The Enigma Project

Your chance to have a genuine Enigma machine and a code breaking workshop in your school.

It has always struck me that secret codes are a fantastic way of getting children excited about mathematics and history. Children can see the point of classroom mathematics when it helps them to make and break secret messages. Not only does code breaking develop skills in data handling, problem solving and logical thinking, it also gives mathematics
a historical and social context.

I have visited schools all over the country and have rarely seen a classroom not enthralled by true stories of intrigue and espionage. It helps that I have a genuine Second World War Enigma Cipher machine that I can demonstrate to students. Seeing a real piece of history suddenly makes mathematics exciting.

Although my new writing project has forced me to cut back on my lecturing, I am still keen to encourage codes and codebreaking as a technique for engaging children in Maths, History and Science.

The MMP has taken over responsibility for the Enigma Project. You can find out more by visiting http://mmp.maths.org/projects/enigma.html