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"An
Unexpected Friend"
Episode 3 ・ Snowy Slopes
Get Ready!
Part 1
Last time on
The Rewriters!
Waking up in the dark caves of
Null Point, Sol tinkered to learn about
new state blocks...
Luna
...and narrowly escaped before
the exit caved in!
Luna
A diamond from the cave unlocked a new
memory, which suggested that someone may have trapped Sol on purpose...
Luna
Starting out on their journey for answers,
Sol follows a set of footprints left in
the snow...
Luna
Our story continues...
...It looks like the footprints
disappear up ahead.
Sol
I don't see anyone around though...
Sol
Hm? What's this fluffy thing
stuck in the snow?
Sol
WOAH!
Sol
EEK! A human?? W-who are you??
???
My name’s Sol, but I don’t know much
more than that...what’s your name?
Sol
M-my name's Zorro...I'm an arctic fox.
Zorro
Zorro, huh? That name doesn’t ring a bell, but...Zorro, have you ever seen me before?
Sol
Huh? N-no!! I haven’t seen anyone else
here in Snowy Slopes for ages!
Zorro
With all these problems popping up
everywhere, it’s hard to travel from
place to place.
Zorro
...So how did you even get here, Sol?
Zorro
Well, I came from those caves up the mountain...I saw a lot of problems
over there, too.
Sol
I almost got stuck in there, but I
managed to solve the problems and escape
by rewriting the rules.
Sol
You...what?! You’re a REWRITER?!?!
I thought there were none left...!
Zorro
Hm? Y-yeah, I’m definitely
a Rewriter...is that weird?
Sol
No, no, not at all! It’s just...there
aren't many Rewriters in this world.
Zorro
Most are like me — I can read the rules,
but can’t change anything. That’s why I’ve
been stuck here for a while...
Zorro
You’re stuck? Where are you trying to go?
Sol
I was traveling to my home at the
bottom of the mountain, but got
trapped in this problem...
Zorro
...Since I can’t rewrite,
there’s nothing I can do.
Zorro
Are you sure...? There must be something we
can do to get you out of here. Something you haven’t tried yet.
Sol
I don't know...well, you can take a
look if you want. Here's the problem...
Zorro
See, look at all of this!
I don't even know where to start...
Zorro
Hm...the first step to solving a problem
is understanding it, so let me look around.
Sol
I notice 2 state blocks I don't recognize:
HOT and MELT. Zorro, do you know anything
about them?
Sol
M-me? Um, I think HOT and MELT work as a
pair somehow. Sorry, that's all I know...
Zorro
That's helpful, Zorro! Is there anything else you've noticed about this problem?
Sol
Well...I'm not sure if any of this is useful, but yes, I've noticed a few things...
Zorro
The first thing I noticed when I got here is that the lava is really orange!
Zorro
Next, I noticed that there's a LOT of snow!
Zorro
I also noticed the rule up top
that says ROCK IS DEFEAT...
Zorro
And finally...I noticed that the
lava looks too scary to walk on!
Zorro
Hmm...oh! I think one of your
observations just now is really
useful for solving this problem.
Sol
Really...? Which one?
Zorro
Let me tinker with this problem first
to see if I'm understanding things correctly. Then I'll tell you!
Sol
Explore!
Part 2
(4 min.)
Play!
In problem 1, which of Zorro's observations is the most useful?
- The lava is orange
- There's a lot of snow
- There's a rule for ROCK IS DEFEAT
- Walking on lava seems scary
Be ready to vote then discuss
why after time is up!
(4 min.)
Play!
In problem 1, which of Zorro's observations is the most useful?
- The lava is orange
- There's a lot of snow
- There's a rule for ROCK IS DEFEAT
- Walking on lava seems scary
Be ready to vote then discuss
why after time is up!
Learn!
Part 3
Which of Zorro's observations
is the most helpful?
Poll Time!
The lava is orange
There's a lot of snow
There's a rule for
ROCK IS DEFEAT
Walking on lava seems scary
2
4
3
1
Let's think before seeing the poll choices!
Which of Zorro's observations
is the most helpful?
The lava is orange
There's a lot of snow
There's a rule for
ROCK IS DEFEAT
Walking on lava seems scary
2
4
3
1
Completed!
Poll Open!
Which of Zorro's observations
is the most helpful?
We'll find out the answer soon!
Poll Closed!
The lava is orange
There's a lot of snow
There's a rule for
ROCK IS DEFEAT
Walking on lava seems scary
2
4
3
1
Pair Share!
Which of Zorro's observations is the most helpful? Why?
Discuss with a partner and be ready to share out after 2 minutes.
The lava is orange
1
There's a lot of snow
2
There's a rule
for ROCK IS DEFEAT
3
Walking on lava seems scary
4
Pair Share!
Which of Zorro's observations is the most helpful? Why?
There's a rule
for ROCK IS DEFEAT
3
1
The lava is orange
2
There's a lot of snow
4
Walking on lava seems scary
...Alright, I think I understand
what's going on here.
Sol
And it's thanks to you, Zorro!
You noticed the rule ROCK IS DEFEAT.
Sol
So that was the most useful observation? Why?
Zorro
To put it simply...your other
observations weren't related to rules.
Sol
In this world, everything goes by
the rules, right? Knowing them will help
us decide what to do next!
Sol
For this problem, knowing that
ROCK IS DEFEAT helped me decide
how to use HOT and MELT!
Sol
At first, I was scared to walk on the
lava — just like you were, Zorro. But I
had to at least try it...
Sol
And when I did, I was totally fine! That's because there are no rules for the lava.
Sol
Then I realized — since ROCK IS DEFEAT,
the rocks are what we need to get rid of here. Not the lava.
Sol
...I see! I had just been assuming the
lava was dangerous, instead of looking at
the rules.
Zorro
So to get rid of the rocks...are you going
to use the HOT and MELT blocks somehow?
Zorro
Yes! Maybe we can destroy the rocks by
making the rule ROCK IS MELT. Let me try...
Sol
Nothing happened...oh! Zorro, you said
earlier that HOT and MELT work as a pair...
Sol
So maybe we need to use the HOT block,
too! Let's try making LAVA IS HOT and see
what happens...
Sol
Woah! All the rocks just melted away!
Zorro
The lava is still there though...
can we cross it safely now that it's HOT?
Zorro
From what we just tried, I think that HOT objects can only destroy MELT objects.
Sol
There's no rule that says we're MELT,
so we should be fine...but let's try it!
Sol
Yep, I'm all good! Come on, Zorro!
Sol
Wow...you're right! Maybe solving
problems isn't as scary as I thought...
Zorro
Yeah, especially with a friend! Thanks for helping me understand this problem, Zorro!
Sol
Yeah, especially with a friend! Thanks for helping me understand this problem, Zorro!
Sol
Huh?! O-of course! Wow, you're
my first friend besides Piney...!
Zorro
Piney?
Sol
Oh, um...Piney is my friend!
We talk about problems sometimes...
Zorro
Really? Is Piney around here somewhere?
Sol
Y-yeah...right here...
Zorro
...A pinecone?
Sol
It’s silly, I know...but when I feel confused or scared, I talk about my
problems with Piney to stay calm.
Zorro
...I don’t think it’s silly at all.
Nice to meet you, Piney!
Sol
...
Piney
Zorro
Hey...I think Piney likes you!
I think we’ll get along great! Zorro and
Piney, the two of you just reminded me...
Sol
Problem-Solving Steps
- Understand the problem
- Plan a solution
- Try the solution
- Reflect on the solution
My scroll says that understanding
a problem is the first step to solving it.
Sol
So, what do you two usually talk
about to understand problems?
Sol
Hm...I usually ask Piney,
"What do you notice about this problem?".
Then I'll start making observations, too...
Zorro
But then I remember I can't rewrite... so I
end up asking, "Is any of this even useful?"
Zorro
But your observations have
already helped me, Zorro.
Sol
In fact, I think asking, "What do I notice and what could be useful?" is a great way to start a problem!
Sol
Problem-Solving Steps
I'll write that question on my
scroll so I don't forget it!
Sol
1. Understand the problem
- What do I notice and what could be useful?
2. Plan a solution
Now let's ask Piney that question
to understand the rest of this problem!
Sol
O-okay, I'll try...
Zorro
This time, I won't assume anything about
the objects...now I know it's more useful
to focus on the rules!
Zorro
What do you notice and what could be useful?
Let's Discuss! (2 mins)
...The first thing Piney noticed here is the rule HEART IS WIN.
Zorro
That means we need to touch the heart to continue down the mountain. Good to know!
Sol
The next thing Piney noticed is that
FIRE IS HOT and SNOWBUNNY IS DEFEAT.
Zorro
...Oh, that's really useful! We know HOT
objects won't hurt us, so the fire isn't blocking us...
Sol
But the snowbunny is blocking us since it's DEFEAT. We'll need to get past it somehow.
Sol
I agree! The other objects in the path have
no rules — so the crystal, snowball, ice, and fossil aren't blocking us.
Zorro
The last things Piney noticed are the
blocks at the top and bottom. You could make
new rules with those, Sol!
Zorro
That's definitely useful! I can make one
object PUSH with the blocks on the top...
Sol
Then I can make a different object
MELT with the blocks on the bottom!
Sol
Zorro, Piney! Are you
thinking what I'm thinking?
Sol
I...I think so! If we make FIRE IS PUSH and SNOWBUNNY IS MELT, we can use the fire to get rid of the snowbunny!
Zorro
Exactly! We know FIRE IS HOT, and we know
that HOT objects destroy MELT objects!
Sol
So if we make SNOWBUNNY IS MELT...
Zorro
Then FIRE IS PUSH...
You can push the HOT fire onto the
snowbunny to melt it!
Zorro
It worked! Now we can reach the WIN!
Sol
Zorro
Wow...you really did it, Sol!
So this is the power of a Rewriter...!
What do you mean, Zorro?
We did it together – you, me, and Piney!
Sol
...
Piney
Oh yeah...I guess you’re right! Thanks for encouraging me, you two!
Zorro
Of course! Now we can keep going down the mountain – come on, let’s get you home!
Sol
Keep Going!
Part 4
Play!
(26 min.)
As you play, make observations about problems by asking yourself:
"What do I notice and what
could be useful?"
Some useful things to notice are:
- Rules that are already in
the problem - New rules you could make with the blocks in the problem
Play!
(26 min.)
As you play, make observations about problems by asking yourself:
"What do I notice and what
could be useful?"
Some useful things to notice are:
- Rules that are already in
the problem - New rules you could make with the blocks in the problem
Check In!
Part 5
Whew, that was a lot of problems – but we finally made it!
Sol
Yes!! We’re home, Piney!
Safe and sound!
Zorro
Thank you so much, Sol...not only did
you help me get home, you taught me a
lot about rewriting too!
Zorro
I thought I’d be stuck in those
difficult problems forever – that there
was nothing I could do...
Zorro
But now I see that problems aren’t so scary
once I take the time to understand them.
Zorro
I’m glad, Zorro! To be honest, I was a
little scared of going down this mountain
on my own...
Sol
So hearing you ask questions and talk
out loud...it helped me stay calm and think these problems through.
Sol
Thank you, Zorro. And you, Piney!
Sol
Describe a time a friend helped you learn something.
Let's Discuss! (2 mins)
As they worked together to get down the mountain, Sol showed Zorro how to have courage and try things, while Zorro helped Sol understand problems.
Alright Zorro! I know you’ve missed your
home, so...I’ll get going now...
Sol
W-wait, Sol!
Zorro
It’s true, all I wanted at
first was to go home...
Zorro
But...I had so much fun solving problems
with you! And now that I’ve seen how
rewriting works, I want to learn more!
Zorro
So...can I, uh, join you? Maybe I can help
you find more of your lost memories!
Zorro
Zorro...of course you can!
I’ll feel a lot better traveling with you!
Sol
Yay, I’m so excited!! As a thank you...
Zorro
Here, you can carry Piney!
Zorro
Really? Are you sure??
Sol
Yep! Piney’s always helped me,
so...maybe it can help you too!
Zorro
Plus, we’re friends now, right?
And friends share things!
Zorro
Yeah, we are! Thank you, Zorro.
I'll treasure Piney!
Sol
...
Piney
Hm? I feel a strange power
coming from Piney...
Sol (Thinking)
Staring into Piney’s eyes, Sol hears a kind voice...
Here you go, Sol! ...I know, this is my
favorite toy, but...I want you to have it. I have the most fun with you, after all!
???
Woah! Another memory! I didn’t recognize
this voice, either...
Sol
Are you okay, Sol?? What did you remember?
Zorro
Yeah, I’m fine. It seems like I had another friend back then who used to share things
with me...
Sol
Oh, that’s great!
Maybe we can find them later!
Zorro
...Yeah! Maybe once we’re off the mountain—
Sol
.....help.....
???
Uh...did you say something, Zorro?
Sol
...help...me...
???
EEK! That wasn’t me...I think it’s
coming from those ruins over there!
Zorro
What?? Let’s hurry there, then!
Someone could be in danger!
Sol
Right! Follow me, Sol!
Zorro
Until next time...