A four-page frosty rescue for practising negative numbers, temperature, sequences and coordinates.
Centi-Peed finds a frosted burrow beneath the roots. The entrance marker reads 3°C, but tiny firefly footprints descend seven degree-steps. “Below zero is still somewhere,” Sub-Zero says, drawing a glowing number line through the air.
Try it: What temperature is 7 degrees below 3°C?
−4. Count down seven steps from 3: 2, 1, 0, −1, −2, −3, −4.
At −6°C, Centi-Peed spots a warm gold shimmer farther up the tunnel. The next marker reads 2°C. Instead of fearing the minus sign, Centi counts every step through zero while Sub-Zero shelters the smallest firefly from the wind.
Try it: How many degrees warmer is 2°C than −6°C?
8. Move 6 degrees from −6 to 0, then 2 more to reach 2. The total change is 8 degrees.
Four ice lanterns show −8, −4, 0, and 4. Each brighter lantern is four steps warmer than the last. Centi-Peed follows the pattern rather than guessing, and the missing fireflies answer with a cheerful flash.
Try it: What number comes next: −8, −4, 0, 4, ...?
8. The sequence increases by 4 each time. Add 4 to 4 to get 8.
The return map marks the firefly nest at (−2, 1). A clear tunnel runs four grid steps to the right and stays at the same height. Centi-Peed leads this time, reading along the x-axis first. Every firefly reaches the moonlit roots safely.
Try it: Starting at x = −2, what is the new x-coordinate after moving 4 steps right?
2. Moving right adds 4 to x: −2 + 4 = 2. The y-coordinate stays unchanged.
Try the story again without peeking, or print it and work the questions on paper. SnackPack Basic Math has the rest of the story shelf, daily practice and number games.
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