Source: Cyberchase: "Crystal Clear"
Funding for the VITAL/Ready to Teach collection was secured through the United States Department of Education under the Ready to Teach Program.
In this video segment from Cyberchase, Bianca helps her friend make rock candy and discovers some interesting shapes. They also visit The Museum of Natural History and look at a variety of rocks and minerals, identifying and describing the many 2-D and 3-D shapes that are found in these specimens.
Download and ShareHere are some Frame, Focus and Follow-up suggestions for using this video in a math lesson.
What is Frame, Focus and Follow-up?
Frame: There are all kinds of shapes in the environment around us, both natural and man-made. Some shapes are 2-D, or flat, while others are 3-D, or multi-dimensional. Can you name some shapes you notice right here in the classroom? Which ones are 2-D? Which ones are 3-D?
Focus: As you watch this segment, try to look for the various 2-D and 3-D shapes that Bianca and her friend notice in the rocks and minerals. Write down the names of these shapes as you watch. Which ones are 2-D? Which ones are 3-D?
Follow Up: Make a chart listing the 2-D and 3-D shapes Bianca and her friend found. Can you add any shapes to this chart that were not mentioned in the video segment? We can find lot of these shapes in the buildings, furniture and other man-made things around us. Why do you think we build using these shapes?
ANTONIO: Bianca, I need your help.
BIANCA: Can’t you give me a break? I was up really late last night.
ANTONIO: Doing what?
BIANCA: Watching the amazing surreal newlywed marathon on TV.
ANTONIO: I don’t think a six-year-old should pour boiling water by himself.
BIANCA: What are you doing?
ANTONIO: Making rock candy.
BIANCA: What’s this?
ANTONIO: Sugar crystal seeds. I soaked the string in sugar water and let it dry for three days. Would you please pour this into that jar?
BIANCA: How much is in there?
ANTONIO: One cup of water. Now we mix in 2 cups of sugar.
BIANCA: What’s next?
ANTONIO: We put the string into the solution. The candy crystals will be ready in a week.
BIANCA: A week!
ANTONIO: A week is nothing. It took thousands of years to form these quartz crystals.
BIANCA: Wow. Your rock collection rocks!
ANTONIO: Thanks. But have you seen the one in the American museum of natural history?
BIANCA: No.
ANTONIO: It’s in the hall of gems and minerals. Wanna go?
BIANCA: But wouldn’t you rather stay here and watch tv?
ANTONIO: Don’t be a bad influence.
BIANCA: Okay, you win. Whoah. Oh! Quartz…like you have in your rock collection.
ANTONIO: Most quartz crystals have 6 flat sides that come to a point. Galena crystals are different.
BIANCA: You have one of those in your collection.
ANTONIO: They’re shaped like cubes.
BIANCA: You mean different types of crystals have different geometric shapes?
ANTONIO: Yup.
BIANCA: This looks like boxes glued together. More flat sides and straight edges. The white crystal has a side that looks like a triangle! Cool pattern!
ANTONIO: This is a flat side with a… broken edge
BIANCA: How do you know so much?
ANTONIO: I don’t watch TV. I read. It’s been a week. The candy’s ready.
BIANCA: All right! Lookin’ good enough to eat! You know, in the old days rock candy was used to make medicine.
ANTONIO: How do you know so much?
BIANCA: I read. You’re a good influence!
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