Before we start our novel on Wednesday with an interactive read aloud of the first chapter - which is action packed with Nazis, fake identities, and an attempted murder - the kids are going to have to complete a secret CIA spy Mission.
Did you know that the CIA has a top-secret museum devoted to all of the incredible spies and impressive gadgets that they've used?
Yeah, I didn't know it either!
My first thought was, "ROAD TRIP!" But, as I read further, I found out that although this is a federal museum, it's located so deep inside of Langley that no one can get in to visit it without a security clearance.
Thankfully, we live in the age of technology, and there is a selection of the artifacts online for viewing. And who needs to view these objects more than budding super spies in my 7th grade class?
I'm so pumped to send the kids on their super secret spy mission tomorrow.
What's that? You want to join, too?
PERFECT.
See, I created this website that contains links to the CIA museum. My super-spies in training have to follow the links, read the captions, and answer the questions so they can decode the secret message left behind by their rogue trainer. The fate of the free world rests in their hands!!! Because they're rookie spies, the agency has given them this clue tracker to help them manage their clues.
After checking out some sweet CIA spy artifacts and unraveling the clue about where the rogue agent is headed next, we'll get to read a pretty great article (here's the original) that highlights some impressive - and shocking - inventions that CIA spies actually used. (I don't know about you, but I always assumed that Q in the Bond films was inventing some pretty outlandish items.....but it turns out these real items are just as impossible to imagine!)
All of this has left me jonesin' for a classic James Bond movie marathon.....and I've already figured out a way to use a clip from Goldeneye in class! #winning
So, while things are changing rapidly for our students and teachers and families, be sure that you're Keeping Calm and Carrying On.....and taking some time out to hone your super spy skills!