Morse Code for Kids

If you’re looking for some fun, hands-on ways to teach the kids about Morse Code, some history, some decoding and some fun we’ve got you covered! Learning Morse Code can be a fun and educational activity for kids. By teaching children the basics of Morse Code, you can help them develop problem-solving skills, enhance their understanding of history, and even explore new ways of communication.

Morse Code Activities for Kids

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What is Morse Code?

Morse Code is a form of communication – it is transmitted using a series of dots and dashes, which represent letters and numbers. With Morse Code, each letter or number is translated into it’s own sequence of short signals (dots) and long signals (dashes). These signals can be sent with sound, light, physical touch or written on paper.

The Morse in Morse code refers to Samuel Morse, an American inventor and painter who co-developed the telegraph system and the code.

Where was Morse Code First Used?

Morse Code has been used throughout history, primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries for long-distance communication. It was a really important form of communicating during wars, including World War I and World War II, when radio operators sent coded messages to relay crucial information. These messages were sent with telegraphs and were morse code.

These activities would be a great addition to a Remembrance Day lesson.

Even today, Morse Code has is used in areas like aviation and emergency situations, where the universal signal for distress, SOS, is still commonly used today.

How Does Morse Code Work?

Each letter of the alphabet and each number has a specific pattern of dots and dashes. For example:
A is represented as “dot-dash”
B is “dash-dot-dot-dot”
SOS, the most famous Morse Code message, is “dot-dot-dot dash-dash-dash dot-dot-dot”
Like this

Morse Code is flexible and can be transmitted through various means, including sound (like beeps or taps), light (like flashes), and even physical movements (such as knocking).

Morse Code Activity Ideas for Kids

Since the best way to learn in my mind is always hands on – let’s try it out. With all of these, I suggest the kids have a piece of paper and a marker to write down the code and then they can go translate it with this chart.

To do these activities it helps to have a printed out Morse Code Chart. We have one available for STEAM Powered Family Newsletter subscribers. You can unlock it here by entering your email address.

Flashlight Secret Messages

One of the most exciting ways to introduce kids to Morse Code is by using a flashlight to send secret messages. This activity is perfect for playing in a dimly lit room or outdoors at night.

What do you need?

• Flashlight,
• Morse Code Chart for each child,
• Marker,
• A piece of paper or erasable white board.

Play: Have each child pair up with a friend. One child will use the flashlight to send a message, while the other child writes it down and uses the chart to decipher the message. It can be helpful for the child with the flashlight to write down their message in morse code before starting. Have them start with simple one word messages at first and then work up to a sentence.

This activity not only teaches Morse Code but also demonstrates how it was historically used to send messages across distances when voice communication wasn’t possible.

Morse Code Bracelet

I think all kids love making bracelets. In the past we made Binary Code Bracelets, and you can also make Morse Code Bracelets with your kids. In this craft activity, children can create a personalized Morse Code bracelet that spells out their name or their initials or a secret word.

What do you need?

• String or elastic band,
• Beads either do one color for dots, another for dashes, or dash and dot beads, where one type of bead is round and the other oval.
• A Morse Code Chart for each child,
• Marker
• A piece of paper or erasable white board.

Have the kids start by writing their names or chosen words in morse code using the Morse Code chart. Then simply have kids string beads on the bracelet to represent each letter in the word.

So, for example if you wanted the bracelet to say LOVE you would want:

DOT-DASH-DOT-DOT-DASH-DASH-DASH-DOT-DOT-DOT-DASH-DOT

When they’re finished, the kids can wear their bracelets or give them as a gift. This activity combines creativity and learning, helping children reinforce their understanding of Morse Code while making something they can wear or gift.

Morse Code Translation Challenge

Test how well kids can translate between regular text and Morse Code with a translation challenge.

This is a great classroom or group activity that encourages kids to think quickly and practice decoding Morse Code.

What do I need? Paper and pencils, Morse Code Chart

What do I do? Split your group into teams of two and give them a list of words. Challenge the kids to translate the list into Morse Code as quickly as they can. Then reverse it, have the kids translate a list of words in Morse Code back to English.

Morse Code Messages through Knocking

Working with the teacher next door – or kids on two sides of a wall and have them send messages through a series of short or long knocks on the wall or door. Have the kids write down the message and convert it to code – see if they can translate the message.

Morse Code on Popsicle Sticks

Have the kids copy the letters on the front of popsicle sticks and the code on the back so they can make messages and quiz themselves on the letters so they can learn them!

Learning Morse Code is a great way for kids to gain hands on, real world understanding of communication, history, and problem-solving. All of these activities make learning Morse Code fun and interactive. As kids explore how to encode and decode messages, they’ll get experience with a piece of history while also developing critical thinking and teamwork skills. It also helps build foundational understanding for how coding works.

Extension Activities

After learning Morse Code, you can jump into learning Binary Code either with a fun Binary Code Game or Binary Code Hands On Activities.