Spy Lab Classroom Transformation

This is by far one of my favorite room transformations I've ever done! My students demonstrated mastery of over 10 reading, writing, and math standards. They were even reading a high school level text! BUT before we get to the niddy griddy of the content standards that were covered, let's first talk about....HOW THE HECK DID YOU DO THIS TO YOU ROOM?

It seriously only took me a hour after school. THAT'S IT! All I had to do is hang up was white string and black paper. So easy! Remember, room transformations are not about you spending an arm and a leg. Its about changing your room in a way that creates an atmosphere for your students. I'll let you in on a little secret....kids are super easy to impress!

 ........and black paper! You can decide how crazy you want to get! You can create walls of black paper OR you can cover up all of the posters/objects that will glow because of the black light! Don't forget your windows either! THE ROOM MUST BE DARK! I used two high powered black lights! Each cost $35. Yes that is expensive, but I do plan on using them for multiple transformations and for years to come. My teammate purchased less expensive ones. I will link both below! The bigger your room is, the more lights you will need! I recommend at least two be used!

expensive lights & cheap lights

Next, you will need to have 5 vanilla folders. You will then paste on the "confidential" signs on each file and place the biographies, code, blank profiles, and loose leaf paper inside! Be sure to label the corner of each file so students know where they are going once they were cleared! I placed a cross, check, star, square, or circle on each student's hand in highlighter. When students entered, they will see the code! The code leads them to their group's file. Be sure each table has enough highlighters and small flashlights!

Before students entered the spy lab, they had to be cleared. I download this free app! It makes super cool noises and gets the job done!

Task one takes the longest! Remember, I teach 6th grade so I was able to ask a little more from my students. Although my students completed three large tasks, you can easily cut down the amount based on your grade level.

Earlier that week, my students were learning about non-fiction text structures. Determining text structure of a text isn't the most fun thing in the world, so I knew I had to find a different way to spice it up. All week I kept telling my students that they will have a "pop" quiz and that they needed to pay close attention to text clues. The day before, I read a chapter out of  The Dark Games titled Invisible Ink. I had to really play this up because they had no idea why I pulled this random book out of my library. It's a quick read and is full of super cool information about how spies shared intelligence.

One thing to keep in mind if you plan on using this text IT IS RIGOROUS! The text is meant for high school students (9th or 10th graders). I would not recommend this text for a 4th grade classroom. It worked well for me because most of my students have developed the skills to comprehend most text no matter the level. You can easily find other biographies about the spies I used so that it is more appropriate for your classroom. Listed below are the spy biographies that my students analyzed.

• Virgina Hall
• Juan Pujol
• Elizabeth Van Lew
• Rose O'Neale Greenhow
• Robert Hanssen 

Each group had enough copies for each student. This will help keep EVERY student accountable. Here are the steps to complete task one

1. Read Biography! This will take each group at least 30 minutes!
2. Determine the text structure by finding text clues
3. Once group determines the correct text structure, it is time to crack the code!

This is where most groups become frustrated and I loved it! I mean, you can't be a secret agent and now be expected to crack a code! Remember how I read the chapter on invisible ink? Well, I was able to tell who was actually paying attention. Students did not realize that the simple white sheet of paper that was in their file actually contained a code! I also placed a "bl" in the corner to give them a clue. Once students noticed the secret code it was time for them to crack it! Each code started with the phrase "All clues lead to..." and ended with the biography's text structure (description, cause and effect..etc). To create a code, I had each phrase either be the letter before or the letter after! Here is an example.

zkk bktdr kdzc sn   OR   bmm dmvfr mfbe up 

(add text structure at the end! Be sure to follow the same pattern all the way through!)

Typically, you have to give the some clues to help! I do let each group struggle for a good 10 minutes before providing clues! I did have 2 groups out of the 5 actually solve the code without my help so it is possible!

Once each group completed task one, I added a little surprise!

It was time to spice things up. Students were working hard, but I couldn't let this mission be that easy. Que the government break in! Luckily I already had a disco ball attached to my classroom speaker. I slowly walked over to my computer, stopped the current "spy music" and turned on the blinking red light. All of the sudden, this sound went over the speaker.

I created a PPT that stated someone was trying to break in. Obviously I had to play this part up. I did not break character the entire time! I would not respond unless they called me Agent Shadow. I wore sunglasses the entire time and crawled across the floor. THE KIDS LOVED IT!!!

Once I started the PowerPoint, students were informed that if they wanted the vault to be shut, they'd have to solve the math problem before time was up! It was a multi-step problem that was solved in minute. I WAS IMPRESSED! 

Once the vault was shut, each group resume back to their normal tasks. I linked the timer I used below!

Task three and four go by quickly, but are the most important steps! This is where students are showing mastery of academic standards. Based on each biography's text structure, students were asked to place information inside a graphic organizer. This helps each group decide what information is most important and will set them up for success in task four. Be sure you are looking closely and coach groups when needed!

Last but not least, task four! The National Security Agency needs each spy profile to be recreated. Each group is required to record the most important information on the provided sheet. This requires them to go back into the text and use their already create graphic organizer to help determine what is needed! Once you approve of each profile, students have then completed the spy lab!

Here are the reading standards covered in this spy lab:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.1

Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.3

Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.7

Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.10

By the end of the year, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

I adapted all of my documents from Elizabeth Ruff! Here is the link to her documents. 

Please do not hesitate to emailed me or comment below with any questions!