Article
Courtesy of Apple
Math,

My Co-stars Are Puppies!

Actors Brooklynn MacKinzie and Riley Looc star in a new show about being responsible pet owners

By Elizabeth Carney
From the October/November 2021 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will solve multistep word problems related to the production of a TV show about caring for dogs.

Lexile: 680L; 490L
Focus Area: Algebraic Thinking,
Standards
  • CCSS: 4.OA.A.3 TEKS: 3.4A, 3.4K, 4.4H

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Lexile® measure

  • 680L
  • 490L
unknown value

A number in an equation that is not known until the equation is solved, often represented by a letter
juggle

To do or handle several things at once

Courtesy of Apple 

Riley (center) and Brooklynn (right) practice with a dog for an upcoming scene. 

Brooklynn MacKinzie is 11 years old, and she already has her dream job. She and her co-star Riley Looc, age 10, are the lead actors on Puppy Place, a new TV show about caring for dogs. The show is based on Scholastic’s Puppy Place book series. 

On set, Brooklynn and Riley are surrounded by dogs and puppies. “I feel like I’m the mom of 1,000 dogs,” Brooklynn says with a giggle. 

Brooklynn is 11 years old. She already has her dream job. Riley Looc is 10 years old. He is Brooklynn’s co-star. Brooklynn and Riley are lead actors for a new TV show. The show is called Puppy Place. It’s about caring for dogs. The show is based on the Puppy Place book series. The book series is published by Scholastic.

Riley and Brooklynn are surrounded by dogs and puppies when they are on set. “I feel like I’m the mom of 1,000 dogs,” Brooklynn giggles.

Courtesy of Apple 

Brooklynn and a puppy co-star 

Brooklynn and Riley play two dog-crazy kids named Lizzie and Charles. Their characters beg their parents for a pet. But Lizzie and Charles learn that owning a puppy is more than walks and cuddles. 

“Being a good dog owner means balancing what dogs want and what they need,” says Brooklynn. 

Brooklynn and Riley play two kids who love dogs. The kids are named Lizzie and Charles. The characters beg their parents for a pet. But Lizzie and Charles have a lot to learn. Owning a puppy means doing more than taking the dog for a walk or cuddling it.

“Being a good dog owner means balancing what dogs want and what they need,” says Brooklynn.

Courtesy of Apple

Brooklynn (far left) and Riley (second from left) on the set of Puppy Place. A dog trainer cues the dog in the scene.

Riley agrees. “Animals have emotions and can feel happy or sad like us,” he says.  

Brooklynn and Riley juggle work and school with the help of acting coaches and teachers who work on set with them. 

When taking a break from shooting or schoolwork, Brooklynn and Riley are always easy to find. They’re hanging out with the dogs, just like a real-life Lizzie and Charles! 

Riley agrees. “Animals have emotions. They can feel happy or sad like us,” he says. 

Riley and Brooklynn juggle work and school. Acting coaches and teachers work on set with Brooklynn and Riley. The acting coaches and teachers help them get everything done.

Sometimes Brooklyn and Riley take a break from shooting or doing schoolwork. They are always easy to find. They’re hanging out with the dogs. Brooklyn and Riley are just like a real-life Lizzie and Charles!

Math Talk

When you solve multistep math problems, does the order in which you solve the steps matter? 

Math Talk

When you solve multistep math problems, does the order in which you solve the steps matter? 

Multistep Problems

Scholastic, Inc. 

What to Do

A multistep word problem has more than one unknown value. You need to use multiple equations or operations to solve it.

Example

There are currently 61 books in The Puppy Place series. Of those, 55 were published before 2020. 3 new books will be released in late fall and winter. After that, how many Puppy Place books will have been published since the start of 2020?  

Read the word problem twice. Determine what’s being asked and what’s unknown.

• What’s being asked: How many Puppy Place books will have been published between 2020 and 2022?

• First unknown: How many books were released between 2020 and today?

Solve for the first unknown.

• The series currently has 61 books. 

• 55 books were published before 2020. 

61 – 55 = 6 books

So 6 books were published since 2020. 

 

Use your solution to solve for the next unknown. 

• 6 books have been published since 2020.

• 3 more books will be released this fall and winter. 

6 + 3 = 9 books

So by the end of the year, 9 Puppy Place books will have been published since 2020. 

Multistep Problems

Scholastic, Inc. 

What to Do

A multistep word problem has more than one unknown value. You need to use multiple equations or operations to solve it.

Example

There are currently 61 books in The Puppy Place series. Of those, 55 were published before 2020. 3 new books will be released in late fall and winter. After that, how many Puppy Place books will have been published since the start of 2020?  

Read the word problem twice. Determine what’s being asked and what’s unknown.

• What’s being asked: How many Puppy Place books will have been published between 2020 and 2022?

• First unknown: How many books were released between 2020 and today?

Solve for the first unknown.

• The series currently has 61 books. 

• 55 books were published before 2020. 

61 – 55 = 6 books

So 6 books were published since 2020. 

 

Use your solution to solve for the next unknown. 

• 6 books have been published since 2020.

• 3 more books will be released this fall and winter. 

6 + 3 = 9 books

So by the end of the year, 9 Puppy Place books will have been published since 2020. 

Now You Try It

Solve each multistep word problem below.

Solve each multistep word problem below.

After Riley landed the role of Charles, he read several Puppy Place books. Say Riley read 7 books in the series. Then he checked 15 more out of the library. He ran out of time and returned 4 of the books unread. How many total Puppy Place books did he read? 

After Riley landed the role of Charles, he read several Puppy Place books. Say Riley read 7 books in the series. Then he checked 15 more out of the library. He ran out of time and returned 4 of the books unread. How many total Puppy Place books did he read? 

Dog trainer Angela Buckley opens a new pack of 100 treats. She uses 10 treats while filming a short scene with the dog Goldie in the morning. She gives 25 treats to Goldie while filming in the afternoon. Then she uses 12 treats while filming a night scene with the dog Princess. How many treats does Buckley have left in the pack?

Dog trainer Angela Buckley opens a new pack of 100 treats. She uses 10 treats while filming a short scene with the dog Goldie in the morning. She gives 25 treats to Goldie while filming in the afternoon. Then she uses 12 treats while filming a night scene with the dog Princess. How many treats does Buckley have left in the pack?

One day, Brooklynn spends a total of 159 minutes on set. First, she spends 30 minutes in hair and makeup. It takes 7 minutes to be wired for sound. She shoots a scene for 42 minutes. She has 30 minutes for lunch. The rest of the time, she’s doing schoolwork on set. How long is Brooklynn’s schoolwork block?

One day, Brooklynn spends a total of 159 minutes on set. First, she spends 30 minutes in hair and makeup. It takes 7 minutes to be wired for sound. She shoots a scene for 42 minutes. She has 30 minutes for lunch. The rest of the time, she’s doing schoolwork on set. How long is Brooklynn’s schoolwork block?

Continue Your Learning

  • Rewatch the video “A History of Pets” (above). Make a list of the pros and cons of owning a pet. Then choose a side and explain to a family member your reasoning for owning or not owning a pet.
  • Imagine that you’ve been given a supporting role in the Puppy Place movie. Write a short story about your day on set that includes at least 5 numbers. When you’ve finished your story, write a multistep word problem based on the numbers you used. Then challenge a friend or family member to solve it!

Continue Your Learning

  • Rewatch the video “A History of Pets” (above). Make a list of the pros and cons of owning a pet. Then choose a side and explain to a family member your reasoning for owning or not owning a pet.
  • Imagine that you’ve been given a supporting role in the Puppy Place movie. Write a short story about your day on set that includes at least 5 numbers. When you’ve finished your story, write a multistep word problem based on the numbers you used. Then challenge a friend or family member to solve it!
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