Source: Cyberchase: “Less Than Zero”
Funding for the VITAL/Ready to Teach collection was secured through the United States Department of Education under the Ready to Teach Program.
In this video segment from Cyberchase, Harry decides he wants to compete in the Northern Hemisphere Games in New Orleans. He must compete in four events and score a total of 50 points to make the team. In each event, if he does well he can score high, but if he performs poorly, his score could become a negative number.
Download and ShareHere are some Frame, Focus and Follow-up suggestions for using this video in a math lesson.
What is Frame, Focus and Follow-up?
Frame: If you are trying to earn money to buy a bike, you might want to keep track of how much you have saved. Let’s say you saved $5 from one job and $5 from another. You could add those two amounts and have $10 saved. But, what if you had to pay for a $12 library book that you lost? You have to borrow $2 from your mom to pay the fine. How would you record your savings situation now?
Focus: In this video segment, Harry earns points for some of his better performances in the events, but he also receives some negative scores, too. As you watch, record Harry’s scores as he participates in each event.
Follow Up: Add up the individual scores to find out Harry's overall score. How was a number line used to keep track of Harry’s point total? If Harry had 20 points but then received a score of -30 on his next event, what would his new total be? What real life examples could you give that show how negative numbers are used?
TRAINER: Come on you can do it! Work it! Work it! Take the burn, yeah!
TRAINER: Keep practicing, I'll be back...in a couple of years.
HARRY: I'm training for the Northern Hemisphere games, they're held every four years. This year they're in New Orleans. I've always wanted to go there, but first I have to qualify.
HARRY: The problem is, there's some things I'm really good at, and others, well, I'm pretty stinky at.
HARRY: Fifty points doesn't sound like much, but if you're really bad, you can score a negative number, like, below zero! If you score a negative twenty, you have to get a positive twenty score just to get to zero.
JUDGE: Harry Wilson!
HARRY: Yes.
JUDGE: For your qualifying routine you must score a total of 50 points in four activities: extreme inlines, ice skating, gymnastics and...
HARRY: Please let it be rock climbing. Rock climbing, rock climbing, rock climbing.
JUDGE: Bowling!
HARRY: Bowling! They might as well have picked deep sea fishing!
HARRY: It's the one sport I haven't practiced.
HARRY: Skating is my best activity; I started skating before I could walk! I'll end with riding the rails.
HARRY: Yes!
HARRY: Negative 10! I am in the red zone, I'm gonna have to kick it up a notch just to get to zero!
HARRY: My chances of going to New Orleans are all but gone...I've got a zero! A zero! There is nothing stopping me now!
HARRY: This is it; gotta think positive, gotta think positive.
HARRY: Can I try a couple of practice throws? How about a couple of million?
HARRY: Okay I'm ready, think positive. Gotta think positive.
JUDGE: Harry, you didn't make the team, but you made a great comeback, so we want you to try again next time, okay?
HARRY: Okay.
HARRY: Astronaut training program, must be able to score high marks on physical activities test, must be able to travel....
HARRY: I always wanted to go to Florida.
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