So Close and Yet So Far
When is a big balloon not a big balloon? It depends on your perspective. . . .
- You will need: three different-sized balloons or balls, your breath, a table, an empty toilet paper or paper towel roll, a dime, and a quarter.
- Blow up the three balloons so that they are three different sizes. (You can also use three different-sized balls.) Arrange the balloons on the table so that one is close to you, one is in the middle, and one is far away. Look at the balloons with one eye, through the toilet paper or paper towel roll. (That's your camera.)
- Can you rearrange the balloons to make the biggest balloon seem smaller? Can you rearrange them to make the smallest balloon seem closer or farther away?
- If you can fill in the blank in this sentence, you know something about "perspective." Objects close to me appear to be _______.
- Use what you know about perspective to make a dime and quarter the same size. Hold one in each hand and close one eye like you are looking through a camera. Hold out your arms so that one hand is in front of the other. Line up the two coins so that the dime blocks your view of the quarter completely.
- Think about how you could use one of your plastic toys to make a movie monster. . . .
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