Introduce the topic
by discussing Share the five Treasure
Traps in Chapter 2. Finally, read Chapter 1 to the students and ask them to take The
Thomas Beale Treasure-Tracker Test (p. 21; it can be reproduced).
Writing/ research activities:
One good activity is teaching students to construct ciphers, based on the Key Word Cipher
(see pp. 143-150). Students can also be asked to collect
and bury their own treasure (pp. 150-154)
and write a description of what they are burying and why. Or they can be taught to
draw a treasure map. Additionally, ask the public librarian for a
photocopy of an old local newspaper. Go through the newspaper with students discussing the
types of articles and advertisements that provide some clues for potential local treasure
sites (see pp. 94-95).
