Many agree that football is the All-American sport. Since its inception in the 1960s, the Super Bowl has evolved to become a true American tradition. On Super Bowl Sunday, families and friends gather to watch as two of the 32 teams from the National Football League dish it out for the national title and serious bragging rights. This year, it’s the San Francisco 49ers vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. Some tune in for the football, others for the commercials or half time show, and still others for the whole event. Super Bowl fun should not be limited to Super Bowl Sunday, or the comforts of our living rooms. The Super Bowl can serve as a way for us educators to further connect and engage with our students in the classroom.
One way to celebrate the Super Bowl, and football in general in our classrooms, is through a number line and football activity that helps students visualize the connection between Football plays and rational numbers, through real-life applications. Using this type of activity, students will practice locating negative and positive integers on a number line, model the addition or subtraction of negative and positive integers and identify the absolute value of each play.
To begin this activity, it is important to preview academic vocabulary. Since students will be asked to identify positive and negative integers, as well as absolute value, you should begin by reviewing or introducing these terms and modeling examples on a basic number line.
Positive integers: describe numbers that are greater than 0.
Negative integers: refer to numbers that are less than 0.
Absolute value: a number’s non-negative value without regard to its sign. A number’s distance from 0.
It is also important to review the following football terms prior to beginning the lesson, to ensure that students understand each prompt:
Endzone: A 10-yard long area at each end of the field.
Note: it is important to explain to students that for the purpose of this activity, the 50-yard line will be replaced by 0. One team will be located in a “negative” space, thus the yards on the left side of the 0 yard line will all be considered negative integers.
Offense: When the team’s objective is to score a touchdown. The team aims to move towards the opposite end zone.
Defense: When the team’s objective is to defend their end zone and prevent the other team from reaching the end zone and scoring a touchdown.
Down: A down occurs each time a team makes a playing decision. A down begins with the quarterback’s play decision and ends when the player with the football is tackled, if the ball goes out of bounds, or the team scores.
Drive: A drive is a set of 4 plays. For a Drive to be successful, a team must travel a minimum of 10 yards towards the opposing end zone. If the Drive is successful, the team is awarded another 4 plays and is required to move forward another 10 yards.
Tackle: When a defensive player successfully disarms an offensive player with the ball, preventing them from moving forward or keeping the player from completing a play.
Punt: Kicking the ball towards the opposite end zone.
Rush/Rushing: Running the ball during a play towards the opposite end zone.
Touchdown: When the offense is able to make it through to the endzone within a drive or when a defensive player recovers a ball in the opposing end zone, resulting in a score of 6 points.
Number Line Football Field Document. (Can be printed out and projected under docu-cam or can be projected on a large screen/smartTV/Promethean board.)
2 colored pens/pencils (if using docu-cam)
2 colored dry-erase markers (if projecting)
Physical or digital stopwatch/timer.
Score-keeping chart (1 per student)
Online random number generator or the random number list provided.
Bring football fun into the classroom and watch how rational numbers become part of the fun of learning.
Stay up to date on the latest blog posts, content, tools, and more from PBS Education!