Weekly Online Lesson Online Lesson Archive Grade Level: 7-10 Subject: Government

I Spy

Spies have probably existed ever since humans began living in groups, thousands of years ago. Good or bad, knowing what other groups are doing in hidden corners and behind closed doors can help your own group's planning and development. But sometimes spies among the ranks get caught and reveal a long history of espionage, sharpening the already tense relations between the parties involved.

On February 18, 2001, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) accused one of its own of spying — a 25-year agency veteran who allegedly traded top secret documents with the Soviet Union and Russia for 15 years in exchange for money and diamonds. Now, the face of Robert Hanssen, who once lived a secret life, is recognized by thousands of people internationally as he faces the charges and growing evidence of espionage. Meanwhile, the FBI and other agencies are getting grilled about how Hanssen deceived them for so long.

In this week's lesson, you will delve into the mysterious world of espionage and learn about famous spy cases, how and why people might become spies, and what roles the FBI and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) play in government security.

Go Go Gadget

What would a spy be without his gadgets? Hollywood scripts, expensive props and graphic arts certainly give an interesting edge to the world of spy technology—and some of those spy tools are actually similar to the real thing.

Take a visit to the Spy-Fi Archives Exhibit to see some items used by popular film and TV spies—from U.N.C.L.E. to Austin Powers. Then compare these fictitious tools with real ones at the CIA Exhibit Center Artifacts. Also visit Discovery.com's Tools of the Trade gallery located in its Spy School. How are the real items similar to the Spy-Fi Archives? How are they different? Which tools would be best for what kinds of information-gathering and why?

You can also take a virtual video tour of the Spy Museum (using Real Player). The actual location of this museum is secret, and only a few select professionals have walked its halls and browsed the contents. Start with the Welcome to the Museum video, then view whichever other clips interest you, such as learning more about spy services, concealment devices or hidden cameras.

Beneath the Shadows

The lure of gadgets might provide some incentive for people to choose the life of a spy, but likely there are more rewards to balance out the high risks of the profession.

To get a better idea of what might motivate someone to infiltrate another group to gather intelligence information, or to betray their national loyalties, peruse the files of some of the world's most famous spies. Start at the Spy School's collection of The Masters, beginning with Rebel Rose in the mid-1800s and ending with Aldrich Ames in the 1990s. Also, visit the FBI's site, Famous Cases and uncover The Atom Spy Case and The Duquesne Spy Ring, both occurring in the 1940s. Read about what these spies did, the motives that may have driven them, and how they got caught. In considering the stories of these famous spies, do you think they had similar or different incentives to commit acts of espionage? What were their circumstances? What do you think would be most difficult about being a spy, especially a double agent?

Security Systems

Government agencies like the FBI and CIA exist to protect the U.S. government and its interests as a nation. Part of what they do is to collect intelligence, usually meaning classified or top secret information, about someone else.

First, get to know the FBI by reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions About the FBI—Investigative Responsibilities section and its Foreign Counterintelligence page. To learn more about how the agency evolved, explore the History of the FBI from its creation in 1908 to the present.

The CIA has also had its share of spies infiltrating its secretive circle. Spying on foreign governments is what the CIA itself does best, therefore the information their agents gather can be more valuable than diamonds to some people. Go Inside the CIA at Discovery.com, and explore its history along the timeline. While your at it, check out the SPY TECH: Dirty Tricks and other details linked from each timeline section. Also, read about The Intelligence Cycle to find out how the CIA collects information and what's done with it. To get an overview of how Congress and the President are connected with the CIA, review the Executive Oversight of Intelligence and the Legislative Oversight of Intelligence.

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