Source: Cyberchase: "Fortress of Altitude"
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 must remove a voice box from a giant statue of Hacker. The CyberSquad prepares to lower Digit down on a rope that will reach the voice box, but they need an exact measurement of the distance to the voice box so that Digit won’t touch the laser alarms which protect it. They try to figure out how long the rope must be by using what they know about other measurements and the relationships among them.
Download and ShareEveryday Math (2004)
Teacher Lesson Guide, pp. 253-255
Student Reference, pp. 106-126
Math Journal, pp. 101, 103-105
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: Can you give an example of when you might need an exact measurement of something? Can you give an example of when you might need to measure something, but the measurement doesn't have to be exact?
Focus: As you watch this video segment, notice how the CyberSquad determines the exact distance that they need to lower Digit. What kind of measuring tools do they use to make sure they are exact in their measurements?
Follow Up: What did Jackie consider as she measured and cut the rope for Digit? What unit of measure did the CyberSquad use as they talked about the length of the rope? Why did they use that unit of measure? What relationships did they use to help them figure out the distance Digit must travel to reach the voice box?
MATT: At least we don't have to listen to Hacker anymore.
INEZ: Yeah, but we've still got to remove that voice box!
MATT: How? We can't even get to it from here!
JACKIE: Hey, guys! Up here!
DIGIT: We're in The Hacker's nose!
JACKIE: Ew! Don't remind me.
DIGIT: Wait! What if you let out too much rope? Then I'll be laser-kabob!
MATT: Time out! We better measure how long to make the rope.
INEZ: Looks to me like the voice box is the same distance down from the ceiling as it is up from the floor.
MATT: Let's make sure. One thumb width. And that's one thumb width as well. You're right. The distance is the same!
INEZ: Only one problem B we have no way to measure how far that distance is.
MATT: Oh, yes, we do. That ladder went right up to the voice box!
JACKIE: Be careful, Matt!
INEZ: That's ten skwak lengths.
MATT: Got it!
INEZ: Plus nine...and a bit left over.
DIGIT: Whoa-oh...I don't wanna be lowered one feather closer to those lasers than I have to! Exactly how much is a little bit'?
MATT: Um...we can't tell you. The smallest unit we can measure exactly is a whole Skwak pad. She examines her Skwak Pad.
INEZ: Too bad we can't just fold it and make smaller units.
MATT: Maybe we can! All I have to do is fold it in half once...twice...then a third time.
INEZ: Cool! A ruler measuring a half-skwak, a quarter-skwak, and an eighth-skwak!
JACKIE: I'm with you! I made one too!
INEZ: The little bit extra measures out to 3 one-eighth Skwak lengths on the nose!
MATT: So the ladder is nineteen and three-eighths Skwak lengths long!
JACKIE: Okay. Nineteen and three-eighths Skwaks down to the voice box B before we measure the rope we better measure you so we can determine the total length we need. That's one! That's two!
HACKER: I'll find out what's going on up there myself!
JACKIE: Done! Nineteen and three-eighths skwak lengths of rope - plus a little extra for the part I'll tie to the vent. Beak it, Didge!
MATT: Hurry!
JACKIE: All set!
DIGIT: (gulp) Boids awaaaay!
MATT: Yeah! We did it!
INEZ: Yes!
MATT: Good measuring, Nezzie! That rope was just the right length.
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