Valentine’s Day Decoder Wheel – Free Printable Activity

Can you crack the code? Use the Valentine’s Day decoder wheel to solve cute Valentine’s Day riddles! This fun printable activity is easy to set up and perfect for kids who love spies, secret codes, escape rooms and solving mysteries!

Hello Crafty Friends! With Valentine’s Day right around the corner it’s the perfect time for a fun Valentine’s Day activity for the kids! Today I’m excited to share my new Valentine’s Day-themed decoder wheel. Kids can use the decoder wheel to solve Valentine’s Day riddles. If your kids love spies, escape rooms, solving mysteries and secret codes, then they’ll love decoder wheels! 

A decoder wheel, also called a cipher wheel, is a tool that can be used to encrypt messages. Most often they are seen with two wheels of letters. When you write the message you are transforming each letter of your message into another letter so the message becomes encrypted. To read it the recipient would need to use a cipher wheel set the same way. 

Sometimes cipher wheels include a wheel full of symbols instead of a second wheel of letters. My decoder wheels work like this, featuring one wheel of themed illustrations. Instead of writing an encrypted message, kids will decipher a riddle using the wheel. It’s a fun activity for children of all ages including – little ones practicing their letters. 

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My kids love solving these Valentine’s Day riddles using the decoder wheel. When they were little I would help them solve them. I would help them set the wheel and then we would go through the symbols in the encrypted message one by one. They would read the letter that matched the image and I would write it down. Now that they are older they no longer need my help. 

These riddles are a great Valentine’s Day activity for the classroom, a small group of kids or they can be worked on alone. They are fun way to practice letter recognition for little ones and a fun quiet activity to celebrate the holiday.

Decoder wheels are a simple activity to prepare. Simply print the activity and assemble the decoder wheel using a brad. I love creating decoder wheels for holidays and different seasons.

Check out my other printable decoder wheels!

Valentine’s Day Cipher Wheel Activity

Supplies Needed:

• Valentine’s Day Decoder Wheel Printables
  • Complete Decoder Wheel set and editable file is in my Etsy Shop includes 20 riddles to solve!
  • Two Free Riddles – grab the free files by filling out the purple form at the end of this post
• White cardstock for decoder wheel
  • I used Neenah 110 lb white paper
  • 65-80 lb paper will also work like this Astrobright 65lb paper
• Scissors
• Push pin
• Small brad
• Paper trimmer – handy for cutting out riddles

How to Assemble the Decoder Wheel

The decoder wheel is easy to create. Simply print the decoder wheel on white cardstock and carefully cut out both circles with a scissors. Layer the circles together, with the smaller one on top, and poke a hole in the center of both using a push pin. Attach the layers together with a brad in the center. The wheel should rotate easily.

How to Use a Cipher Wheel

For each riddle the “KEY” will tell you how to set the wheel. For example if the riddle’s KEY is “R is for ROSE”. Spin the wheel until the rose picture lines up with the letter “R” and then you are ready to solve!

Make sure to check the key for each riddle as each one is different. For younger kids, it may be helpful to cut apart the riddles to help them remember to change their wheel to a new key.

How to Create Your Own Coded Messages

My decoder wheels are a reader favorite and I have had lots of requests to make an editable version so you can write your own secret message for kids to solves. Since I use hand-drawn illustrations on my decoder wheel, it is tricky to write your own secret messages without access to the little images. I have finally figured out a way to make that happen using a PowerPoint file.

The editable PowerPoint is available with the printables in my Etsy shop. All of the symbols, along with several pre-made keys, are ready for you to create your own message. I have even started a Valentine’s Day message for you on one of the slides! Copy and paste the images to write your own message. Whether you are writing a secret message for your kids, classroom or to use in a homemade escape room, the PowerPoint will help you get creative!

Where to Download the Files

1. My Valentine’s Day Decoder wheel printables are available to download from my Etsy shop and include 20 riddles plus an editable PowerPoint file (you need Microsoft PowerPoint to use the editable file) so you can write your own encrypted messages!
2. You can also download two free riddles and the decoder wheel by filling out the purple form at the end of this post. 

I hope you enjoy this fun free printable Valentine’s Day activity! I turned these cute decoder wheels into printable valentines perfect for friends, family and the classroom! Check out more information on these cuties: Secret Code Valentines with Decoder Wheel.

More Fun Decoder Wheels

• Fairy Decoder Wheel
• School-Themed Decoder Wheel
• Christmas Decoder Wheel
• Winter Decoder Wheel
• Spring Decoder Wheel

Get 2 Free Valentine’s Day Decoder Wheel Riddles!

Fill out the purple form below with your first name and email address! The free file will be sent straight to your inbox! If you have already filled out the form below, don’t worry – you won’t be added to my list twice! This freebie is for personal use only. I hope you enjoy crafting something special. Please let me know if you have any questions :)