Numberblocks, where numbers play the key role

Abstract

We introduce the readers to a new series, but unfortunately only available in English. This is Numberblocks, a British production designed for kids aged 4 to 7 in which numbers are the main characters, the latter being said in the most literal sense possible. The episodes are very short, lasting about five minutes, and the series begin with the introduction of the numbers, starting with one, and go on to deal with multiplicative situations. As we will see, each number has its own personality, which is related to its mathematical properties. A careful use of language from the mathematical point of view, decompositions of the numbers and additional symbolism in the background for viewers at the upper limit of the age range, make this series a resource to consider for the little ones. Not surprisingly, it has been produced with the collaboration of the NCETM of the United Kingdom, whose website offers additional materials. In this article we describe the main characteristics of the series, the content it addresses and… what the children think about it.