One sunny day, our friends decided to explore a trail they hadn’t visited in a while. As they walked, they stumbled upon the Derbytown maze. “Oh, it’s the Derbytown maze!” one of them exclaimed. They remembered trying to solve it before but always getting lost. This time, they were determined to find their way out!
They started their adventure by heading down a path. “This looks good,” one of them said. They twisted and turned through the maze, excitedly making their way to the center. “Hey, we made it to the center of the maze!” they cheered. But then they realized the real challenge was getting back out!
As they tried to retrace their steps, they found themselves confused. “All the exits look the same!” they said. After trying several paths and hitting dead ends, they decided to call their friend Chase for help. “Zach to Chase, can you come in to help us?” they asked.
Chase guided them out of the maze with clear directions. “First, you back out, then you go left,” Chase instructed. With Chase’s help, they finally made it out. “Thanks, Chase!” they said, grateful for the assistance.
Determined to solve the maze on their own, they decided to try again. This time, they came up with a clever plan. “We’ll remember what turns we took, and that way we can get back out!” they said. They started their journey again, calling out each turn to remember the path.
As they explored, they found a trail of rocks. “Let’s follow it!” they decided. They realized they could use rocks to mark their path. “You drop a trail of rocks, and then we follow the trail back out!” they planned. With this new strategy, they successfully navigated the maze and found their way out!
Later, they visited their friend Bob the Boat, who didn’t have a garage. “I just sleep right there at the docks at night,” Bob explained. Feeling sad for Bob, they decided to build him a garage as a surprise.
They tried to make the garage float on sticks, but it didn’t work. “Oh, Bob! It sank!” they realized. Not giving up, they thought of using rocks to support the garage. “We’ll put rocks in the water, and the garage will sit on top of the rocks!” they decided.
With the rocks in place, Bob’s garage was finally ready. “Wow! This is great! My very own garage sitting right here on the water!” Bob exclaimed happily. Now, Bob had a cozy place to stay, thanks to his thoughtful friends.
After their successful projects, they decided to have some fun on the Three Gullies Trail. The trail had a sharp turn that always sent them flying off the path. “Let’s really turn hard this time!” they said, eager to conquer the challenge.
They tried different ideas to stay on the path, including building a wall and slowing down. But it wasn’t as fun. Then, they came up with a brilliant idea: a banked turn! “It’s a turn on a slope, so you can go faster around the corner!” they explained.
With the banked turn in place, they zoomed around the corner with ease. “Wow!” they cheered, thrilled with their success. It was a day full of adventures, problem-solving, and fun for everyone!
Maze Mapping Adventure: Create your own mini-maze at home using pillows, chairs, or cardboard boxes. Invite a family member or friend to try and solve it. As they navigate, observe which paths they take and how they find their way out. Afterward, discuss what strategies worked best and why. Did they use any special tricks like the trail of rocks from the story?
Build a Floating Garage: Gather some small sticks, leaves, and pebbles. Try to build a tiny floating garage for a toy boat in a shallow container of water. Experiment with different materials to see what makes the best floating base. Discuss why some materials float better than others and how you can use this knowledge to build a strong, floating structure.
Design a Banked Turn: Use toy cars and a piece of cardboard or a book to create a banked turn. Tilt the cardboard to form a slope and let the cars roll down. Observe how the cars move differently on the banked turn compared to a flat surface. Talk about why the banked turn helps the cars go faster and how this idea is used in real-life roads and racetracks.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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[Music]
We haven’t been down this trail for a while. Let’s go!
Hey, wait! What’s that over there?
Oh, it’s the Derbytown maze!
Oh yeah, I forgot all about that. Did we ever solve it?
Nope! Every time we tried, we were able to get to the center, but then we got lost and had to call Chase to lead us back out.
Alright, but I have a feeling today’s the day we solve it!
I have that feeling too! Let’s go!
Alright, let’s go this way.
I’m right there.
Okay, um, let’s go. This looks good, straight down here. I think this is the way, and then this way. Come on, come on!
I think you’re right, Zach, and I’m pretty sure we’ll go…
You haven’t hit a dead end yet going this way.
Over here! Here we go!
Hey, we made it to the center of the maze!
Wait, how do you know?
Because at the center, we built this mud puddle!
[Music] [Applause] [Music] [Laughter]
Well, that was easy!
No, don’t you remember? Getting to the center of the maze was always easy; it was getting out that was the tricky part.
Well, we just have to follow the same path we came in on, right?
Good thinking, Rex! So where did we come from?
It was there…
Oh no, no, it was there!
No, uh-uh.
Oh, all the exits look the same!
Oh, you’re right! Well, let’s go this way over here. Come on!
Okay!
Yeah, I’m pretty sure we went around this way over here. Yup, I think you’re right.
And then this way…
I think this is the way.
No, we didn’t go that way.
Uh, right! Hey, why don’t we try over here?
Oh, okay. I don’t know if that’s right, but maybe then around this corner…
Hmm, this doesn’t seem right either, Zach.
Oh no, dead end! I have no idea where we are!
I think we’re stuck.
That’s ridiculous! Super maze solvers don’t get stuck!
Then where are we?
I have no idea.
Huh, maybe we should call Chase.
Zach to Chase, can you come in to help us?
Sure thing, Derbies! I’ll be right there.
Okay, I can see you from way up here!
Hey Chase, can you lead us out?
No problem! First, you back out, then you go left.
There!
Okay, good!
Next, turn left there.
Here! Now go down that straightaway.
Okay, now turn that next corner.
Okay, and you’re out!
Yay! Thanks, Chase! Sorry we had to call you.
Oh, it’s okay, Zach. No Zerby has ever solved that maze!
No Zerby has ever solved it?
Nope! We’d be the first!
Well, I’ll see you later.
Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
Let’s try, try again!
Right! But what should we do differently this time?
We’ll remember what turns we took, and that way we can get back out!
Okay, alright! I’ll call out the turns and you remember.
Alright! First turn, right!
Alright, and then next turn is a left.
Okay, right, and then left, and then we’re going straight.
Right, and then a left, and then straight.
Two more rights, that’s a left, two rights, then another left!
Oh, and then a straight… uh, a banana and a right, mud puddle, bathtub…
Oh no! And here we are, Rex! I think we should head back before we forget the way!
Okay, uh, which way do we go?
Uh, left, right… um, then, uh, a banana…
Ah, sorry, Zach, I have no idea!
Yeah, it was a lot of turns, huh?
Rex to Chase, we need, um, some more help!
Thanks for getting us out again, Chase!
There you go!
Don’t worry, Zerbies! Like I said, this maze is so hard, no Zerby has ever solved it!
I’m sure we can do it! We just need to try, try again!
But what should we do this time?
I don’t know, let’s look around!
Answers are everywhere!
You’re right, Zach! Answers are everywhere! Come on over here!
You see anything?
No, not yet.
Oh hey, look! A trail of rocks!
Let’s follow it!
Okay!
Hey Phil, you left a trail of rocks!
Hey Zerbies! I’m just moving some rocks from one pile to another. I must have dropped some.
Wait, Rex! I think I found the answer! Quick, put some rocks in your dump and follow me!
[Music]
Okay, here’s my plan: you drop a trail of rocks and then we follow the trail back out!
Oh, okay! Let’s try!
Okay, I’ll go first and you follow me!
Okay, here I go! I’m gonna start by jumping…
There we go! Starting the path and putting some rocks down there and over there.
Keep coming this way! I got a nice little trail going on here!
It’s working! We can follow the rocks all the way back!
Okay, let’s keep going! Dumping rocks!
Okay, we’re at the center! Let’s see if our plan worked. Which way should we go to head back out?
All the exits look the same!
Yeah, but only one has rocks!
Yes! Let’s go!
Okay, did we come this way?
Well, we must have because look, there’s rocks!
Oh, well that means we’re on the right track!
Look, Rex! There’s the gate where we started! We did it!
[Music]
And the rocks are there so that we can always solve the maze again!
Oh hey guys! I was cleaning up my rocks and I saw some in the maze there, so now I’ve cleaned them all up!
Ha ha! Uh, Phil, those were for getting out!
Oh, sorry!
What do we do? Back into the maze? Let’s solve it again!
[Music]
I’m coming too!
Oh yes! I get to solve it again! This is gonna be fun!
Alright, behind you!
Oh, a little more to the right… too far to…
[Music]
I love garage painting day!
Hey Jewel, I just love your garage! Do you think the garage is big enough?
Lily, I don’t want Zerbies to think I don’t love jewels!
Oh, I think they’ll see that! Great job!
Hey Zach, did you finish your garage?
I did! What do you think?
I like it! It looks just like you!
I never noticed how much each Zerby’s garage looks just like them!
I never noticed that either! That’s neat!
Yeah!
Hey, what does Bob the Boat’s garage look like?
Bob’s? Hmm, I can’t remember! Let’s go find out!
Okay!
Okay, catch me, Lily!
Okay, you got me!
Okay!
This way!
Okay, I see him! I’m right behind you!
Hey Bob!
Oh hi, Zach! Hi, Lily!
Hey, what’s going on?
Where’s your garage, Bob?
Oh, I don’t have a garage!
You don’t? Why not?
Well, I never thought I needed one. I just sleep right there at the docks at night.
But what if it rains?
Oh, I’m a boat! I’m always wet! A little rain never bothers me!
Okay, see you later!
Okay, see you later, Bob!
Hi Bob!
I don’t know why, but it makes me feel sad that Bob doesn’t have a garage of his own.
Me too! Come on, I have a plan!
I always thought he had a garage at the other end of the lake.
No, he doesn’t have one!
Hey, we could build him one and surprise him with it!
Oh, that’s a good idea!
Yeah! Let’s do it! Ready?
[Music]
Hey Bob! Hi Zerbies! What’s going on?
[Applause]
Hey, is that a garage for me?
Wow! We all thought you should have a garage! What do you think?
Wow, it’s great! So where do you want it?
Over here in the water!
Okay, I’ll just swing it out and… um, that’s it!
Perfect! There we go!
Oh, Bob! It sank!
And sadly, I’m not a submarine, so I can’t go under the water!
Bob’s garage needs to stay on top of the water!
Yes, you’re right!
Yeah, it’s okay! We’ll just try, try again!
So what should we do differently?
Hmm… oh, I know! I float, so maybe my garage should float too!
Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!
So we just need to find a way to make the garage float!
How do we do that?
How about sticks? Sticks float!
Good idea, Lily! That should work!
Alright, let’s go!
Just let me know when you’re back with the sticks!
Okay, so here are some sticks, and we’ll line them up like this.
And then there’s an open end here so Bob can get in and out.
Now all we have to do is attach the garage to the sticks!
It looks great! Do you think it will work?
Well, let’s try it and find out!
Yeah!
Just lift it up and put it on the sticks!
Now to tie the sticks to the garage!
[Music]
Now let’s see if it floats!
[Music]
Wow! This is great! My own garage!
I just want to say thank you to you Zerbies! I never had a garage before, and I didn’t think I needed one, but now that I have one, I’m so excited to use it!
And now every night I can come back to my garage, which will always be sitting right here!
Hey, where did it go? It floated away over there!
I better go get it!
Come back!
Alright, floating the garage didn’t work. I guess we should try, try again!
But I don’t know what to do!
Don’t worry, Zach! Answers are everywhere!
Hey, let’s go look around!
Oh, good idea, Lily!
What?
Okay…
Hmm, that’s a log. No, I guess we sort of tried that.
Uh, maybe something in the water?
Hey Lily, you’re floating! How are you doing that?
No, I’m not! I’m on a rock! See?
Oh hey, Lily! Maybe you found the answer! Let’s get some rocks!
Okay, let’s go!
Come on! Wait, Lily! Wait for me!
Okay, so what we have is all these rocks, and what we’re gonna do is place the rocks in the water where Bob’s garage will go.
I still don’t get it, Zach! How are rocks going to work? Rocks aren’t going to make Bob’s garage float!
Ah, but you see, we don’t need his garage to float!
We don’t?
Nope! Floating in the garage didn’t work this time. We’re gonna put rocks in the water, and the garage will sit on top of the rocks!
No, I get it! Good idea!
I’ll start placing the rocks and swing it out and put it right there!
[Music]
Oh, I see! So I would fit right in here!
Hey, that’s great!
Here we go! Here comes the garage!
[Music] [Applause]
Wow! This is great! My very own garage sitting right here on the water!
But it’s sitting on the rocks so it won’t blow away in the wind!
I’m gonna try it!
Alright!
Hey, look! I can drive right in here!
Hey, there’s a spot to hang some pictures!
And what is… oh, that closes the door!
That’s great! This place is good!
It makes me sleepy!
I think he fell asleep!
Okay, I think we should do something fun!
Yeah!
Yeah, definitely something fun! Do you have any ideas?
Oh, how about the Three Gullies Trail?
Oh yeah, that’s a great one! Let’s go!
Wait, isn’t this the trail with a really sharp turn?
Yeah, and the one where we always go flying off the path!
Yeah, we’ve never been able to go around that turn at full speed!
Oh, don’t worry, Zach! This time is going to be different!
Yeah! Let’s really turn hard this time!
Look, there it is!
Oh, we can do it! Let’s turn the whole corner without wiping out!
Okay, ready, set…
[Music]
That was fun!
Did you see how I went into the leaves? I got leaves in my fan belt!
Yeah, it’s a good thing this pile of leaves was here!
Yeah, don’t you remember, Zach? We put the leaves here so we’d have a soft landing!
Oh yeah! Driving into the leaves is pretty fun!
Driving into the leaves is fun, but I’d rather drive into leaves because I want to drive into the leaves, not because I can’t go around a corner!
Hmm, I wonder why we always drive off.
It’s because the corner is so sharp! See, let me show you!
Okay, it goes along like this…
Uh-huh…
And then it turns all the way so you’re going back this way!
Oh wait, that’s it!
What’s it? Where? Who?
I know how we can drive around the corner! Come on, let’s try, try again!
Oh, okay! This is great! I knew you’d come up with something, Zach! You’re so smart!
Okay, ready, set…
Wait! The brakes! Why are we slowing down?
Watch!
Look at that!
See?
Huh! Going right around the corner!
So we go slow around the corner!
Yeah, well it worked, didn’t it?
Yeah, but it’s kind of boring!
Yeah, it’s not as much fun as going fast!
It’s not even as much fun as driving into the leaves!
I think we should try, try again!
Okay, let’s see if we can come up with a different idea!
Yeah!
I’ll tell you what, Axel! Let me watch what happens when you go fast like you normally do!
You mean go really, really fast?
Yeah, I mean really, really!
Yeah!
Alright, well I’m gonna go so fast! Don’t blink because you might miss me!
Here I go!
Okay, ready, set… turbo!
[Music]
Wow! See me?
Yeah, I saw! I saw it! That was awesome!
It looks like you just can’t stay on the road!
You flew off!
Right about here!
Yep, that’s where I flew off!
Alright!
And went…
And ran!
Wow!
And so what if we put something here to stop you from flying off?
Oh, like what?
I know just the thing!
Exactly! Chase, come in!
Chase!
Hi there, Zach! This is Chase! What can I do for you?
Can you ask Rex to meet us on the Three Gullies Trail?
The one where everybody tumbles into the leaves?
That’s the one!
Alright, I’ll send them right over!
So then I did a turn like this and it was like, oh!
Oh, I saw that! The mud went flying!
Yeah!
Oh hey, there he is!
What can I help with, Zach?
Hey Rex, can you build a wall right here?
Can I? Of course I can! Building things is what I do!
Okay, watch me!
I get a load of sticks, then I draw a string across it and tie all the sticks together, and then I push it up there!
See, Axel? Now this wall will stop you from flying off the end of the turn!
Oh great! Let me try!
Ready, set…
[Music]
I stopped!
Well, you didn’t go into the leaves, I guess!
But now I just bump into the sticks and stop!
I’m a Zerby who likes to move!
I agree! Looks like we should try, try again!
But what should we do?
I don’t know! But you know what we say? Answers are everywhere!
Let’s see if we can find something!
Oh, I’ll come too!
That’s the leaves! No, we already tried leaves!
Oh hey, look! A rock!
No, that’s not gonna help!
Oh look! A little patch of grass!
Aren’t you a cute batch of grass? Yes, you are!
Ah, come on! I don’t have any ideas!
Let’s see if Axel found anything!
Whoa! That was fun! I just went up as I went around the corner!
I’m gonna try that again!
Wow, that’s really fun!
Hey Axel, did you find anything?
I forgot!
But look at the trick I can do!
[Music]
It’s super fun! You should try it!
It’s great, isn’t it?
Yeah!
Yeah, and it gives me an idea! Come on!
Oh, okay!
Uh, I don’t get it! It looks really nice, but what’s it for?
It’s like when you were on that path in the forest! I think you should be able to go faster around the corner if it’s like this!
So what do I do?
Well, you drive in at the start, and then you drive up a little bit, then you go down the other side and you don’t slow down!
Oh, it looks like fun! What do you call it?
Well, it’s a turn on a slope, so I call it a banked turn! Its side is raised so you can go faster around the corner!
I’m gonna try it!
Okay, ready?
Wow!
Hey, did you see that?
Sure did!
