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Decode a signal

Ages 8–10 · Est. 35–50 minutes · 2–6 players

Fog-Bell Signal

The training cards give pairs of meanings in mixed order; shared signals reveal the missing legend. Work together to configure the fog-bell panel.

6 clues, gradual hints and a complete paper finish. Choose a reader, a recorder and a checker, then work through the mission together.

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See every player clue ↓

Fog-Bell Signal: Each signal means one different word. Use the training examples to recover the legend. Words marked "any order" may be swapped; compare shared signals across cards. Decode the received message from left to right. The desk uses this message when handling the fog-bell panel.

Your mission

Work together to configure the fog-bell panel.

Welcome to the paper lighthouse. The training cards give pairs of meanings in mixed order; shared signals reveal the missing legend. Your team has the original records on the table. First recover five pieces of information, then use the final plan to configure the fog-bell panel. Keep every result beside its badge so another teammate can check your reasoning.

How your team will think

Infer a one-to-one legend and apply recovered instructions to a control panel.

Write each recovered instruction beside its signal. Keep the legend and the panel’s starting settings visible as you apply the instructions and check the final configuration.

Set up in one room

  1. Print the six player sheets and two record sheets for each team. Keep answers and hints with the host.
  2. Lay out Unlabelled legend, Bell log, the remaining clue sheets and the final plan. All task records are printed inside the sheets; no extra prop is needed.
  3. After each clue, pass roles one seat clockwise. With two players, combine Reader with Recorder and Checker with Builder. With five or six, add a second checker and a source finder; everyone explains one decision.

Bring to the table

  • One complete player set and record set per team
  • One pencil per child
  • One adult host with the answer and hint pages

Print and sorting checklist · Plan the player roles

Ages and durations are design estimates. Choose the pace and reading support that suit your group.

Look before you print

See all 6 player clues

These are the actual figures and instructions from the player pack. Read the final page’s rule along with the earlier clues.

Clue 1 of 6

Signal

Each signal means one different word. Use the training examples to recover the legend. Words marked "any order" may be swapped; compare shared signals across cards. Decode the received message from left to right. The desk uses this message when handling the fog-bell panel.

Fog-Bell Signal: Each signal means one different word. Use the training examples to recover the legend. Words marked "any order" may be swapped; compare shared signals across cards. Decode the received message from left to right. The desk uses this message when handling the fog-bell panel.
Read this clue in text

Unlabelled legend Signals: DOT, BAR, ARC, RING. Words: WAIT, SEND, TURN, REST. Each signal has one word; each word is used once. Training messages DOT+BAR means SEND+WAIT (any order) BAR+ARC means TURN+SEND (any order) ARC+RING means REST+TURN (any order) Received message RING > DOT Report decoded words in order, with hyphens.

Clue 2 of 6

Record

Use the bell log and beacon book to follow the completed record. Match printed keys, then report the requested field. A planned or cancelled entry cannot prove a move.

Fog-Bell Signal: Use the bell log and beacon book to follow the completed record. Match printed keys, then report the requested field. A planned or cancelled entry cannot prove a move.
Read this clue in text

Bell log item: Bell | tag: PINE | status: draft item: Flag | tag: WAVE | status: checked item: Lens | tag: STAR | status: cancelled Beacon book tag: STAR | bay: NORTH tag: PINE | bay: EAST tag: WAVE | bay: WEST Keeper note bay: WEST | seal: RING bay: NORTH | seal: KITE bay: EAST | seal: LEAF Cross-check Match A.tag to B.tag. Match B.bay to C.bay. A.status is checked. Report C.seal.

Clue 3 of 6

Path

Trace a legal supply journey from S to F. The map's arrows are one-way roads. Visit every required stop, stay inside the travel budget and use the cheapest complete journey. Report all stop letters.

Fog-Bell Signal: Trace a legal supply journey from S to F. The map's arrows are one-way roads. Visit every required stop, stay inside the travel budget and use the cheapest complete journey. Report all stop letters.
Read this clue in text

Travel map (one way) S=Start; A=Bell; B=Flag; C=Lens; F=Delivery S > A: 2 units S > B: 1 units A > C: 2 units B > C: 2 units C > F: 2 units B > F: 2 units A > F: 7 units Journey rules Start S; finish F; limit 7 units. Visit A. Use the least total cost. Write every stop in order, with hyphens.

Clue 4 of 6

Order

Arrange the four event cards using every witness note. "Immediately before" means there is no event between them. Report the requested position after the whole order has been checked.

Fog-Bell Signal: Arrange the four event cards using every witness note. "Immediately before" means there is no event between them. Report the requested position after the whole order has been checked.
Read this clue in text

Event cards A: Read flag B: Check tower C: Test bell D: Light beacon Witness notes A is before C. D is before A. B is before D. Report the event ID in position 4.

Clue 5 of 6

Habitat

The keeper recorded three features of a replacement lens. Compare the cards and identify the complete match before setting the beacon panel.

Fog-Bell Signal: The keeper recorded three features of a replacement lens. Compare the cards and identify the complete match before setting the beacon panel.
Read this clue in text

Beacon lens cards CLEAR: rim=round; shade=none; base=wide HOOD: rim=round; shade=hood; base=wide NARROW: rim=round; shade=hood; base=narrow SQUARE: rim=square; shade=hood; base=wide Required features rim must be round. shade must be hood. base must not be narrow. Report the one matching card ID.

Clue 6 of 6

Final

Use the five results to select five pulse cards. Start at the recorded dial states. Add all selected turns for each dial and follow its loop: 0, 1, 2, then 0 again. Report the final state of dials A through E.

Fog-Bell Signal: Use the five results to select five pulse cards. Start at the recorded dial states. Add all selected turns for each dial and follow its loop: 0, 1, 2, then 0 again. Report the final state of dials A through E.
Read this clue in text

Control panel Dial order: A, B, C, D, E. States: 0 > 1 > 2 (loop). Start: A0 / B1 / C2 / D0 / E1. Pulse cards (turns in dial order) Signal: WAIT-SEND=(1,2,0,0,0); REST-WAIT=(2,1,0,0,0) Record: RING=(0,1,0,2,0); KITE=(0,2,0,1,0) Path: S-A-F=(0,0,1,2,0); S-A-C-F=(0,0,2,1,0) Order: C=(1,0,0,2,0); A=(2,0,0,1,0) Habitat: CLEAR=(1,0,0,0,2); HOOD=(2,0,0,0,1) Setting rule Add every chosen pulse. Move around each dial loop. Report dial ID + state, in order, with hyphens.

Start after: Signal, Record, Path, Order, Habitat

A different kind of mystery next

Keep the habit of sharing evidence and try a new reasoning task.