Source: Cyberchase: “A Piece of the Action”
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Finding the Right Crystal
(Video)
National K -12 Subject:
Lesson Plans Using this Resource:
In this video segment from Cyberchase, the CyberSquad looks at data on the Squitters' jumping attempts. They first convert the fractional results to equivalent fractions with denominator values equal to 100. Then they notice that these fractions can be written as percents.
Download and ShareInvestigations/Scott Foresman (2006)
Name That Portion
Investigation 1, Sessions 1-7, pp. 2-31
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: When someone says that they made 50% of their free throws in a basketball game, what do they mean? Is there a fraction that would mean the same thing? If you shot 100 free throws and made all 100, what percentage would you use to describe how successful you were?
Focus: As you watch this segment, you’ll see how the CyberSquad compares the Squitters' jumps. Use a paper and pencil to write down the data the CyberSquad has collected. How did they convert all of the fractions into percentages? Notice what Matt says the word “percent” means.
Follow Up: What is a good way to convert fractions into percentages? If someone was throwing darts and 10 out of 25 hit the bullseye, what fraction would describe that? What percentage of shots hit the bullseye?
INEZ: Okay. Sheldon had seven hits out of ten tries...Ashley seven out of twenty...and Irv had eight hits out of twenty-five tries.
MATT: Fractions again! The one with the largest fraction is the best jumper...let's compare 'em and go!
DIGIT: Whoa, whoa, whoa. The fractions are all different! How can we possibly compare them???
MATT: It's okay Didge. We can compare these fractions if we find a way to make the bottom numbers, the denominators, match.
DIGIT: Too bad Sheldon didn't make more jumps.
MATT: That's it Didge! What if Sheldon did make more jumps, like twice as many!
DIGIT: Then he would have twice as many hits?...14 out of 20 tries?
MATT: You've got it Didge. 7 over 10 is the same as 14 over 20.
DIGIT: Ok, now I can compare Sheldon and Ashley, but what about poor Irv? He jumped 25 times. Don't we need a denominator that will let us compare his score too?
JACKIE: Yeah! We need a denominator that works for all the scores.
MATT: Well...How about 50?
MATT: 16 over 50 on Irv's card.
MATT: There are two groups of 25 in 50 and... rats, it won't work for 20!
MATT: Two twenties are forty not fifty.
DIGIT: Guys, we're losing time here. How about 100? That's a nice round number?
INEZ: Didge, I think you did it. Sheldon had 10 tries, right? 10 times 10 is 100. So if he tried 100 times he would have had 70 hits out of 100.
MATT: And Ashley had 20 tries, 20 times five is also 100 and 7 times 5 is 35.
JACKIE: 25 times 4 is 100. So Irv's score is 8 times 4 or 32 out of 100.
DIGIT: Comparin' these fractions is a walk in the park now!
DIGIT: Sheldon is obviously the best jumper with seventy hits per one hundred tries!
JACKIE: Um guys. You know what just hit me? These are all percents: parts of 100.
DIGIT: Uh, remind me. What are percents?
MATT: They're fractions that are parts of 100. Per cent means per 100.
JACKIE: 70 over 100 is 70 percent and this percent sign tells you its parts of 100. 35 over 100 is the same as 35 percent.
DIGIT: So 32 over 100 is the same as 32 percent?
MATT: You got it!
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