The students make a drawing to find the area of the new garden from Episode 1. This is challenging, because they have to figure out how to express subtraction in a drawing.
Episode Supports
Students’ Conceptual Challenges
Emily and Mauricio debate where and how to draw a line to help represent the new garden [1:03]. They are not in agreement about whether the line to show the decrease in length should run vertically or horizontally. This uncertainty provides Mauricio and Emily with an opportunity to engage in mathematical argumentation and come to a consensus based on their shared understanding of length in the garden context.
Focus Questions
For use in a classroom, pause the video and ask this question:
[Pause the video at 0:32] Before watching Emily and Mauricio create their own drawing, try this for yourself. Draw a picture so that you can find the area of the new garden and see the original garden in your drawing.
Supporting Dialogue
[Pause the video at 2:18] With a partner, can you summarize the debate Emily and Mauricio are having about where and how the new line should be drawn? Which way do you think it should go so that you can see a decrease in length by 4 ft.
