Article
Courtesy of Inner Sloth
Math,

Wild for Among Us

A game continues to bring friends together—even while social distancing

By Jessica McKenna-Ratjen
From the May/June 2021 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will find the area of irregular shapes related to the maps in a video game.

Lexile: 920L; 660L
Focus Area: Geometry,
Standards
  • MATHEMATICAL PRACTICES: MP3, MP4, MP7 CCSS: 3.MD.C.7.D TEKS: 3.6D

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Lexile® measure

  • 920L
  • 660L

Courtesy of Inner Sloth

You’re part of a colorful crew on an alien spaceship. Each crewmate has a list of tasks to do. But there’s a catch: At least one of you is an impostor!

This is the concept of Among Us, an online multiplayer gaming app. A small company called InnerSloth released the game in 2018. But it didn’t become popular until 2020. Last September, it was the most-streamed game on Twitch!

You are part of a colorful crew. You are on an alien spaceship. Each crewmate has a list of tasks to do. But there’s a catch! At least one of you is an impostor.

This is the concept of Among Us. Among Us is a gaming app. You can play it online with friends. A small company called InnerSloth released the game in 2018. The game became popular in 2020. Among Us was the most-streamed game on Twitch last September!

Courtesy of Inner Sloth

The game’s creators think the social distancing and isolation that are part of life during the Covid-19 pandemic played a role in the game’s success. “Among Us allows groups of people to gather and have fun without breaking any quarantine rules,” says Victoria Tran of InnerSloth. 

Among Us is played similar to how a murder mystery is played. Players need to communicate and cooperate. So when friends play Among Us, it can feel like they’re all in the same room.

Social distancing and isolation are part of life during the Covid-19 pandemic. The creators of Among Us think that played a role in the game’s success. “Among Us allows groups of people to gather and have fun without breaking any quarantine rules,” says Victoria Tran. Tran works at InnerSloth.

The way you play Among Us is similar to how you would play a murder mystery game. Players need to communicate. They have to cooperate with each other. Playing Among Us can make you feel like you are in the same room as your friends.

Emerson Janes, a fifth-grader in Tarrytown, New York, started playing Among Us last fall. Before the pandemic, he and his friends liked to play games in person. With that no longer possible, Among Us seemed like a good alternative.

“We play it together when we have free time at school on Fridays,” Emerson says. 

The team at InnerSloth is still working on updates and improvements for Among Us, such as a new map, or playing field, and more supported languages. 

“Whenever you allow people to connect, be creative, and have fun,” Tran says, “it keeps the game feeling fresh and exciting every single time.”

Emerson Janes is a fifth-grader in Tarrytown, New York. He started playing Among Us last fall. Emerson and his friends liked to play games in person before the pandemic. That isn’t possible now. Among Us seemed like a good alternative.

“We play it together when we have free time at school on Fridays,” Emerson says.

The team at InnerSloth is still working on Among Us. They are creating a new map. A map is a playing field for a video game. The team is also working to make the game available in more languages.

“Whenever you allow people to connect, be creative, and have fun,” Tran says, “it keeps the game feeling fresh and exciting every single time.”

Math Talk

How might the area of a room affect the way the room is used?

Math Talk

How might the area of a room affect the way the room is used?

Area of Irregular Shapes

What to Do

The area of a square or rectangle can be found by multiplying its length by its width. To find an irregular shapeʼs area, you can partition it, or divide it into more than one part. Then combine the areas of the different parts to find the total.

Example

Find the area of the shape below.

  • First, partition the shape into two rectangles. There can often be more than one way to do this. 
  • Next, find the area of each rectangle. You can use the formula A = l × w, or count the unit squares.
  • Finally, combine the two areas to find the total area of the shape.

20 square units + 6 square units = 26 square units

So the total area of the shape is 26 square units.

Area of Irregular Shapes

What to Do

The area of a square or rectangle can be found by multiplying its length by its width. To find an irregular shapeʼs area, you can partition it, or divide it into more than one part. Then combine the areas of the different parts to find the total.

Example

Find the area of the shape below.

  • First, partition the shape into two rectangles. There can often be more than one way to do this. 
  • Next, find the area of each rectangle. You can use the formula A = l × w, or count the unit squares.
  • Finally, combine the two areas to find the total area of the shape.

20 square units + 6 square units = 26 square units

So the total area of the shape is 26 square units.

Now You Try It

A. On the Polus map in Among Us, the shape below represents a storage room. Partition the shape into 2 rectangles. 

B. Find the area of each rectangle. 

C. What is the total area?

A. On the Polus map in Among Us, the shape below represents a storage room. Partition the shape into 2 rectangles. 

B. Find the area of each rectangle. 

C. What is the total area?



Polus has a communications room, represented below. What is the area of this room?

Polus has a communications room, represented below. What is the area of this room?



On the Polus map, an administration room is represented by the shape below. What is its area?

On the Polus map, an administration room is represented by the shape below. What is its area?



The balcony on the MIRA HQ map has a total area of 26 square units. Find the missing wall measurements below.

The balcony on the MIRA HQ map has a total area of 26 square units. Find the missing wall measurements below.



Continue Your Learning

  • Rewatch the video “Video Games: Then and Now” (above). Then create a timeline about the history of video games using the facts from the video. You can also use the internet to research more fun facts to add to your timeline.
  • Play a “What’s My Area?” game using irregular shapes with a family member or friend. Draw an irregular shape that can be partitioned into two rectangles or squares and label the lengths of each side. Then challenge your friend or family member to find its area. Repeat, taking turns drawing and solving.

Continue Your Learning

  • Rewatch the video “Video Games: Then and Now” (above). Then create a timeline about the history of video games using the facts from the video. You can also use the internet to research more fun facts to add to your timeline.
  • Play a “What’s My Area?” game using irregular shapes with a family member or friend. Draw an irregular shape that can be partitioned into two rectangles or squares and label the lengths of each side. Then challenge your friend or family member to find its area. Repeat, taking turns drawing and solving.
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