Source: Cyberchase: “Size Me Up”
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, the CyberSquad needs to build a boat for Widgit that is twice the size of a boat that belongs to Hank. The CyberSquad finds the correct measurements for the boat by using Hank’s belt as a measuring tool.
Here are some Frame, Focus and Follow-up suggestions for using this video in a math lesson.
What is Frame, Focus and Follow-up?
Frame: Let’s say you have a pencil and you want to make a model of it that is twice as big. The only thing you have to measure with is a toothpick. How would you go about finding out how big to make your model?
Focus: In this video segment, the CyberSquad uses Hank’s boat and his belt to figure out the correct measuments for Widgit's boat. How do they do it? What does the CyberSquad know about Widgit and Hank that helps them to make sure Widgit's boat is the right size?
Follow Up: When Jackie looks at the boat they built for Widgit she says, “Perfect fit! It’s all to scale!” What does she mean? What kind kind of mathematics did the CyberSquad use to solve their problem?
JACKIE: Remember, since Widgit is the size of two Hanks, his boat needs to be twice the size of Hank's little boat.
MATT: So we need something to measure with...Hey Hank, can I borrow your belt?
HANK: Sure, Matt!
MATT: Thanks, man! OK, Hank's boat measures three Hank belts long.
INEZ: So twice that size means that Widgit's boat needs to be six belts long.
JACKIE: What about the width?
MATT: Two belts.
JACKIE: That means four for Widgit's. What about the height?
MATT: One belt high! So Widgit's boat needs to be two belts high.
HANK: C'mon, gang! Let's get busy!
JACKIE: Perfect fit! It's all to scale!
WIDGIT: Launch me!