Source: Cyberchase: “Snow Day to be Exact”
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In this video segment from Cyberchase, the CyberSquad must recover the Black Crystal. To do this, they must turn off a force field which guards the crystal by choosing the correct combination of switch, lever and button. The CyberSquad uses tree diagrams to determine all the possible combinations, and then they test them to find the one that works.
Download and ShareInvestigations/Scott Foresman (2006)
(5th Grade) Between Never and Always
Investigation 1, Sessions 1-4, pp. 4-26
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 want to create a special outfit. You have three different color ties, three different color shirts and two different color pants. How many outfit combinations can you make? How can you find all the possible combinations and be sure you ahave not left out any possible combinations?
Focus: In this video segment, you will see the CyberSquad trying to turn off a force field. In order to do that, they must find the correct combination of switch, lever and button. How do they organize the information they have so that they are sure they try every possible combination? What do trees and branches have to do with the way they organize their information?
Follow Up: When Jackie looks at the image of the two switches, two levers and three buttons on the Skwak Pad, she draws a line to connect one combination of these three elements. She says, “Every path is a combination and every combination is a path.” What does she mean? Why won't Matt’s idea of using a grid work?
JACKIE: So a combination of one switch, one lever and one button turns the force field off. But which combination?
MATT: C'mon, let's just try one!
INEZ: But there are so many possibilities!
MATT: Alright, look...let's make a grid. Like we did with the keys and the knobs so we can keep track.
JACKIE: But that grid worked because we only had two groups to choose from. This panel has three! There's no place on a grid for a third set of choices!
INEZ: Let's try a different arrangement. We can use the Skwak Pad! Let's see, we've got two switches, two levers and three buttons.
JACKIE: So, if you choose one of each. Cool! It's like a path.
INEZ: And if you choose red switch, green lever, and purple bottom it's just a different path!
JACKIE: Every path is a combination and every combination is a path!
INEZ: And don't forget the paths the blue switch can have.
MATT: So to make a choice, we just follow a path from switch to lever to button and make sure we follow every path.
JACKIE: I can see a bunch of different paths.
INEZ: How many paths could there be?
JACKIE: Whoa! Now the paths look like branches.
INEZ: And the whole thing looks like a tree!
MATT: Man, talk about a tree diagram!
JACKIE: C'mon, we've got choices to make! Okay, the first combination is red switch...The green lever! And the orange button!
INEZ: I guess that's a 'no'.
MATT: Try the other combinations!
JACKIE: It's just so typical that it's the last one! Blue switch. Yellow lever! And...the pink button! Here we go!
INEZ: That can't be!
MATT: Impossible! Did we forget a combination? I don't see how...every path is crossed off!
BUZZ: Outsmarted again!
DELETE: Yeah, you'll never find the hidden button!
BUZZ: Shut up will ya?
KIDS: Hidden button!?
HACKER: What's become of cyberspace when an evil genius can't even get a makeover?
INEZ: I found it!
MATT: That means there are four choices for buttons not three. That's why none of the combinations worked!
JACKIE: You mean we have to start all over? Hacker could be back by any second!
INEZ: Hold on, hold on. All we have to do is add the brown button choice to the other buttons on the tree. Everything else stays the same! We just add the brown button to the last set of choices.
MATT: All right! The tree shows us there are four new paths we haven't traveled. Call 'em off!
INEZ: Red switch!
JACKIE: Green lever.
INEZ: Brown button!
JACKIE: Next combo. Hurry! Red switch!
INEZ: Yellow lever!
JACKIE: Brown button!
KIDS: It worked!
MATT: Get the Krystal!
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