Big Enough

Scene

Description

Narration

1

A square, a triangle, a rectangle, and a pentagram are at an amusement park, outside of a swinging boat ride called the Parabola. A sign with a clown on it reads, “You must be this tall to ride.” All the shapes are shorter than the sign.   

These shape friends can’t wait to try out the newest ride at their favorite park: the Parabola. But the sign says they’re not big enough. Can you help them join together so they can go on this ride?

2

Four squares walk into the scene. They form one unstable shape and fall apart. Then they make another shape and fall down. Finally, they stack up to form a perfect square, there’s a flash of light, and they become a big square. The square hops on the ride.

These squares are so excited for this ride, but they’re each too small to enter. What if they combine into a bigger shape? Do they fit together like this? No way, they fell right apart. Does this arrangement make a bigger square? Not like this-- it just falls down. What if they join together like this/ That’s the ticket! Enjoy the ride!

3

Four triangles walk into the scene.

The second group of friends are the triangles. Separately, they are too short to go on the Parabola. Can you help them figure out how to make one big triangle using 4 small ones?

5

They form one unstable shape and fall apart. Then they make another shape and fall down. Finally, they stack up to form a perfect triangle, there’s a flash of light, and they become a big triangle. The triangle hops on the ride.

Will this shape work? Nope, they can’t stay together like that. How about this way? Hmm, that doesn’t work either. Let’s try like this. There we go! Now they’re big enough to go on the ride!

6

Four rectangles walk onto the scene.

These little rectangles have been waiting in line all day, and now they can’t go on the ride because they’re too small. Can they join together to become big enough to be allowed on?

7

They form one unstable shape and fall apart. Then they make another shape and fall down. Finally, they stack up to form a perfect rectangle, there’s a flash of light, and they become a big rectangle. The rectangle hops on the ride.

Maybe this way will work. No, that’s not right. What if they combine like this? That’s not it either. How can they come together to form a larger rectangle? That’s it! All aboard!

8

A pentagon and five triangles walk into the scene. The triangles all stand on the pentagon then fall down. Then the triangles try to make a circle but it falls too. Then they make a star. The star glows and hops on the ride.

The last group of friends is a pentagon and five triangles. Each piece is too short to go on the Parabola by itself. What shape can they make to get on the ride? What if they all stand on the pentagon? No, that doesn’t work. Maybe they can make a circle? There’s no way that will stay together. How about this? Wow, they made a star!

9

The ride begins to swing with all shapes on board.

Now that everyone is big enough for this ride, let’s have fun!