SPY SKILLS LEVEL 3
G'day spy school students. Mr Jelliman here. I'm your Spy Skills Level 3 teacher. Make sure you write your notes in your spy school notebook. Most of you did your homework last time, so that's good.
Level 3: Lesson One
PASSING MESSAGES: Changing Items
Another way to pass messages is to change items with another spy. Items could be anything such as a newspaper (remember, it's always a good idea to carry one, preferably one with a hole in it). Inside the item would be a secret message. The idea is to give the item to a spy friend, without making anyone suspicious. For example, here's one way how you would give a newspaper with a coded message to a friend at the park:
Homework: Practice changing items with a spy school friend. See if you can come up with any more item changing ideas.
Another way to pass messages is to change items with another spy. Items could be anything such as a newspaper (remember, it's always a good idea to carry one, preferably one with a hole in it). Inside the item would be a secret message. The idea is to give the item to a spy friend, without making anyone suspicious. For example, here's one way how you would give a newspaper with a coded message to a friend at the park:
- One spy sits on the park bench reading their newspaper with the coded message.
- After a while they get up, fold the newspaper, leave it on the park bench and leave
- The other spy comes along and picks up the newspaper and then leaves
- Magazines - same as with newspapers but instead use magazines.
- Books - do this one at the library. Both spies carry books. Bump into the other spy and drop both of your books to the ground. Pick up the other spy's book with the secret message inside. Apologize as if you're sorry for crashing into them and then leave carrying the book with the secret message. However, make sure you check the book out before you leave, otherwise the sensors will go off, exposing you to everyone in the library.
- Hats - this could happen in the bathroom at a party or in a mall or somewhere where they have hooks for hats. Simply leave your hat on the bench or on the hook and go to do something else. Another spy will leave their hat on the bench or hook too. When you come back, take the other spy's hat. Then leave. Inside will be the secret message.
- Coats - same as hats but leave the coat on the hook instead.
- Umbrella - leave the umbrella in the umbrella stand or next to the other spy's umbrella and when you leave take the other spy's umbrella
Homework: Practice changing items with a spy school friend. See if you can come up with any more item changing ideas.
Level 3: Lesson Two
SURVEILLANCE
One important skill spies need to learn is surveillance. Surveillance is just a big word for spying or watching an enemy spy to see if they're up to no good. This is hard for young spies as it can get boring when the enemy agents aren't doing anything interesting and there is a tendency for spies to fall asleep on the job. Here, however, are a few tips you will need when carrying out surveillance on enemy agents:
One important skill spies need to learn is surveillance. Surveillance is just a big word for spying or watching an enemy spy to see if they're up to no good. This is hard for young spies as it can get boring when the enemy agents aren't doing anything interesting and there is a tendency for spies to fall asleep on the job. Here, however, are a few tips you will need when carrying out surveillance on enemy agents:
- Take a pair of binoculars with you. You can see a lot more from further away.
- It's good to be quite far away, otherwise the enemy agent will see you.
- Microphone bugs - these can be quite useful for listening in on enemy agent conversations. They have to be placed in the enemy agents' headquarters first before they will work though. You can buy microphone bugs from the toy shop or you can buy a pack from the electronics shop and make one yourself. Make sure you get an adult to help you. Then you listen in on the enemy conversations through your radio or listening device.
- If you don't have the luxury of a microphone bug there are other listening devices you can use. However, these ones, such as spy ears, will require you to be right outside the room where the enemy agents are.
- If you are doing surveillance for a long time, try not to fall asleep. Take a spy friend with you and take turns doing surveillance.
- Take a bottle of water or some snacks with you if you are going to be surveilling for a while.
Level 3: Lesson Three
SPYING: Describing Someone
In 'The Real Spy's Guide to becoming a spy' by Peter Earnest and Suzanne Harper, they talk about describing someone in detail. A spy must be able to describe an enemy agent in detail so that other spies can find them, especially if they are moving fast. Here are some things they suggest you look for:
Homework: Get a friend to dress up and look at them for about thirty seconds. (They need to know you are doing this. Otherwise, they might get mad if you're just staring at them!). Then don't look at them and write down what they look like in your notebook under the above categories. Don't look back at them until the end to check how much you remembered. Then you dress up for your friend and they can have a turn describing you. This skill is good for when a person may have to give a description of a lost child or a criminal to the police.
In 'The Real Spy's Guide to becoming a spy' by Peter Earnest and Suzanne Harper, they talk about describing someone in detail. A spy must be able to describe an enemy agent in detail so that other spies can find them, especially if they are moving fast. Here are some things they suggest you look for:
- Male or Female
- Age - See if you can guess how old they are
- Hair - What color is their hair? Long or short hair? Curly, wavy or straight?
- Eyes - What color are their eyes? Size?
- Height - Are they tall, short, medium height, taller or shorter than you? If you're really good, you can estimate their height in feet
- Weight - Are they heavy or light?
- Skin Color - What color skin do they have?
- Clothing - What are they wearing? Trousers, shirts, dresses, skirts?Shoes? Coats? Hats?
- Props - what are they carrying? Umbrella? Newspaper? Magazine?
Homework: Get a friend to dress up and look at them for about thirty seconds. (They need to know you are doing this. Otherwise, they might get mad if you're just staring at them!). Then don't look at them and write down what they look like in your notebook under the above categories. Don't look back at them until the end to check how much you remembered. Then you dress up for your friend and they can have a turn describing you. This skill is good for when a person may have to give a description of a lost child or a criminal to the police.