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"The Missing
Mushroom"
Episode 4 ・ Mush Marsh
Last time on
The Rewriters!
While following footsteps down
Snowy Slopes, Sol met Zorro – a nervous
but curious arctic fox!
Luna
They traveled down the mountain, making observations to understand problems they
faced. Finally, they reached Zorro’s house.
Luna
As thanks, Zorro gifted Piney to Sol,
which unlocked another memory –
one of a childhood friend.
Luna
Getting ready to leave, Sol and
Zorro suddenly hear a cry for help...
who could it be?
Luna
Our story continues...
Get Ready!
Part 1
I think that voice was coming from
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
The GRASS IS STOP, so we'll need to find another way in...
Sol
Oh no, the castle is STOP, too...
What should we do?
Zorro
...Zorro, look! There's more to the rule
here – the whole thing says
CASTLE IS STOP AND SHUT.
Sol
Excuse me, you two! The AND block is
connecting both state blocks to the object
block – so CASTLE IS STOP and CASTLE IS SHUT.
???
Thanks for the info! Do you know anything
else about how the SHUT block 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's a Rewriter,
so we can! Sol, can you try writing
FROG IS PUSH AND OPEN?
Zorro
Yep! If I connect the OPEN block
to the rest of the rule, the frog should
be both PUSH and OPEN.
Sol
Now I'll push the frog into the castle
and see what happens...
Sol
Yes! That cleared the path!
Sol
Wow! So when an OPEN object touches a
SHUT object, both objects disappear!
Zorro
Yeah, I’m glad that worked out!
Excuse me, are you alright?
Sol
Yes, thanks to you two!
???
Sol, was it? I can't believe you're a Rewriter...I thought they were long gone!
???
Ah, and who is your friend here?
???
N-Nice to meet you, I'm Zorro!
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, 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 — this was once a lively town, led by my grandma! Ah...how I
long for those days as a young mushroom.
Morel
As more and more of these problems appeared, the town was slowly abandoned...gone to ruins.
Morel
...Oh, but enough of that – it’s the way of things, I suppose. Sol, are you looking
for someone too?
Morel
Well, I kind of lost my memories, so I’m just looking for anyone who knows me...
Sol
Wait, did you say “looking for someone too”, Morel? Who are you looking for?
Sol
Ah, 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
I was searching these ruins for hours,
before I got trapped in here by that castle.
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! I can't
rewrite, so it’s been difficult to
search these problems.
Morel
We can help with that! Which problem
should we search next?
Sol
Here, follow me...
Morel
Sol
I see, there's a lot to look through here.
Sol
First, let's find a way to understand
this problem...
- Understand the problem
- Plan a solution
- Try the solution
- Reflect on the solution
Problem-Solving Steps
Morel
If I may, I suggest looking for the goal
of the problem first. Then, we can figure out what's blocking us from that goal.
Using my Inspector, I see that the goal is
to reach the heart since HEART IS WIN. But we can't get there right now because...
Sol
We're blocked by the grass, right?
It's blocking us because it's SHUT!
Zorro
Is that so? I thought the water was
blocking us because the water is STOP...
Morel
Oh, really? I thought the water might be blocking us because it's SHUT as well...
Sol
Hmm. I believe understanding what's blocking us — and why — will be key to solving this problem. Let's give it a try.
Morel
Explore!
Part 2
Think about
this question while you play...
In problem 1,
what's blocking you from
the goal and why?
- Grass, because GRASS IS SHUT
- Water, because WATER IS STOP
- Water, because WATER IS SHUT
Be ready to vote then
discuss after time is up!
Vote before Discussing
Responses
Polling...
In problem 1, what's blocking
you from the goal and why?
1
Grass, because
GRASS IS SHUT
2
Water, because
WATER IS STOP
3
Water, because
WATER IS SHUT
1
Grass, because
GRASS IS SHUT
2
Water, because
WATER IS STOP
3
Water, because
WATER IS SHUT
In problem 1, what's blocking
you from the goal and why?
Let's Pair Share!
1
Grass, because
GRASS IS SHUT
2
Water, because
WATER IS STOP
3
Water, because
WATER IS SHUT
In problem 1, what's blocking
you from the goal and why?
Let's Pair Share!
Learn!
Part 3
Time for a Video!
Let’s make sure volume is turned up and everyone can see before going to the next slide.
You were right, Morel — the water is
blocking us because WATER IS STOP!
Sol
At first, I thought the grass might be blocking us because it's SHUT...
Sol
But I was able to walk on top
of it with no problem!
Sol
Sol
I couldn't walk onto the water, though.
That must be because it's STOP — we just
saw that SHUT doesn't block us on its own.
Indeed. Now that we know what's
blocking us and why, we can figure out
how to get past it.
Morel
Right! Zorro, what do you notice in
this problem? See anything useful?
Sol
Hmm...I notice there's a bubble, and a
rule that says BUBBLE IS PUSH. There's an
AND block at the end of the rule, too.
Zorro
There's also a few state blocks we can use: SHUT, OPEN, and HOT.
Zorro
We want to get rid of the water,
which is STOP and SHUT...
Zorro
Oh! When we rescued Morel earlier,
we got rid of a SHUT object using an
OPEN object, right?
Zorro
...Oh yeah, maybe that can work here, too! I'll make the bubble OPEN by writing
BUBBLE IS PUSH AND OPEN...
Sol
Then I'll push the bubble into the water...
Sol
Yes! Since the water is SHUT,
both objects disappeared!
Sol
When an OPEN object touches a SHUT object,
both get destroyed...that should be quite
useful in our search. Good work, you two.
Morel
Glad we can help! By the way, Morel...
Sol
You told us earlier you can't rewrite, but...you seem used to this. You figured out what was blocking us, after all!
Sol
Ah...you see, I've had some practice
in understanding problems.
Morel
As a young mushroom, I often went crying to
my grandma for help whenever I faced a problem. She'd hug me and tell me to breathe...
Morel
Then she'd have me think over two questions: What's my goal? What's blocking me from that goal, and why?
Morel
That got me to calm down and focus. Even
if I didn't know what to do yet, answering
those questions helped me get started.
Morel
...Your grandma must be proud of you, Morel.
I mean, you just helped us in the same way!
In fact...
Sol
I'll add those questions to my scroll!
Knowing the goal and what's blocking us
should help us understand any problem.
Sol
Problem-Solving Steps
1. Understand the problem
- What do I notice and what could be useful?
- What is the goal?
- What is blocking me from the goal? Why?
Ho ho...I'm glad to pass down my grandma's wisdom. I don’t get that chance too often
these days.
Morel
Yeah, there really is no one here...hey, Morel? Have you ever thought about traveling outside of Mush Marsh?
Zorro
I can't say I have. Even if this town is abandoned, it's full of memories for me...I’m not quite ready to let that go.
Morel
Oh, I see...
Zorro
Hmm. I guess if I had a place like this,
I wouldn’t want to move on either...
Sol
Sol...?
Zorro
Um, anyways! Let’s keep going.
I’m sure Enoki is waiting for you, Morel!
Sol
Ah...yes, you’re right.
We haven't yet reached the goal of this
problem — the heart.
Morel
Yeah. Let's ask ourselves again:
What's blocking us from the goal and why?
Sol
There's only one object blocking
our path — the flower!
Zorro
Using the Inspector, I see there's only
one rule for it: FLOWER IS OPEN AND DEFEAT.
Zorro
Similar to SHUT, I don't think OPEN can
block us on its own. So the flower is
blocking us because it's DEFEAT!
Sol
I agree. Now, to get past the flower...
perhaps we can use this frog? I notice there
are blocks to write a rule for it.
Morel
If we use this AND block, we can give
the frog two state blocks. Our choices are OPEN, SHUT, and PUSH.
Morel
If we use this AND block, we can give
the frog two state blocks. Our choices are OPEN, SHUT, and PUSH.
Morel
Hmm...which of those will help
us get past the flower? Let's think.
Morel
Which state blocks will help us
get past the flower?
Think independently before starting poll
Poll Preview
1
OPEN AND SHUT
2
OPEN AND PUSH
3
SHUT AND PUSH
Which state blocks will help us
get past the flower?
Vote!
Polling...
Responses
1
OPEN AND SHUT
2
OPEN AND PUSH
3
SHUT AND PUSH
Which state blocks will help us
get past the flower?
Vote!
Polling...
Responses
Time for a Video!
Let’s make sure volume is turned up and everyone can see before going to the next slide.
Oh, I see! Since the flower is OPEN, we
can destroy it with an object that’s SHUT!
Sol
So first, I’ll write FROG IS SHUT.
Sol
We have to move the frog onto the
flower to destroy it, so we'll need the
frog to be PUSH, too.
Morel
Yep. I can connect another state block to
this rule by putting AND at the end...
Sol
Then we can complete the rule by adding
the PUSH block after the AND 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 believed, 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
Of course! Since FROG IS SHUT AND PUSH, I
can push the frog into the flower. The flower
is OPEN, so both will be destroyed...
Zorro
Just like this!
Zorro
Wow, 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's nothing. Sol and Zorro, let's
continue our search for Enoki. We'll find him soon...I can feel it!
Morel
Keep Going!
Part 4
Keep this in mind as you play...
You can also use the Inspector
to read rules and learn more about state blocks!
To understand a problem,
ask yourself these questions:
- What do I notice and what could be useful?
- What is the goal?
- What is blocking me
from the goal? Why?
Check In!
Part 5
...Look! Over there...could it be?!
Morel
Enoki!!!
Morel
Oh, thank goodness we found you!
Morel
Sol and Zorro, I am forever grateful.
Morel
I’m so glad we could help!
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 have to look 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.
I'd like to 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 not have all your memories, but you’re
not alone. We're here for you.
Morel
Morel...thank you, that means a lot.
I’d love if you two joined us!
Sol
That settles it then — I look forward
to learning from both of you.
Morel
After solving many difficult problems with Sol,
Zorro became a Rewriter and Morel learned that there’s still more to discover in this world!
Let's Discuss! (2 mins)
Have you ever learned something that you
didn’t think you could? What was it?
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! Another new voice...
Sol
What did you remember this time, Sol?
Zorro
This time...it felt like family
watching over me, somehow.
Sol
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
Looks like it leads somewhere.
Well, Zorro?
Sol
Let’s follow them together...! R-ready??
Zorro
Ready! Here goes nothing-
Sol
Waaaahhhhhh!!!!
Sol
Until next time...
Spring Launch: Lesson 4
By sophiekansmith
Spring Launch: Lesson 4
Lesson 4: Mush Marsh
