of

Deborah Sampson. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. 64 pages.
The story of Deborah Sampson who wanted to live a life of adventure. Pretending to be a
man, Sampson joins the army to fight in the American Revolution.

Rodriguez, R. (2001). Spy Kids [film]. Dimension Films. 88 minutes.

When their parents go missing, Carmen and Juni learn that their mom and dad were
members of the Organization of Super Spies. It’s up to Carmen and Juni to rescue their
parents from the evil Fegan Floop and prevent him from using a super computer to take
control of the world’s leaders.

Seegert, S. (2010). Vordak the Incomprehensible: How to Grow Up and Rule the
World. New York, NY: Egmont. 208 pages
Sometimes an agent decides they want to turn to the dark side and join the bad guys.
This guide provides tips on how to be a supervillain, as well as quizzes, funny comics
and games!

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Snicket, L. (2014). File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents. New York, NY: Little, Brown
and Company. 272 pages
Mysterious deeds are taking place in the town of Stain’d-by-the-Sea. Paintings
mysteriously fall off walls, a dog is kidnapped, a ghost is wrecking bedrooms. A young
Lemony Snicket is on the case to solve 13 suspicious incidents happening all around
town. Young agents can test their metal against Snicket and turn to the back of the book
to learn if they’ve successfully solved each mystery.

Stead, R. Bernstein, J (narrator). (2012). Liar & Spy [audiobook]. New York, NY:
Wendy Lamb Books. 4 hrs 39min
When his family moves to a new apartment, Georges sees a sign that says, “Spy club
meeting today.” There he meets Safer, a boy who promises to teach Georges to be a spy.
But whatever Safer’s plans are for Georges are a mystery which could get both of them in
serious trouble. All the while Georges deals with missing his old home and being picked
on at school.

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A good agent knows where to find quality intelligence online. Here are five excellent web
resources for a young spy in training.

CIA World Factbook

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
All the essential data an agent needs to learn about the world. This government resource
provides fascinating introductions and detailed data about every country on Earth.
Includes maps and flags for each nation and a history of the CIA.

DogoNews
https://www.dogonews.com/
A good agent is up to date on current events. This website offers the latest headlines and
news stories in a kid-friendly format. And when a good agent isn’t hard at work
protecting our country’s secrets, they can use the book and movie reviews to select
quality entertainment.

Duolingo
https://www.duolingo.com/
Every good operative needs to master at least one foreign language. Duolingo uses fun
games and simple, immersive lessons to teach Spanish, German, French, Klingon, and
many other important world languages.

Library of Congress Map Collection

https://www.loc.gov/maps/collections/
A good agents is going to spend their life traveling the world; it’s essential they learn
something about the places they’ll see. The Library of Congress’s map collection
provides information and digital copies of fascinating historic maps from America and
around the world.

Spy Museum’s KidSpy Zone

https://www.spymuseum.org/education-programs/kids-
families/kidspy-zone/
Puzzles from spy-master pigeon Sir Veillance, as well as
games for kids. Includes a summer reading list filled with
awesome, spy-themed suggestions.

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The Pigpen Code!

This code gets its name from the
crisscross pattern used to create
it.
Each letter of the code is made
up of the borders around each
letter.

So, the letter A will be , the

letter B will be and the

letter C will be . J will be

, S will be , and Z will be

Can you use what you just learned to crack

this code?

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A team of spies is called a ring, and when a spy ring gets captured it’s called getting
“rolled up.” Play this game with seven or more people. Some of you will be spies and
some of you will not. The goal is to capture the spies before they eliminate innocent
players from the game.

Characters:
Moderator – The moderator doesn’t play. They deal the cards to the players who will
be playing and make sure no one peaks during the Night.
FBI Agent – The player who is dealt the QUEEN. They will try to capture spies during
the night.
Spies – Anyone dealt a HEART. For a game with 7-8 players, there should be 2 spies.
Add a spy for every 2 additional players.
Bystanders – Everyone else. They will be dealt any cards not a HEART or QUEEN.

Rules:
Moderator deals one card to every player. There should be enough hearts in the deck for
the number of spies in the game and one queen for the FBI agent. No one should reveal
what card they have.

Night
Moderator tells everyone it’s night and time for bed. All the players should close their
eyes.
Moderator tells the spies to wake up. The spies silently decide on a player they want
eliminated and point to that person. Once they’ve chosen their victim, they close their
eyes and return to sleep.
Moderator tells the FBI Agent to wake up. The FBI agent points to someone they suspect
is a spy. If they are correct, the spy is eliminated from the game. If they are incorrect, the
agent knows this person is a bystander.

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Day
Moderator tells everyone who was eliminated by the spies during the night.
Everyone will discuss who they think is a spy. After accusations and discussions,
everyone votes on who they think is a spy. If a majority votes a player guilty, that player
is eliminated from the game and reveals if they were a spy or not.
The night cycle repeats with the spies choosing a new victim and the agent trying to find
another spy.

The game will end when:

1: The agent captures all the spies.
or
2: The spies eliminate the agent.
or
3: Everyone votes that the agent is a spy and eliminates them.

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MacGyver: verb.
Make or repair (an object) in an
improvised or inventive way,
making use of whatever items are at
hand.
-Oxford English Dictionary

Agents cannot perform this mission without the direct help and
supervision of Operational Control (adult supervision).

Required Materials

From the Attaché Case:

• Duct Tape • Scissors
• Hot glue gun • 2 small mirrors

From Your Kitchen

• An empty foil or plastic wrap container

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Instructions:
1: Have Operational Control (an adult) glue the mirrors inside the box, facing each other
at about a 45° angle.

2: Tape the box shut and cut a hole facing the mirror on each side.
3: Cover the outside of the box in duct tape to hold it all together.

Now you can look around corners without being seen!

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Invisible Messages!
There are all sorts of ways to send and reveal secret messages using invisible ink. This
technique is simple and fun!

Required Materials
From the Attaché Case:
• White crayon • Watercolor set
From Your Home
• White paper

Instructions:
Use the white crayon to write your secret message or to draw a map or picture.
Use the watercolors to paint over the paper. The crayon will not absorb the paint,
revealing your secret message!

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Supply List and Budget

Item Vendor Cost
Vestil Case 1814 18” x 14” x 6” Amazon $34.39
Wordlock PL-004-BK 5-Dial Combination Padlock Amazon $8.52
White Crayola Crayons (12 pack) Crayola.com $2.99
George Washington, Spymaster Amazon $7.95
The Real Spy’s Guide to Becoming a Spy Amazon $12.25
Spy School Amazon $7.99
One Dead Spy Amazon $12.59
Redcoats and Petticoats Barnes & Noble $17.95
The Secret Soldier… Amazon $6.99
Spy Kids (DVD) Amazon $7.99
Vordak the Incomprehensible… Barnes & Noble $8.25
File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents Amazon $7.98
Liar & Spy (preloaded audiobook) Playaway $49.99
Duck Tape brand duct tape 20 yards Target $2.93
Singer hot glue gun Target $6.89
Up&Up Glue Sticks 30 ct Target $2.99
Up&Up Scissors 2 ct Target $2.29
Watercolors 5 Below $1.00
Playing Cards 5 Below $1.00
Square Mirrors 2” x 2” 4 ct Joann Fabrics $0.69
Up&Up Printer Paper 750 ct Target $5.49

$209.11

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