Spark 101 Math Snack Pack

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1. Watch the first 4:45 minutes of Spark101’s “Navigating the Future ofAutonomous Vehicles” video to learn aboutsensors used on unmanned vehicles.

2. Find a location in your house (or outsidein the evening) that would allow for you tosee a flashlight’s light over a flat surface.

3. Measure off a section with a perimeter of100 inches (263 centimeters) in the shapeof a square or rectangle. Mark the areausing either string or tape. (**Size may needto be adjusted depending on the size andbrightness of flashlight)

4. Use your flashlight like a sensor to tryand cover the entire space you created withlight. (Hint: You may need to adjust thelocation of your flashlight as well as thelevel at which it is being held.)

5. Try again by increasing the size of yourshape. (Perimeter of 200 inches/500centimeters, 300 inches/760 centimeters,etc.)

6. Watch the third segment of the video(starts at 8:32) on career pathways and seewhat specific classes can be taken in highschool to help enhance your learning.

Spark 101’s “Navigating the Futureof Autonomous Vehicles” videoWorking flashlight or phone with aflashlightString or tapeRuler or measuring tapeVideos on perimeter and area (ifneeded)

Does the placement of the flashlightmake a difference in how much ofyour area is illuminated?

How does changing the angle atwhich the flashlight is shining downon the area change the amount oflight and area of coverage?

Spark 101 Math Snack PackNavigating the Future of Autonomous Vehicles

INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

EXTRA HELPINGS

Try the experiment multiple times bychanging the shape of your area andadding additional flashlights to coverthe area.

Using an outdoor sensor on yourhouse and chalk/string, try totrace/draw the area where light picksup movement.

Experimenting with LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)

1

Lasers must have unobstructed viewsfree from atmospheric contamination tobe used to determine distance toobjects effectively.

Radar can move through atmosphericcontamination to determine distance,however, they cannot see size or shapeof objects.

Albert Einstein’s Quantum Theory ofLight was proved to be true byscientists. While his theory is over 115years old, the technology was put onhold until the lasers and advancedtechnology use was more logical.

Using a nightlight with a sensor,explore the distance you can beaway from the light before it turnson. Try using different objectsaround the home (glass, paper, plate,etc.) to see how close you need tobe for the light to turn on. Explore ifthe opaqueness of an object makes adifference.

For a more in-depth look atautonomous vehicles and multiplesensor types, watch the rest ofSpark 101’s “Navigating the Futureof Autonomous Vehicles” video.

Spark 101 Math Snack PackNavigating the Future of Autonomous Vehicles

EXTRA HELPINGS CONT. DID YOU KNOW?

Experimenting with LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)

2

1. Watch the first 2 minutes of Spark 101’s “What’s for Lunch?” video.

2. Create one or more meals with nutritiousfoods your family enjoys. Try to includevegetables, fruits, protein, grains, and dairyin each meal. You may wish to look at theMyPlate template with recommendationsprovided by the USDA.

3. Write a grocery list of items to buy tocreate one or more of these meals.

4. Use your chosen resource for food itemprices and have your child add up the costof the grocery list items.

5. Ask your child how much it will cost tocreate the meal or meals on your meal plan.Based on this figure, ask your child to try tofigure out approximately how much oneperson would need to spend on groceriesfor a week, a month, etc.? How much wouldyour family need to spend on groceries for aweek, a month, etc.?

6. Be sure to check out and explore thecareer pathways section of Spark 101’s“What’s for Lunch?” video at the end.

Think about how some groceryitems can be used more than once. For example, a carton of a dozeneggs can be used in multiple meals. For an extension, see if your childcan use the quantity, volume, and/orserving sizes to figure out how manymeals a packaged grocery item couldprovide. This may affect the cost perweek or month.

Spark 101 Math Snack PackWhat's for Lunch?

INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

EXTRA HELPINGS

For a more in-depth look at mealplanning and cost challenges to solvein larger organizations, watch the restof Spark 101’s “What’s for Lunch?”video.Also, check out additional MyPlate atHome resources from the USDA.

Spark 101’s “What’s for Lunch?”videoPaperWriting utensilWebsites, newspaper inserts,previous receipts, a store, or anotherresource of your choosing for notinggrocery store item prices(Optional, to taste) USDA’s MyPlatetemplate

1. Watch the first 4 minutes of Spark 101’s“Positioning Tower Cranes” video.

2. Use the 8.5” x 11” (21.59 cm x 27.94 cm)piece of paper as the base of your building.

3. Calculate the circumference of the 10”(25.40 cm) tortilla or circle. Determine theplacement of the 4 10” (25.40 cm) tortillas orcircles (represents the area the cranes canreach) so that each part of the paper (base ofthe building) can be reached by the cranes.

4. What is the total area that the cranescover? How much area is overlapping?

5. Could you cover the paper (base of thebuilding) only using 3 10” (25.40 cm) circles?Why or why not?

6. (Optional) If you used 8” (20.32 cm) softtaco-size tortillas or circles, how many wouldyou need to cover the base of the building? Ifyou used 6” (15.24 cm) fajita-size tortillas orcircles, how many would you need to coverthe base of the building? Could you use acombination of all three sizes to minimizeoverlapping areas?

7. Check out the end of the Spark 101’s“Positioning Tower Cranes” video to explorethe career pathways.

Spark 101’s “Positioning TowerCranes During Construction on theNational Mall” video

A 8.5” x 11” (21.59 cm x 27.94 cm)piece of paper

Pencil

4 Burrito-size tortillas (10” or 25.40cm) or cut out 4 10” (25.40 cm)circles from paper

For a more in-depth look at howthey position the cranes, watch therest of Spark 101’s “PositioningTower Cranes During Constructionon the National Mall” video. Can you find the circumference andarea of a donut?Can you create or construct a towercrane using legos or other materialsin your house? Think about how theheight of the tower might impact thework of the cranes.

Spark 101 Math Snack PackPositioning Tower Cranes During Construction

on the National Mall

INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

PBSMath Antics

Want more practice on understandingthe parts of a circle and finding thecircumference and area? Watch:

EXTRA HELPINGS