This tutorial is intended to:

Introduce all the tools in the app Illustrate a sample activity that can be done

using the app

About this Tutorial

What is Size Wise? Size Wise lets you explore ratios proportions and take funny pictures that make things look wildly bigger or smaller than they really are.

We created tools that let you explore rich mathematics in the process of taking these fun pictures.

Size Wise was inspired by forced perspective photography

We created tools that let you explore rich mathematics in the process of taking these fun pictures.

Ratios & Proportions

When you compare the image sizes of things you see on screen,

you’re playing around with ratios and proportions.

The size of an object’s image is related to its distance from the

camera.

In fact, it’s inversely proportional. That means when the distance

gets bigger, the image gets smaller. To make something look ½ as

big, it has to be twice as far away. Using proportions can help you

plan your shots.

Ratios & Proportions (Believe it or not, you’re doing math)

Sample Activity: The Giraffe Challenge

Your friend is in a 1:1

relationship with the

giraffe and can tickle his chin Your friend is in s 3/4 the size

of the giraffe Your friend 1/3 the size of

the giraffe

Take three pictures that satisfy the following:

EXPLORE AND SHARE is in the pic gallery. It is covered later in this tutorial.

To get started, tap:

Tap VIRTUAL PROPS as seen here, and choose the giraffe.

Notice there is a library of other props here for many more activities.

This is where the calipers come in. Tap CALIPERS.

This will help you explore how tall your friend is in

relation to the giraffe.

Select “Add New Friend” and enter a name and height for the subject in your photo.

This will allow Size Wise to measure your subject’s image size and how far away they are from the camera.

Once you have your giraffe and Caliper, you can start moving around in real space to tackle the Giraffe Challenge.

Line up the Calipers with the top and bottom of your subject on the screen (from head to toe).

Direct your friend to stand closer or farther from you until she is in a 1:1 relationship with the giraffe? Tap RATIOS.

Notice the IMAGE SIZE RATIO box on the lower left portion of the screen. What ratio did you get?

Next, direct your friend so that her image is 3/4 the size of the giraffe. Tap DISTANCE.

Notice the DISTANCE tool shows how far your friend is from the camera.

For the third part of the challenge make your friend look 1/3 the size of the giraffe onscreen. Use RATIOS and DISTANCE tools to set up your shot.

What is your friend’s image size? What is their actual height? How far away is your friend in this shot?

Tap DATA in Camera mode to analyze all the data in a single picture.

With this simple activity, you can see how the different tools can be used to help you direct a friend for the shot you are after.

A Deeper Look: the Size Wise Gallery

Each picture will contain measurement data you have attached to it.

The GALLERY shows all pictures taken in

Size Wise.

DATA within the GALLERY allows you to compare information across your photos.

Accessing data from multiple photos will be helpful for a number of classroom activities.

Explore data across multiple photos at the same time and patterns start to emerge.

Drag in up to four photos to compare.

You can look for patterns in image heights, actual heights, and distances from the camera.

As students access data from their pictures in the Gallery, they can plot it on a graph and look for patterns that reveal the

proportional relationships at work.

Dive Deeper: Graph Proportional Relationships

SHOW CALIPERS brings miniature versions of the calipers to the images.

These can help you get a sense of the image size differences at a glance.

This can help you keep track of the relationships you are seeing.

WRITE RATIOS allows you to note the ratio on

top of your pictures.

Here is a detail of writing a ratio for the Giraffe Challenge.

You can position it on any of the pictures.

Here we see a saved note, the Data box, the Ratio box, and the Distance tool all on one screen.

NOTES lets you add a note associated with a picture.

It makes it easy to find the Information later.

This makes it easier to find the pictures you want to work with.

Within the GALLERY you can organize your pictures into SETS.

As a culminating activity, you can CREATE a COMIC inside the GALLERY

Build stories around themes represented in the Virtual Prop Library, like jungle scenes, caves, the beach, and more.

Just select a layout and add text, thought bubbles, titles, and ratios to create your own comic.

Once you create your comic, you can save it, print it and email it.

More Cool Features and Extensions

Print out paper props from our online stick pic gallery and tape them to sticks.

Hold the stick pic in front of the camera and the app will recognize and tell you how far away it is.

Note that the Caliper will automatically appear for the “jersey.”

Since the app already knows the Stick Pic’s size, it can tell you how far away you are holding it. Useful information when setting up shots.

NYSCI offers a set of Size Wise activities to get you started.

Find them at: www.nysci.org/noticing/resources

For more information, FAQ’s, and other info, visit our

website: www.nysci.org/noticing

We hope you have a lot of fun with Size Wise and

learn some things about ratios and proportions in the

process.

Resources Thanks very much for checking out the tutorial.

More Noticing Tools from NYSCI

Choreo Graph allows you to explore graphs and coordinate geometry as you create funny dance moves for your own animated character.

Volumize lets you explore surface area and volume as you take 2D photos of things in the world and make them 3-dimensional.

Fraction Mash allows you to explore fractions while creating crazy photo mashups.

Playground Physics allows you to uncover and analyze the physics in what you do.