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"The Missing
Mushroom"
Episode 4 ・ Mush Marsh
Last time on
The Rewriters!
While following footsteps on the icy
Mount Fureeze, Sol met Zorro – a nervous but curious arctic fox!
Luna
Putting their minds together, they safely
worked their way down the mountain, to
Zorro’s house.
Luna
As thanks, Zorro gifted Piney to Sol, which unlocked another memory – one of a potential past friend...
Luna
After Sol and Zorro officially join forces,
they hear a cry for help...who could it be?
Luna
Our story continues...
Get Ready!
Part 1
I think that voice was coming from
somewhere around here...
Zorro
...help...!
???
There it is again! Quick, this way!
Sol
Help...anyone...oh!
???
Don’t worry, we’ll get you out of there!
Sol
But Sol...we’re blocked by this grass
because GRASS IS STOP!
Zorro
And this rock is STOP, too...
what should we do?
Zorro
Hmm...but look, Zorro! That’s not the only
state block the rock has – the whole rule
says ROCK IS STOP AND SHUT.
Sol
You two, over there! The AND block is
connecting both state blocks to the object
block – so ROCK IS STOP and ROCK IS SHUT.
???
Thanks for the info! Do you know anything
else about how SHUT works??
Zorro
Hmm...I believe SHUT pairs with OPEN somehow...oh, if only there was a way you
could move that OPEN block!!
???
Actually...Sol here can do just that!
What if we make this frog OPEN?
Zorro
Let’s try it and see what happens!
If we make FROG IS PUSH AND OPEN, the frog should have both states...
Sol
Then we can push the frog into the rock...
Sol
Yes, we've opened up the path!
Sol
Wow! So when an OPEN object touches a
SHUT object, both objects disappear!
Zorro
Yeah, I’m glad that worked –
excuse me, are you alright?
Sol
Yes, thanks to you!
???
Sol, was it? Are you by chance...
a Rewriter?? My goodness, I thought they’ve
been long gone...!
???
Yep! I’m Sol, and this is Zorro.
Sol
N-Nice to meet you! I’m not a Rewriter,
but...I help!
Zorro
Pleased to meet you both. My name is Morel.
Morel
Morel, this might sound weird, but...
do I seem familiar to you at all?
Sol
Hm? No, I’m quite sure this is the first
time we’ve met...almost no one lives here in Mush Marsh, after all.
Morel
But I’ll have you know, long ago this was a lively town, led by my grandma! Ah...how I
miss those happy days as a young mushroom.
Morel
Sadly, as more and more of these
problems appeared...the town was slowly abandoned, gone to ruins...
Morel
...Ah, but enough of that – it’s the way of things, I suppose. Are you perhaps looking
for someone too, Sol?
Morel
Well, I kind of lost my memories, so I’m just looking for anyone who knows me, really...
Sol
Wait, did you say “looking for someone too”, Morel? Who are you looking for?
Sol
Ah, well yes, you see...I’ve lost track of
my child, Enoki! One second he was here, then the next...gone!
Morel
WHAT?! Oh no, that’s terrible!
Zorro
And I’ve been searching these ruins for
hours, when I suddenly got trapped in here by that rock – oh dear, I’m so worried for him!
Morel
Poor Enoki...!
Can Zorro and I help you look for him?
Sol
I’d be grateful if you can! It’s been
difficult to search these problems since I
can’t rewrite...as you can see.
Morel
If all of us work together, we’ll definitely find Enoki! Where’s the next problem you need
to search?
Sol
Over here...
Morel
Woah, that’s a lot...
where should we even start?
Zorro
Hmm...well it seems like we’re stuck in
the left side of this problem for now...
Sol
And the only things I can move are the OPEN
and PUSH blocks. I have a lot of choices for where to put them, though...
Sol
Apologies for how messy this town is...
to start, how about we read the existing rules in this problem first?
Morel
One of those rules should help us figure out
how we should use the OPEN and PUSH blocks.
Morel
Good idea, Morel. Let’s stay calm and make
sure we understand this problem first.
Sol
Explore!
Part 2
(4 min.)
Play!
Read the existing rules in problem 1.
Which of those rules can help you decide where to put PUSH and OPEN? Why?
Be ready to discuss after time is up!
(4 min.)
Play!
Read the existing rules in problem 1.
Which of those rules can help you decide where to put PUSH and OPEN? Why?
Be ready to discuss after time is up!
Learn!
Part 3
Pair Share!
Which of the existing rules can help you decide where to put PUSH and OPEN? Why?
Discuss with a partner and be ready to share out after 2 minutes. Let's hear from at least 3 students!
Hmm...I think the most helpful rule to look
at right now is WATER IS STOP AND SHUT.
Sol
I agree...but can you explain why, Sol?
Morel
To start, I looked at the questions Zorro and
I wrote to help us understand problems.
Sol
Problem-Solving Steps
- Understand the problem
- What is the goal?
- What is blocking me from the goal?
- What else is in this problem and what choices do I have?
I know the goal of this problem is to reach
the heart since HEART IS WIN. But what’s blocking us right now?
Sol
It’s the water, right? Because of the rule
WATER IS STOP AND SHUT?
Zorro
Yes, partly – the water is blocking us
because it is STOP. An object that is only
SHUT won’t block us at all.
Morel
See how I can walk right on top of the
bubble even though it’s SHUT?
Morel
Oh, I see! That's important to know.
Zorro
Yeah, now that we know more state blocks,
let’s make sure we understand what’s blocking
us and why. I’ll add that to the scroll.
Sol
Problem-Solving Steps
- Understand the problem
- What is the goal?
- What is blocking me from the goal? Why?
- What else is in this problem and what choices do I have?
Now the bigger question – what else is here
and what choices do we have?
Sol
With the OPEN and PUSH blocks, Sol can make
any of these rules: SPIKE IS OPEN, SPIKE IS PUSH, BUBBLE IS OPEN, BUBBLE IS PUSH.
Zorro
...That’s a lot of choices. We could just
try all of them, I guess?
Zorro
We could, but let’s try an easier way.
Long ago, my grandma taught me a strategy for problems like this – it’s called reducing.
Morel
Reducing? What does that mean?
Sol
Reducing means focusing on the most
important information in a problem to make
it easier to understand.
Morel
One way to reduce a problem is to read the existing rules, then determine which rule can narrow down our choices – like how we’re doing now.
Morel
Hmm...so how did you and Sol figure out
which rule that is?
Zorro
I figured it would be best to focus on any
rules for the object that’s blocking us – in this case, the water.
Sol
Indeed. If we know more information about
what’s blocking us, we can find out how to
get past it.
Morel
I see...and the only rule for water here
is WATER IS STOP AND SHUT!
Zorro
Yep! To be more specific, the fact that
water is SHUT tells us exactly how we can
get past it!
Sol
By using the OPEN and PUSH blocks
somehow, right?
Zorro
Right – water is SHUT, so we know we can use
an object that is OPEN to destroy it.
Sol
Oh! And since the bubble is already SHUT,
we know we can’t use the bubble!
Zorro
That is true – we’ve already narrowed down
our choices, then. What else do we know?
Morel
We know that an OPEN object and SHUT object disappear only when they are touching...
Zorro
So I’ll need an object that I can PUSH, too. There’s only one way I can get an object
that’s both PUSH and OPEN...
Sol
And that's to make SPIKE IS OPEN...
Sol
... and SPIKE IS PUSH!
Sol
Now we can destroy the water and move on
to the right side of the problem!
Sol
Awesome! Reducing seems helpful, especially
for bigger problems.
Zorro
I’m glad I can pass down the wisdom of
my grandma...I don’t get that chance too
often these days.
Morel
Yeah, there really is no one here...
Morel, have you ever thought about traveling outside of Mush Marsh?
Sol
No, I’ve never considered it...
but I’m fine living here, even if it
isn’t what it used to be.
Morel
After all, this town is full of memories
for me...I’m not quite ready to let that go.
Morel
I see. I guess if I had a place like this,
I wouldn’t want to move on either...
Sol
Sol...
Zorro
Let’s keep going. I’m sure Enoki is
waiting for you, Morel!
Sol
Ah...yes, you’re right. Let’s use reducing to finish out this problem and reach the heart.
Morel
Right. Now that we’re past the water,
we should focus on the next object
that’s blocking us...
Sol
What's blocking us from the goal and why?
Let's Discuss:
I know! The grass is blocking us because
GRASS IS STOP. Grass is also OPEN, but that’s not an issue for us.
Zorro
I agree. Now let’s look at what else is
in this puzzle and what choices we have...
Sol
Well, there’s a frog...and then a lot of
blocks. We can make a rule for the frog, but there’s a lot of choices again...
Zorro
True. Instead of trying all the possible choices, let’s focus again on the rule for
the grass – that may give us a clue.
Morel
GRASS IS OPEN AND STOP...aha, I’ve got it!
We can destroy the grass with 2 of the state blocks here!
Sol
Which state blocks will help us get past the grass?
Let's think before seeing the poll choices!
Poll Time!
Poll Open!
Completed!
1
OPEN AND SHUT
2
OPEN AND PUSH
3
SHUT AND PUSH
Which state blocks will help us get past the grass?
Poll Closed!
Which state blocks will help us get past the grass?
1
OPEN AND SHUT
2
OPEN AND PUSH
3
SHUT AND PUSH
Oh, I see! Since the grass is OPEN, we
can destroy it with something that’s SHUT!
Zorro
Yeah! Since we only have the frog here,
I’ll write FROG IS SHUT.
Sol
You’ll need to move the frog onto the
grass to destroy it, so we need the PUSH
block as well.
Morel
Yep. I can connect another state block to
this rule by adding AND at the end...
Sol
And we can complete the rule with
the PUSH block!
Zorro
...!
Morel
...Zorro! Did you just...rewrite?!
Sol
I...HUH?! I guess I did??
Zorro
I thought you said you couldn’t??
Sol
That’s what I always thought, but...
Zorro
I guess after going through so many
problems with you, Sol...I just thought,
maybe I could do it too?
Zorro
And then I did...!
Wow, I’m really a Rewriter!
Zorro
Goodness...! In all my years, I’ve never
heard of someone learning to rewrite!
Morel
Perhaps there’s more to this world
I still don’t know...
Morel
Looks like we all have new things to discover...I’m proud of you, Zorro.
Sol
This is all because you were brave and tried something new – and even when problems got difficult, you didn’t give up.
Sol
Would you do us the honor of solving
this problem?
Sol
Yes! Here goes...!
Zorro
My first WIN as a Rewriter...
so this is what it feels like!
It’s almost like...I can do anything!
Zorro
Oh ho ho...the young ones are so
surprising these days! Maybe this world
really can move forward again...
Morel
Hm? Did you say something, Morel?
Sol
Ah, it is nothing. Sol and Zorro, let us continue our search for Enoki. I’m confident
we will find him soon...!
Morel
Keep Going!
Part 4
Play!
(20 min.)
If you or your partner get stuck, try asking these questions to help each other understand the problem, instead of sharing answers:
- What is the goal?
- What is blocking me from the goal? Why?
- What else is in this problem and what choices do I have?
Play!
(20 min.)
If you or your partner get stuck, try asking these questions to help each other understand the problem, instead of sharing answers:
- What is the goal?
- What is blocking me from the goal? Why?
- What else is in this problem and what choices do I have?
Check In!
Part 5
...Look! Over there...could it be?!
Morel
Oh Enoki, thank goodness we found you!!
Sol and Zorro, I am forever grateful.
Morel
I’m so glad we could help!
And it’s great to meet you, Enoki!
Sol
goo!
Enoki
I’m relieved you’re safe, Enoki!!
Aw, I wish we could’ve spent more time together...
Zorro
goo?
Enoki
But we’re looking for Sol’s family now...
so we can’t stay here.
Zorro
Yeah, that’s right. I’d love to stay,
but Zorro and I should get moving...
Sol
Hold on, you two.
Morel
Sol...you helped me find Enoki.
It’s only right we return the favor and
help you on your journey.
Morel
What? But this is your home...
and Enoki’s, too. Right?
Sol
This will always be a special place for
me...but as long as Enoki and I have each
other, we are home.
Morel
After seeing you and Zorro rewrite together,
I realized...I want Enoki to grow up in a
world outside this forgotten town.
Morel
Plus, it turns out this old mushroom still
has more to learn as well – maybe I can become
a Rewriter too! Oh ho ho!
Morel
Ahem. What I mean to say is...Sol,
you may be missing memories, but you’re not alone. We are here for you.
Morel
Morel...thank you, that means a lot.
I’d love if you two joined us!
Sol
That settles it then.
Morel
Have you ever learned something that you
didn’t think you could? What was it?
Let's Discuss:
After solving many difficult problems with Sol,
Zorro became a Rewriter and Morel learned that there’s still more to discover in this world!
Here, Sol. As we look for pieces of your
past, you can hold on to something of mine.
Morel
What's this?
Sol
A locket of my grandma...your
determination reminds me of her.
Morel
Thank you, Morel.
I’ll take good care of it...hm?
Sol
Opening the locket, Sol hears a gentle voice...
Sol, my child...don’t give up, keep
teaching your friends to rewrite...don’t let
the Keepers have their way...
???
AH! Somehow I can never get used to that...
Sol
Did you just remember something new, Sol?
Zorro
Yeah...this voice didn’t match any of the
other past memories, but somehow it felt familiar...like family.
Sol
Oh, that’s huge! What did the voice say?
Zorro
They said I should teach my friends
rewriting... and something about the Keepers? I’m not sure what that means...
Sol
The Keepers...?
I think I’ve heard that name before...
Morel
goo...!
Enoki
...Enoki, you’re right!
Morel
Sol, Zorro – I know where we can go for
more information. Follow me!
Morel
Wait, what? But Morel, that’s a —
Morel
Waaaahhhh!!!
Morel
...Waterfall.
Sol
Hmm, I think it leads somewhere.
Well, Zorro?
Sol
Let’s follow together...! R-ready??
Zorro
Ready! Here goes nothing-
Sol
Waaaahhhhhh!!!!
Sol
Until next time...