SPY SKILLS - LEVEL 2
Yeah, G'day spy school students. I'm Mr Jelliman and I'm your Spy Skills teacher. Make sure you take notes in your spy school notebooks. I noticed not all of you did last time. Yes, you know who I'm talking to.
Level 2: Lesson One
PASSING MESSAGES: THE BRUSH PASS
Many famous secret agents have used this kind of pass so you need to practice to get it right. A brush pass is where one agent passes a secret message to another agent in public without being seen. In Level 1 we covered choosing a good place to pass on a message. In Level 2 we will cover the technique of actually passing a message physically between two agents. To do the Brush Pass, remember the following things:
Homework: Practice the Brush Pass with a spy school friend.
Many famous secret agents have used this kind of pass so you need to practice to get it right. A brush pass is where one agent passes a secret message to another agent in public without being seen. In Level 1 we covered choosing a good place to pass on a message. In Level 2 we will cover the technique of actually passing a message physically between two agents. To do the Brush Pass, remember the following things:
- It's a good idea to wear a coat with big pockets to store the message/package in.
- When you walk past the other spy, make sure you walk past them on the side of you that has the message so you don't have to pass it across yourself. For example, if the other spy is coming towards you and you have the message in your right hand, make sure they pass you on your right hand side.
- As you pass, without looking at them, slip the message/package into their hand and keep on walking. Don't look back.
- It pays to tell the other spy what you look like before you do the pass and they need to tell you what they look like in case they're in disguise. Otherwise, you might end up handing the message to the wrong spy!
- Remember, good spies don't run into each other. They don't want to get hurt!
Homework: Practice the Brush Pass with a spy school friend.
Level 2: Lesson Two
PASSING MESSAGES: CAR TOSS/BICYCLE TOSS
The Car Toss
To pass a message via car toss the spy must walk past a car with an open window and toss the package or note into the car. The spy inside the car will be able to read the note or open the package. To do this successfully, remember these rules:
This is very similar to the car toss but please remember the following things:
Homework: Practice the car toss and bicycle toss with a spy school friend.
The Car Toss
To pass a message via car toss the spy must walk past a car with an open window and toss the package or note into the car. The spy inside the car will be able to read the note or open the package. To do this successfully, remember these rules:
- The car needs to be parked on the side of a road.
- Stay on the side walk (footpath/pavement)
- Go close to the car before you toss the message but not too close that you look suspicious
- Don't stand there trying to stuff the package through the car window like you would at a post box. This looks majorly suspicious. If the window isn't open far enough, keep walking. The spy inside will wind down the window further and wait for you to come back
- You should be able to casually toss the package into the window, like you would an apple core into a rubbish bin/trash can. You shouldn't need to turn your head to look at the car window. Keeping your head looking ahead of you, walk at a steady pace and out of your peripheral vision (what you can see to the side without moving your head) keep the window in sight. As you pass, just toss the package in. Note: NEVER throw rubbish/trash into people's or strangers' cars.
- Don't look back at the car after you have thrown the package, unless you look through a secret mirror you have hidden on you. Don't ask the spy if they got it either as you're walking away. This will make you look suspicious.
This is very similar to the car toss but please remember the following things:
- Make sure the bike has a basket on the front of it or on the back. Otherwise, this won't work properly.
- The other spy needs be stationary (that is, sitting still and not going anywhere) or moving. Don't try this when the bicycle is moving. It's too dangerous.
- Never run out onto the road.
Homework: Practice the car toss and bicycle toss with a spy school friend.
Level 2: Lesson Three
DROPS: Finding a Good Drop
A drop is also known as a dead letter box. This is where spies leave messages for other spies. For this to work, both spies need to know the location of the drop. Before you make the drop, make sure both of you know where the drop is, or leave a sign to show them where the drop is in a certain area. Here are some tips about how to choose a good drop:
Homework: Find appropriate places to hide messages at your house e.g. under a garden ornament or gnome, tucked into the trampoline. Hide your message and send a coded message to a spy friend, telling them where the messages are. See if your spy friend can find the messages without drawing attention to his or herself. Get your spy friend to hide messages for you to find too.
A drop is also known as a dead letter box. This is where spies leave messages for other spies. For this to work, both spies need to know the location of the drop. Before you make the drop, make sure both of you know where the drop is, or leave a sign to show them where the drop is in a certain area. Here are some tips about how to choose a good drop:
- A drop can be in many different places e.g. inside a hollow log or hollow tree, under a plant, behind a park bench, under a tree root, behind a retaining wall, under a garden ornament e.g. a gnome or statue, under shrubbery. Remember to pick a place where the message won't be seen.
- A good drop is out of sight from enemy spies. When you drop a message off, enemy spies mustn't be able to see you. For example, if you are putting a message in a hollow tree and there is a house nearby, and an enemy agent is in the house, looking out the window, they will see you hiding the message and will be able to come and get the message as soon as you've gone.
- Make sure you are well covered when you hide your message e.g. make sure there are plenty of bushes or trees around to hide you.
- Also make sure you can see if someone is coming from all directions. That way, if they do come, you can keep on walking like nothing's happened, since you've had plenty warning. Use your sense of hearing too, to hear if someone is coming.
- It may be a good idea to take a spy-friend with you and they can alert you if anyone is coming.
- Don't hide it right out in the open or everyone will see you.
- If the drop is at the playground, maybe hide it inside the slide. Just make sure other kids aren't around when you hide it. You may also want to bury it in the sandpit or inside a sandcastle. Just make sure you put a little flag or shell or something on top of it so your spy friend knows which sandcastle to break down. Otherwise, another child may get very upset.
- If the drop is at the shop, or mall, don't hide it in things for sale, as a customer may buy the product and they will get your note too! Maybe hide it somewhere in the food court or in the bathroom.
Homework: Find appropriate places to hide messages at your house e.g. under a garden ornament or gnome, tucked into the trampoline. Hide your message and send a coded message to a spy friend, telling them where the messages are. See if your spy friend can find the messages without drawing attention to his or herself. Get your spy friend to hide messages for you to find too.