‘Square One’ counts on its methods to make the subject of math fun

Although many left-brain folk adhere to the rule that “math is fun,” right-brainers are inclined to disagree.

PBS’ Square One TV--which begins its fifth season this week--is designed to make that adage true.

“Our goal is to change kids’ attitudes toward math,” says Jeffrey Nelson, executive producer. “We want to give them the sense that it can be an enjoyable activity as well as a powerful tool for solving real-life problems.”

The show includes the returning segments “Mathcourt,” “General Mathpital” and “Mathnet,” as well as spoofs such as “Sneaky Peeks,” about a pair of pontificating movie critics, and “Late Afternoon With David Numberman,” about a comedy talk show featuring weird guests and peculiar tricks.

“Square One TV’s” new season will also include new characters, including a cartoon kid who climbs a pyramid made up of positive and negative numbers, a computer-generated television personality with a taste for facts and figures and an animated adventure series about children from the Planet Neon.

*

“Square One TV” premieres Mondays-Fridays at 4:30 p.m. on KCET and Saturdays at 9 a.m. on KPBS. KOCE, which airs the show Saturdays at 7 a.m. will show the fifth season’s premiere later in the year. For ages 8 to 12.

MORE FAMILY SHOWS

The creator of Betty Boop and the animator of Popeye and Superman is featured in Cartoon Madness--The Fantastic Max Fleischer Cartoons (Tuesday 6-8 p.m. and 10-midnight A&E;). The show features “Out of the Inkwell,” a series of groundbreaking shorts that combine animation and live-action. The animation pioneer of the late ‘20s and ‘30s also did “Bouncing Ball” cartoons, which not only brought pop music to life, but did so with stars such as Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, the Mills Brothers, Ethel Merman and Rudy Vallee. For ages 6 and up.

*

The new environmental music special This Island Earth (Tuesday 8-9 p.m. Disney Channel) uses nature film from the National Audubon Society archives and music performed by Kenny Loggins, Gloria Estefan and Shanice to explore threats to the Earth and its inhabitants. Loggins will perform “Conviction of the Heart,” which has become an environmental anthem, and a new song, “This Island Earth,” written for the special. He plays the song for a group of dolphins and later performs it with his band. For ages 7 and up.

*

Among the Heart of Courage (Thursday 5:30-6 p.m., 8:30-9 p.m. Discovery) stories profiled is the true tale of 17-year-old Christopher Meier from Seneca, Wash., who fought smoke, heat and mass confusion to save the lives of seven family members from a burning motor home that had flipped into a ditch. For ages 10 and up.

*

In the hourlong special GI Joe--The Greatest Evil (Thursday 5-6 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-noon USA), Joe’s “Drug Elimination Force” team joins with enemy Cobra Command to combat a powerful, evil drug lord. The show will air during National Red Ribbon Week for a Drug-Free America in conjunction with the National Federation of Parents for a Drug-Free Youth. For ages 6-11.

*

Storyporch (Saturdays 5:30-6 a.m. BET) is set on a country porch in the heart of a city, with children sitting around the host-storyteller. Storytellers include Lou Meyers (“A Different World”), Ozzie Davis, Ruby Dee and Maya Angelou. Some of the books that will be read are “Grampa’s Face” by Eloise Greenfield, “Rapunzel” by Fred Crump Jr. and “Black Snowman” by Phil Mendex. For ages 2-8.