Thumbelina

Thumbelina
Thumbelina is a fairy tale written by a Danish author, Hans
Christian Andersen, in 1835. It tells the story of an old woman
who longs for a child. She receives a magic seed, from which
grows a thumb-sized girl, Thumbelina. One night, Thumbelina
is snatched by a toad looking for a bride for her son. She
manages to escape by floating away on a lily pad and then has
a series of adventures involving different animals. Finally, she
meets a small flower-fairy prince whom she marries.
This activity is based on a theatre company that has decided
to use the story of Thumbelina to create a Christmas play.
A teenage actress will take the role of Thumbelina. The
costumes for the animals she meets, and the set, will be
designed so that the world around her is proportionately large.
Task 1
The costume designer has collected the heights of each of the animals
cast in the play. She has also measured the height of the actress and the
length of her own thumb. All of this information is recorded in data sheet
1, which you have been given.
1
Find the ratio, in the form 1 : n, of the costume designer’s thumb to
the height of:
a the toad
b the fish
d the fieldmouse
e the actress.
c the butterfly
2
Use the information above and data sheet 1 to work out the height of
each of the costumes for the animals.
Remember: The set is to be designed so that all the animals’
costumes are in the same proportion to the actress, as the real
animals would be to a thumb.
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Learning objectives
Representing Level 1:
undertake problem-solving
in an unfamiliar context
and recognise where
mathematical skills are
required
Analysing Level 1:
analyse information, using
appropriate mathematical
approaches, and
understand their impact on
creative design
Interpreting Level 1:
interpret and communicate
solutions to practical
problems and draw simple
conclusions
links with
Design and technology
English
Drama
Beginner
3
The costume designer is informed that the cast playing the parts of animals includes:
• a woman
• a stilt-walking man • another man
• a child
Use your answers to question 2 to work out who will play which animal.
Task 2
There are four main scenes in the play. The set designer begins to plan the set for the first three scenes.
Scene 1: Old woman’s home
Scene 2: Thumbelina floats away
Scene 3: Mouse hole
Each scene will have its own set. These are all built to the same 3D plan but then decorated appropriately.
The set designer’s ideas and notes are on data sheet 2.
1
Draw the 3D shapes for each set on an isometric grid, with a scale of 1 centimetre to represent 1 metre.
2
Make a scale drawing of the plan view for each set.
3
Make scale drawings of the front and side elevations for each set.
4
The set designer uses blocks measuring 1 m × 1 m × 1 m that lock together to make each of the
3D shapes.
a Work out how many blocks are required for each set.
b Work out how many blocks are required in total.
5
a What is the ratio of the number of blocks required for set 1 to the number of blocks required for set 3?
b What is the ratio of the number of blocks required for set 1 to the number of blocks required for set 2?
6
The producer decides to cut costs and re-use the blocks for set 1 in set 2 and set 3. The re-used blocks
will be painted differently on opposite sides and turned around for each set change.
How many blocks are required in total now?
Task 3 (extension)
Scene 4: Flower prince on the hill
Design your own set, made from metre-cube blocks, for this scene. It must be made from the same blocks as
are used in sets 1, 2 and 3, so make sure you do not include too many blocks.
Use an isometric grid to draw your set to scale. Then draw the plan, front and side elevations to scale.
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Beginner
Task 4
The lighting designer has lights rigged up around the theatre, at different heights and distances from the stage.
He needs to be certain that each one has the correct throw distance to light each scene.
Throw distance
Height
Distance to the stage
1
Find the throw distance for these lights. Give your answers correct to 1 decimal place.
a Light A is 16 m from the stage and rigged at a height of 9 m.
b Light B is 18 m from the stage and rigged at a height of 10 m.
c Light C is 20 m from the stage and rigged at a height of 11 m.
2
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Light D is 22 m from the stage and rigged at a height of 12 m. Use your answers to question 1 to estimate
its throw distance. Explain how you found your answer.
Beginner
Task 5 (extension)
Lights E, F and G are on a scaffold placed 10 m from the stage. The throw distance for G is 15.6 m and the ratio
of heights E, F and G is 1 : 2 : 3. At what heights are they placed?
G
15.6 m
F
E
10 m
Stage
Task 6
Imagine you are the theatre producer for Thumbelina. You are responsible for finding the people to work
on the show.
Write a job specification for each of the following roles.
1
Costume designer
2
Set designer
3
Lighting designer
Include in each specification:
• a sentence describing the role
• a list of mathematical skills you think are necessary for the role
• any other skills that you think may be essential to the role.
?
How did you find these tasks?
•
•
What did you find easy or difficult about these tasks?
•
What did you learn about how maths is used and applied in real-world situations?
Did you work on your own, in pairs or in groups, and how did this help or hinder your
approach and success with these tasks?
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