Update: July 2023, I’ve also uploaded a sheet for teachers and parents to give to their kids of sample codes to break. They are simple but get progressively harder, download it here: Caeser-Cipher-Code-Breaking-Cryptography-Examples.pdf
UPDATED: 24th July 2021, I updated the design to fix the inner/outer ring label, to tweak the sizing and to add paper tabs to the outer ring that can hold the inner ring for those that don’t have a ping or clip to put through the middle.
My daughter recently made up her own cipher at school, inventing 26 characters of her own to write secret messages but she found the complex symbols tiring to write after a while.
We started talking about different ways people have encoded messages and the obvious example for her was the simple Caesar cipher.
As a Saturday project I promised we’d make some Caesar Cipher wheels and so for anyone else looking to do the same, I though I’d upload the design.
On a side not, for anyone interested in the origins of cryptography through to modern encryption techniques, I highly recommend [easyazon_link keywords=”The Code Book by Simon Singh” locale=”US” tag=”bobmckay-20″]The Code Book by Simon Singh[/easyazon_link], really enjoyed it as it was informative but easy to read.
Click here to download the PDF
I recommend using the PDF for printing but you can see the design here:
I like the design you have here, but as an FYI the text for “Cipher Text” and “Plain Text” are backwards. The plain text is on the inside wheel, while the cipher text is on the outside wheel. It even notes this on your design. I’d be happy to update it if you could send me the original file. Either way, thanks for putting this together.
Thanks Marc, appreciate you spotting the labelling. I’ve updated the PDF to fix that and a few other tweaks!
Unable to download PDF
Hi Sammie,
Thanks for commenting – the link works fine for me, what problem are you having? Are you getting an error?
Thank you. My Scouts love doing “Spy Night” with Ciphers and Codes!
Hi Gareth,
That’s great!! Really appreciate the comment, makes doing these posts worthwhile!
Cheers
Bob
This is such a great cipher wheel. As a teacher who does a unit on Encryption and Code Breaking for my gifted 5th graders I really appreciate this resource! Thanks so much!
Hey Tiffany,
I’m glad you liked it! Only tip I’d give is cut the edge lines a little further in to the letters so the inner wheel fits comfortably!
I also have a sheet of challenges made for Caesar Cipher, shall I send them to you?
Yes, I would love them!
Hi Tiffany, download link is now at the top of the page – enjoy!
I’d love this link too. I’m a pediatric therapist and my middle school boys working on handwriting are super into writing with this code.
Hi Breeana, its at the top of the page 🙂
Hi Bob,
Can we include your pdf in with our Bermuda Treasure Hunt word search series of ebooks? Naturally giving you full credit.
Hi Philip, absolutely! If the ebooks are free, let me know and I’ll post a link to them here too!
Thank you so much! I loved the messages you posted for students to decrypt. I am teaching a fun cryptography class for kids ages 10-12 and this activity helped me prep for a lesson I’m sure they’ll love. Really appreciate it and will be following you from now on!
Hey Amanda, glad this was useful!!
Hello! I tried to use your comment feature to ask permission to share your cipher in a guide I’m creating but the submit feature doesn’t appear to be working. Could you send me an email so I can share more information?
Hi Kathleen,
Not sure what could be wrong with the comment feature (this comment has appeared?) – I’ll fire you over an email now!
Cheers
Bob
Thanks for the email and your help. It’s not the comment feature that I was having issues with. It’s the form in your contact tab at the top. it didn’t appear to work for me.
Thanks mate, really appreciate it.
No worries at all Prav, hope its useful!
Excellent! I’ll use it with 7th and 8th grade this next week. Thanks so much.
Hey Ron,
Great stuff – glad its been useful!
Bob
Hi, I attempted to send a request asking to use your cipher wheel in a curriculum activity I am building, however, I am unable to post an inquiry via your contact tab.
Hi Alexia, I’ll check out the contact form but in the meantime, feel free to use the cipher wheel!
Thank you so much! I will make sure we cite you properly!
Hi Bob
Thanks for the wheel.
I have two improvements:
1. If the diameter of the inner disc is a few millimeter less it is easier to turn. On the image you can see I have cut the flaps a little more to make it turn easier.
2. Make a handle to hold on to turn the inner disc. See image.
https://w0.dk/~chlor/tmp/IMG_20240403_181523487.jpg
Thank you so much! I’m getting my first day of class ready for my 11th graders—they’re not too old to find this cool!
This Caesar Cipher Wheel is a fantastic resource! I can’t wait to use it for some fun coding games with my kids. Thanks, Bob, for sharing this printable PDF!
Thanks for the kind words and glad it helps!
Thank you! We’re learning about ww2 Navajo code talkers and what a code is with our 10 year olds group. This is an awesome resource. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Erin,
Thanks for the comments! I love hearing its being used for teaching – hope they had fun!
Thank-you very much for this resource! My students use their cipher wheel to encode some of their weekly spelling words, and they are enjoying it very much!
Hey Jolie, great thanks!