How to Make a Spy Gadget for a Kid That Works
Kids are fascinated with spies and spy equipment. They desire to be part of the spy world of both fictional characters from movies and real historical spies such as Harriet Tubman. These individuals help solve mysteries or assist people in need. Every spy needs a secret way to communicate, and you can create your own secret writing gadget to help your child solve mysteries within your home.
Things You'll Need
- Heavy paper
- Binder
- Three-hole punch
- Paint pens or markers
- Lemon or lemon juice
- Shallow bowl
- Brush
Instructions
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Select approximately ten sheets of heavy paper such as construction paper. Choose a light color like white or light tan to ensure your secret writing will be visible at the time you wish it to be. Use a three-hole punch to make appropriate holes in the left edge of each sheet of paper and place in an old binder. Decorate the cover of your spy binder and label it, "Secret Writing Gadget," using paint pens or markers.
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2
Cut a lemon in half and place it in a juicer. Squeeze the juice of each half into a shallow bowl. If you prefer, purchase store bought lemon juice and pour approximately half of the bottle into the dish. Wash your hands to clean off any lemon juice that may have splashed during the juicing process.
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Remove one sheet of paper from your binder and place it on your kitchen counter.
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Dip a thin brush in your lemon juice and write your secret message. As the juice completely dries, your writing will be invisible to the naked eye. Write observation notes from spy missions or secret messages to members of your spy team.
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Fold your secret message in half and hide it in a safe place. Designate a specific location to leave notes to members of your spy team.
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Check your secret location each day to see if you have any new spy messages. If so, use a heat source to decode your message. Place your paper over a small candle, but avoid getting too close to the flame. If you prefer, use a heat gun or hair dryer in a sweeping motion over the words to make your lemon juice message appear. Always ask for parent help during this step.
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Tips & Warnings
Use this activity at a spy party for kids.
Avoid touching your eyes after handling the lemon juice.
Monitor children as they decode their secret message and ensure they never complete this step alone.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Zedcor Wholly Owned/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
