Numberblocks
Support Materials
Series 3 Episode 7
Numberblobs
A blue dot in the corner of a slide indicates that there are notes below the slide.
Practitioner Notes
Episode Description
The Numberblocks’ favourite friends, the Numberblobs, are here to find out
‘how many’. These new characters sing a happy counting song. Learn to say
the counting numbers in the correct order.
Maths in the Episode
Counting
This episode offers an opportunity for discussion about the skills involved in counting. Gelman and Gallistel’s (1978)
principles of counting are addressed in this episode.
1. One-to-one principle: each object counted is tagged with one number name only. (The Numberblobs tag each
object being counted.)
2. Stable order principle: the sequence of numbers is always said in the same order. (The Numberblobs count up to
each number each time.)
3. Order irrelevance principle: it doesn’t matter where you start or finish so long as the first two principles are applied.
4. Cardinal principle: the last number in the count (assuming the one-to-one and stable order principle has been
applied) reveals the quantity. (Numberblobs announce the quantity.)
5. Abstraction principle: counting principles can be applied to a variety of contexts including sounds. (Listen for the
Numberblob pings at the end of each verse.)
Using Mathematical Language
Use these stem sentences to rehearse the mathematical ideas in the
programme:
“One, two, three” there are three trees.
“One, two, three” there are three bees.
Talk and Discuss
Together
Talk and Discuss Together
Watch the episode of Numberblocks. Use the following picture as a stimulus.
First ask the children about what the Numberblobs do.
Numberblobs help to keep track of counting.
The following slides are designed to stimulate children and adults to talk about
the episode and draw out some key aspects of the mathematics.
Images © 2017 Alphablocks Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Enabling Environments
in Reception
Enabling Environments
Playing and Exploring
Set up a musical instruments area in the setting. Encourage the children to compose their own
rhythms and record their rhythm using mark making to show how many notes there are in their
rhythm. Encourage them to write a rhythm piece for others to play.
Active Learning
Look for opportunities to use the counting principles in everyday play. Encourage finger pointing
and object moving when something has been counted.
Creating and Thinking Critically
Play call response with instruments. Count the sound beats and say how many. Use fingers to
represent the number of sound beats heard.
Learning Together in Y1
Images © 2017 Alphablocks Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Good
counting?
Bad
counting?
Images © 2017 Alphablocks Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Images © 2017 Alphablocks Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Further activities for Y1
Provide opportunities for daily counting in Y1 without numerals.
Practise counting:
• objects that can’t be moved
• objects that can’t be touched
• pictures of objects presented in a line
• pictures of objects presented in irregular arrangements
• coins/counters being dropped in a tin can
• claps or beats of a drum
• the number of jumps someone does
• representing counting 0-10 using fingers.
Learning Together in Y2
Count and
record.
Colour Number Object Number
3 Flower 7
6 Car 7
3 Buttons 5
5 Apple 6
8
Images © 2017 Alphablocks Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Further activities for Y2
• Build a construction with different coloured 2D shapes. Create a 2-way table
using colour and number to record the different numbers of shapes and
colour that were used.
• Draw information from a 2-way table, for example, shape and colour. Read
the table and draw the shape and colour.
• Complete a 2-way table with some missing information and pictures of
shapes.
• Record information from a 2-way table on a frequency table.
• Record information on 2 frequency tables onto a 2-way table.
