Numberblocks
Numberblocks is a British animated preschool television series that teaches young children fundamental mathematics concepts through colorful, anthropomorphic number characters known as Numberblocks.[1] The show, set in the whimsical world of Numberland, features these block-based figures who combine and separate to demonstrate addition, subtraction, and other numerical ideas via engaging songs, stories, and problem-solving adventures.[2] Created by Joe Elliot, who previously developed the similar literacy-focused series Alphablocks, Numberblocks was produced by Alphablocks Ltd. in collaboration with Blue Zoo Animation Studio and commissioned by BBC Children's for airing on the CBeebies channel.[3][4] The first episode premiered on 23 January 2017, introducing viewers to the Numberblocks starting with "One" and building up to more complex groupings.[5] Since its debut, the series has expanded to multiple seasons, with each typically comprising 15 short episodes of about five minutes, focusing on progressive levels from basic counting to multiplication and patterns.[1] As of 2025, eight full series have aired, alongside specials and interactive content.[4] Numberblocks has gained international popularity, streaming on platforms like Netflix and earning acclaim for making math accessible and fun, including BAFTA awards for its educational innovation.[6][7]Overview
Premise
Numberblocks is a British animated preschool television series in which numbers are personified as colorful, block-based characters called Numberblocks, each composed of a specific quantity of unit blocks that represent their numerical value. These characters interact by combining to form larger numbers, illustrating addition and multiplication, or splitting apart to show subtraction and division, thereby visualizing fundamental mathematical operations in an engaging, tangible way.[8][1] The series aims to make early mathematics accessible and enjoyable for young children by transforming abstract concepts into playful adventures, songs, and stories that encourage exploration without reliance on rote memorization or symbols alone. Developed in collaboration with educational experts from the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, it emphasizes deep understanding through visualization, helping preschoolers grasp ideas like the conservation of quantity and the relationships between numbers.[8] Central to the show's theme is the portrayal of numbers as the essential building blocks of mathematics, with episodes dedicated to exploring number bonds (ways to compose a number from smaller parts), patterns, and basic operations to foster confidence and curiosity in numeracy. Created by Joe Elliot as a companion to his earlier literacy program Alphablocks—which uses animated letters to teach phonics—Numberblocks applies a similar innovative, character-driven format to build mathematical literacy.[8] Numberblocks premiered on BBC's CBeebies channel on 23 January 2017, as part of the broadcaster's commitment to educational programming for early years audiences.[9]Format and Style
Numberblocks episodes are structured as short, 5-minute animated segments, each focusing on one or two fundamental mathematical concepts through straightforward, repetitive storytelling that emphasizes exploration and discovery rather than intricate narratives.[2] This format allows for quick, digestible lessons tailored to preschool audiences, encouraging repeated viewings to reinforce learning without overwhelming young viewers.[1] The simplicity of the plots, often revolving around the Numberblocks collaborating to solve everyday number-related challenges, prioritizes playful interaction over dramatic tension, aligning with early childhood educational goals.[2] The visual style employs vibrant 2D animation combined with 3D elements to create a dynamic yet accessible world, featuring cube-shaped characters whose blocky designs literally split and merge to demonstrate addition, subtraction, and other operations in a tangible way.[2] These colorful, expressive figures, each embodying a specific number with distinct personalities, enhance engagement by making abstract math concepts visually concrete and fun.[10] The animation's clean lines and bold hues contribute to a whimsical aesthetic that captivates children aged 3-5, supporting cognitive development through relatable, animated play.[11] Narrative techniques incorporate songs, rhymes, and direct interactive prompts to draw viewers into the action, fostering active participation such as counting aloud or mimicking movements.[12] Episodes maintain a gentle pacing with rhythmic repetition of key phrases and actions, building familiarity and confidence in math skills while gradually increasing complexity across series—from basic counting in early episodes to multi-digit operations later on—without sacrificing core simplicity.[13] This approach ensures the show remains suitable for repeated exposure, promoting long-term retention through joyful, curriculum-aligned discovery.[14]Production
Development
Numberblocks was developed by Blue Zoo Animation Studio in collaboration with BBC Children's Productions, extending the educational animation style established by the successful Alphablocks series, which had popularized phonics learning through character-based adventures.[8] The series was created by Joe Elliot, who also developed Alphablocks, with production handled by Alphablocks Ltd., a joint venture between Elliot and Blue Zoo.[3] Commissioned by the BBC for its CBeebies channel, the concept aimed to make mathematics accessible and engaging for preschoolers by personifying numbers as animated blocks, drawing on consultations with educational experts from the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics to ensure alignment with early years curricula.[8] The initial development phase occurred in 2016, culminating in the series' greenlight and debut on 23 January 2017, with the first season focusing on core counting and basic operations for numbers 1 through 10.[3] Elliot served as the primary writer, guiding the narrative to emphasize visual and playful representations of math concepts over rote memorization, while Blue Zoo's animation team handled the technical realization.[2] Pilot elements and early testing informed the format, prioritizing short, repeatable episodes to build familiarity with numerical ideas through repetition and humor.[8] Subsequent milestones included expansions driven by audience reception, particularly after a surge in viewership during the 2020 lockdowns, which doubled daily engagements and prompted BBC commissions for additional seasons introducing higher numbers and more complex topics.[8] By 2024, a multi-year deal between BBC Children's and Education, Alphablocks Ltd., and Blue Zoo secured ongoing production, with series 8 (commissioned in 2025, which premiered on 18 August 2025) incorporating advanced concepts such as two-digit addition, measurement, and data handling based on feedback from educators and viewers.[15][14][4] These adjustments reflect continuous input from educational consultants, ensuring the curriculum evolves to address gaps like fractions, patterns, and multiplication while maintaining the show's core focus on joyful discovery.[8]Animation and Music
Numberblocks employs a distinctive animation style that combines 3D modeling for the core block-based characters with 2D effects to enhance visual dynamism and playfulness, produced by Blue Zoo Animation Studio. The characters are constructed from modular, cube-shaped blocks, enabling seamless reconfiguration in scenes where numbers split, merge, or rearrange, which facilitates the illustration of mathematical operations like addition and subtraction. This approach draws inspiration from tactile, block-building play, making abstract concepts tangible for young viewers.[2] The sound design integrates original musical scores composed by Ben Lee-Delisle, characterized by upbeat, repetitive melodies and lyrics that echo counting and numerical patterns to aid learning through auditory reinforcement. These tunes are crafted to be catchy and educational, often syncing with on-screen actions to build rhythm-based understanding of math. Sound effects accompany key interactions, such as popping noises for block splits, whooshes for merges, and bouncy impacts for movements, heightening the sensory engagement.[16] Voice acting features an ensemble cast delivering high-pitched, child-like performances to personify the Numberblocks as lively, inquisitive entities. Principal voices include Beth Chalmers (e.g., One, Three, Five), Marcel McCalla (e.g., Two, Four, Eight), Teresa Gallagher (e.g., Six, Ten), and David Holt (e.g., Seven, Nine), whose expressive deliveries convey excitement and curiosity aligned with preschool audiences.[17] In production, the series utilizes procedural techniques for generating varied number combinations efficiently, allowing animators to prototype complex formations without manual rebuilding each time. Over successive series, innovations have introduced more fluid dynamics, such as enhanced particle effects for block interactions and smoother transitions, reflecting advancements in Blue Zoo's pipeline to support evolving math curricula.[18]Characters
Core Numberblocks (1-10)
The core Numberblocks, representing the numbers 1 through 10, form the foundation of the series by embodying basic counting and early arithmetic concepts through their block-based designs and lively personalities. Each character is constructed from a precise number of identical square blocks matching their value, allowing them to demonstrate splitting, combining, and pattern recognition in playful scenarios. Their accessories and traits are tailored to highlight unique attributes, fostering engagement while tying into mathematical themes like unity, pairs, and groups. These characters frequently collaborate in songs and dances, such as the "Numberblocks Band," to explore collective ideas without delving into complex compositions. One is a single red block adorned with a yellow crown, embodying confidence and leadership as the enthusiastic host who guides explorations of singularity and beginnings. Her extroverted, bubbly nature makes her a recurring teacher figure, appearing in every episode to initiate counting adventures. One debuts in the series' first episode, "One," where she celebrates her uniqueness through a solo song.[19] Two consists of two orange blocks, portrayed as sporty and adventurous with a tennis racket accessory, introducing the excitement of doubles and basic addition via bouncing and splitting actions. She exhibits high energy and a love for games, often pairing with others to show evenness. Two's first appearance occurs in episode 2, "Another One," where she is formed from two Ones.[20] Three is a yellow stack of three blocks topped with a party hat and bowtie, reflecting her festive and optimistic personality as the ultimate celebrator who thrives on groups and rhythms. She emphasizes triples and patterns through dancing and stepping, adding joy to collective activities. Three introduces herself in episode 4, "Three," leading a rhythmic parade.[19] Four comprises four pink blocks arranged in a square, depicted as a sturdy builder with a yellow hard hat, showcasing stability and construction through stacking and shape-forming. Her calm, methodical traits underscore squares and multiples of four in building-themed escapades. Four makes her debut in episode 6, "Four," constructing towers and patterns.[19] Five features five green blocks in a cross shape, with a red cape and energetic jumps, capturing high-spirited vitality and the concept of fives through leaping and high-fiving interactions. She represents odd numbers and balance with her dynamic, superhero-like demeanor. Five first appears in episode 7, "Five," zooming around with super jumps.[19] Six is formed by six purple blocks in two rows of three, dressed as a magician with a top hat and wand, illustrating magic in patterns and even splits through tricks and rearrangements. Her clever, showy personality highlights symmetry and hexagons. Six debuts in episode 16, "Six," performing enchanting block manipulations.[21] Seven stacks seven blue blocks in a staircase pattern, equipped with a green horseshoe for luck, portraying an optimistic explorer who chases rainbows and sevens in whimsical quests. She embodies prime numbers and irregularity with her cheerful, fortune-seeking vibe. Seven's introduction comes in episode 17, "Seven," on a lucky adventure.[21] Eight consists of eight magenta blocks in a 3-2-3 formation, wearing a purple tutu and ballet slippers, channeling grace and rhythm as a dancer who twirls to demonstrate eights and multiples. Her elegant, performative style adds flair to group dances. Eight first appears in episode 18, "Eight," spinning through ballet routines.[21][22] Nine arranges nine indigo blocks in a 3x3 grid, accessorized with a green beret and paintbrush, representing creativity and completeness as an artist who paints patterns and nines. Her imaginative, artistic traits focus on squares and artistic expressions. Nine appears initially in episode 19, "Nine," creating colorful block art.[21] Ten is a vibrant figure of ten multicolored blocks in two rows of five, spotted like a dalmatian with numeral details, emphasizing tens and place value through spotting and grouping. She brings scale and excitement to transitions toward larger numbers with her bold, pattern-loving energy. Ten debuts in episode 20, "Ten," spotting patterns across Numberland.[21]Advanced Numberblocks (11+)
The Advanced Numberblocks, comprising numbers from eleven onward, expand the foundational concepts of addition and counting introduced by the core characters, emphasizing place value, composition, and multiplication through composite formations. These characters are typically formed by stacking or combining smaller Numberblocks, such as the ten-block with single-digit blocks for the teens, reflecting numerical properties like rectangularity or squareness in their personalities and abilities.[23][24] The teen Numberblocks (eleven through nineteen) are introduced as combinations of the ten-block and a single-digit Numberblock, visually represented by a tall stack topped with the corresponding digit's block. For instance, Eleven is an active, football-loving leader who captains teams and demonstrates addition by splitting into ten and one, highlighting her enthusiasm for group activities and scoring goals.[23] Twelve, a composed super-rectangle, arranges her blocks into various arrays (such as 3x4 or 2x6) to help friends with problem-solving, like balancing structures or counting items, embodying flexibility and advisory traits.[24] Thirteen is portrayed as friendly yet unlucky, frequently disassembling into ten and three upon mention of his name, which underscores the challenges of stability in composite numbers.[25] Fourteen, an extreme skateboarder with double the luck, uses clever rearrangements to escape predicaments, often forming pairs or multiples of seven.[26] Fifteen operates as a sneaky secret agent, leading the Super Special Secret Step Squad in stealthy additions of five. Sixteen, a party-starting square, composes musical notes and gets celebrations underway with her 4x4 formation.[27] Seventeen, the artistic painter, creates sets of seventeen items in vibrant scenes, exploring repetition and addition. Eighteen, a speedy super-rectangle, rides rays in 3x6 or 2x9 configurations for dynamic movement. Nineteen, a shape-shifting one-off, discovers her unique inability to form neat rectangles, adapting through creative rearrangements.[28] These traits not only personify mathematical attributes but also illustrate how teens build on the ten-block as a foundational unit.[29] Moving to the twenties and higher numbers, formations shift to emphasize tens and place value, with Twenty composed of two stacked ten-blocks, depicted as an athletic dancer performing the Two Tens Tango to showcase multiples of ten and twenty. Numbers like Twenty-One combine Twenty with One in a stacked manner, allowing for explorations of addition across place values, while personalities reflect scalability and grouping—such as Twenty-Four's rectangular prowess in forming 4x6 arrays for multiplication games. Progression to hundreds involves even larger composites, culminating in One Hundred, a celebratory figure made of ten tens, who sings grand songs about her size and appears primarily in specials to mark milestones like counting to one hundred.[30][31] These higher Advanced Numberblocks prioritize multiplication tables and partitioning, using stacking mechanics to visually decompose numbers (e.g., Twenty as 2x10) for conceptual clarity.[32] Advanced Numberblocks were gradually introduced starting in Series 3 (2018–2019) to extend core addition skills into teens and place value, with twenties debuting in Series 4 (2019) and hundreds in later episodes and specials.[1] This evolution builds complexity incrementally, occasionally featuring rare characters like Zero—who acts as a placeholder in equations and heroically enables shifts in place value—in select episodes, or fractions in specials exploring division, such as mixed fractions in partitioning activities.[33][34]Episodes
Series 1 (2017)
Series 1 of Numberblocks, also known as "High Five!", premiered on CBeebies on 23 January 2017 and consists of 15 episodes airing daily from Monday to Friday over three weeks, concluding on 10 February 2017. This inaugural series introduces young viewers to the fundamental concepts of numbers through the adventures of the first five Numberblocks, emphasizing playful exploration of numerical identities and basic operations in Numberland. The episodes build progressively, starting with individual number recognition and advancing to simple combinations, all within short, song-filled narratives designed for preschool audiences.[10] The mathematical focus of Series 1 centers on counting from 1 to 5, number recognition for the digits 1 through 5, and introductory addition, such as 1+1=2 and bonds to 5 (e.g., 2+3=5). Episodes incorporate these concepts through everyday scenarios like games and stories, reinforcing skills without overwhelming complexity, as aligned with early years mathematics curricula. For instance, addition is depicted visually as Numberblocks joining together to form larger numbers, promoting conceptual understanding over rote memorization.[35] In terms of production, Series 1 adopts a pilot-like simplicity with minimalistic animation and straightforward storytelling to test the core format of anthropomorphic blocks solving math puzzles through song and interaction. Produced by Alphablocks Ltd. and animated by Blue Zoo Animation Studio, the episodes feature basic 2D visuals and a runtime of about 5 minutes each, allowing for focused testing of audience engagement with the Numberblocks' personalities and math integration before expanding in later series. This approach ensured the foundational mechanics—such as blocks splitting and merging—were clear and effective for educational impact.[9] The episodes are as follows:| Episode | Title | Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | One | 23 January 2017 | A small red block falls from the sky, grows eyes and a mouth, and discovers she is Numberblock One, learning to count herself while singing about being the first number.[19] |
| 2 | Another One | 24 January 2017 | One encounters another block like herself, and they join to form Two, introducing the idea of addition as blocks combine to make a bigger number.[19] |
| 3 | Two | 25 January 2017 | Two explores her shape and bounces around, counting pairs of objects and demonstrating evenness through playful movement.[19] |
| 4 | Three | 26 January 2017 | Three arrives as a triangle-shaped block, juggling apples to show counting in threes and introducing odd numbers.[19] |
| 5 | One, Two, Three! | 27 January 2017 | One, Two, and Three team up for a surprise party, practicing counting sequences and simple addition like 1+2=3.[19] |
| 6 | Four | 30 January 2017 | Four appears as a square, rolling and stacking to explore fours and even numbers further.[19] |
| 7 | Five | 31 January 2017 | Five high-fives her way into Numberland, waving her fingers to count to five and celebrating the number's versatility.[19] |
| 8 | Three Little Pigs | 1 February 2017 | One, Two, Three, and Four reenact a fairy tale with the Big Bad Square, using addition to build houses and solve problems.[19] |
| 9 | Off We Go | 2 February 2017 | The Numberblocks go on a rocket adventure, counting down and adding up to reach destinations like five.[19] |
| 10 | How to Count | 3 February 2017 | Five teaches counting techniques with balls and steps, reinforcing recognition of numbers 1 through 5.[19] |
| 11 | Stampolines | 6 February 2017 | The group bounces on trampolines, using addition to figure out how many stamps (Numberblocks) fit on each.[19] |
| 12 | The Whole of Me | 7 February 2017 | Five splits into smaller blocks and recombines, exploring number bonds that make up five.[19] |
| 13 | The Two of Us | 8 February 2017 | Two and her clone play together, doubling items and adding to show 2+2=4.[19] |
| 14 | There Goes Five | 9 February 2017 | Five hides parts of herself behind a tree, revealing addition by uncovering blocks one by one.[19] |
| 15 | Hide and Seek | 10 February 2017 | The Numberblocks play hide and seek, using counting and addition to find each other and form groups up to five.[36] |
Series 2 (2017)
Series 2 of Numberblocks, subtitled "Ten Out of Ten," premiered on CBeebies in the United Kingdom on 1 May 2017 and concluded on 19 May 2017, consisting of 15 episodes that aired weekdays. This series expands the mathematical curriculum by introducing Numberblocks Six through Ten, marking their debut and enabling full ensemble interactions among characters 1 through 10 for the first time.[21] The episodes build on Series 1's foundational counting by focusing on addition strategies to reach 10, the initial exploration of subtraction as "taking away," and pattern recognition, such as doubles, odds, and evens, all presented through playful adventures in Numberland.[37] The series emphasizes conceptual understanding of partitioning numbers up to 10 and simple inverse operations, using visual block rearrangements to demonstrate equations like 4 + 6 = 10 or 8 - 3 = 5 without overwhelming young viewers with rote memorization.[10] Unique to this season, episodes like "Odds and Evens" and "The Two of Us" highlight relational patterns among the newly complete set of single-digit Numberblocks, fostering recognition of even numbers as doubles and odds as "one left over."[38] The episodes are summarized below, with overall episode numbering from the full series run:| Overall Episode | Title | Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Six | 1 May 2017 | Six debuts as a bouncy, rectangular Numberblock who discovers multiple ways to compose her six blocks, including pairs and steps, while learning addition combinations like 1 + 5 and 3 + 3 through jumping games.[39] |
| 17 | Seven | 2 May 2017 | Seven appears as a tall, pattern-loving Numberblock with seven rainbow blocks, exploring arrangements like a staircase and heptagon while adding to seven, such as 4 + 3, during a parade.[40] |
| 18 | Eight | 3 May 2017 | Eight rolls in as an octagon enthusiast made of eight blocks, experimenting with shapes like a stop sign and roller skates to show additions to eight, including 2 + 6 and doubles like 4 + 4.[41] |
| 19 | Nine | 4 May 2017 | Nine introduces herself as a square-dancing Numberblock with nine blocks, twirling through partitions like 5 + 4 and 3 + 3 + 3 to form squares and other shapes in a dance routine.[42] |
| 20 | Ten | 5 May 2017 | Ten makes her grand entrance as a sparkling, two-digit Numberblock composed of ten blocks, celebrating ways to make ten like 7 + 3 and 5 + 5 while leading a countdown party.[43] |
| 21 | Just Add One | 8 May 2017 | The Numberblocks play a game of adding one repeatedly to build from small numbers to ten, demonstrating sequences like 1 + 1 = 2 up to 9 + 1 = 10 through a chain of adventures.[44] |
| 22 | What's My Number? | 9 May 2017 | Numberblocks hide clues about their identities, prompting viewers to guess based on block counts and simple additions, reinforcing recognition of numbers 1 through 10.[45] |
| 23 | I Can Count to Twenty | 10 May 2017 | Using multiples of Ten and smaller blocks, the group counts objects up to twenty by combining like 10 + 5 + 5, introducing early place value concepts through a treasure hunt.[40] |
| 24 | I Can Subtract | 11 May 2017 | Subtraction debuts as taking away blocks, with examples like 10 - 2 = 8 shown via disappearing tricks, helping Numberblocks solve puzzles by removing parts.[41] |
| 25 | Hide and Seek | 12 May 2017 | The Numberblocks play hide and seek, using addition and subtraction to count hiding spots and reveal themselves, such as 6 + 4 = 10 for a group hideout.[42] |
| 26 | What If? | 15 May 2017 | The characters imagine "what if" scenarios with altered block shapes, like if Seven had even blocks, exploring hypothetical additions and patterns up to 10.[43] |
| 27 | The Whole of Me | 16 May 2017 | Each Numberblock celebrates their complete form versus split parts, using addition to reform wholes like 3 + 4 = 7, emphasizing number bonds in a mirror maze.[44] |
| 28 | The Two of Us | 17 May 2017 | Two teams up with Eight to explore doubles as even numbers, adding pairs like 2 + 2 = 4 up to 5 + 5 = 10 through synchronized dances and mirrors.[45] |
| 29 | Odds and Evens | 18 May 2017 | The group sorts into odd and even teams, identifying patterns like evens as shareable pairs (e.g., 6 = 3 + 3) and odds with a leftover one, via a sorting game.[40] |
| 30 | The Story of Seven | 19 May 2017 | Seven recounts her creation through a storybook adventure, revisiting additions to seven and her unique patterns, concluding the series with a reflective tale.[41] |
Series 3 (2018–2019)
Series 3 of Numberblocks aired on CBeebies in the United Kingdom from 24 September 2018 to 1 February 2019, comprising 30 episodes that shift focus from single-digit foundations to teen numbers 11 through 20, represented as taller, composite characters built from a "ten" base plus additional blocks. This season introduces basic multiplication concepts, including doubling (e.g., 6×2=12, 7×2=14) and other simple times tables (e.g., 3×5=15, 4×4=16), often visualized through group activities and multiplication trees that demonstrate how numbers can be grouped and scaled. The episodes feature increased group interactions among the Numberblocks, with taller characters enabling more dynamic explorations of addition beyond ten, comparisons, and early problem-solving in Numberland. The first 10 episodes review numbers 1-10, while the latter 20 introduce 11-20.[46][47][48] The season's episodes are summarized in the following table, with overall episode numbering (31–60) used for continuity across series. Air dates reflect UK CBeebies premieres, and summaries highlight key plots and mathematical emphases. (Note: Full 30-episode table abbreviated for brevity; complete list available on official sources.)| Overall Episode | Title | Air Date | Plot Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Once Upon a Time | 24 September 2018 | A bedtime story recounts the arrival of the first five Numberblocks in Numberland, reviewing their basic characteristics and interactions. Mathematics: Composition and recognition of numbers 1–5. |
| 32 | Blockzilla | 25 September 2018 | The Numberblocks attempt to build the tallest tower in Numberland, only for a monster called Blockzilla to knock it down repeatedly, leading to lessons on size comparisons. Mathematics: Greater than and less than relationships. |
| 33 | The Numberblocks Express | 26 September 2018 | The Numberblocks board a magical train for an adventure, discovering all possible ways to make five through partitioning during the journey. Mathematics: Number bonds to 5. |
| 34 | Fruit Salad | 27 September 2018 | The Numberblocks gather fruits to create a salad, counting items and combining them to reach target totals. Mathematics: Addition and counting in sets. |
| 35 | Zero | 28 September 2018 | The Numberblocks encounter Zero, a special block that represents nothing, and learn how adding or subtracting zero leaves numbers unchanged. Mathematics: The concept and properties of zero. |
| 36 | Now We Are Six to Ten | 1 October 2018 | The numbers six through ten revisit their skills in a celebratory review, participating in games that reinforce their compositions. Mathematics: Review of numbers 6–10 and their bonds.[49] |
| 37 | Numberblobs | 2 October 2018 | The Numberblocks transform into wobbly "Numberblobs" and experiment with rearranging to form different shapes and numbers. Mathematics: Flexible partitioning and 2D shape recognition.[49] |
| 38 | Building Blocks | 3 October 2018 | When an alien spaceship crashes in Numberland, the Numberblocks use their blocks to repair it and send the visitor home. Mathematics: 3D shapes and spatial composition.[49] |
| 39 | Hiccups | 4 October 2018 | One develops hiccups that disrupt Numberland, prompting the others to team up and try scaring her with surprise additions to cure it. Mathematics: Addition strategies and teamwork. |
| 40 | What's Next? | 5 October 2018 | The Numberblocks play a guessing game to predict the next arrival in a sequence of increasing numbers. Mathematics: Patterns and sequencing. |
| 41 | What's the Difference? | 8 October 2018 | Ten and One combine to form Eleven, who embarks on a balloon adventure to discover what makes her unique among the odds and evens. Mathematics: Odd and even numbers; introduction to 11.[50] |
| 42 | Numberblock Rally | 9 October 2018 | Twelve emerges from six twos and leads a high-speed rally, showcasing ways to double numbers for faster results. Mathematics: Doubling and multiplication by 2; introduction to 12. |
| 43 | Five and Friends | 10 October 2018 | Five teams up with Eight to create Thirteen, who joins friends in activities that explore addition combinations. Mathematics: Addition beyond 10; introduction to 13. |
| 44 | Octoblock to the Rescue! | 11 October 2018 | Seven doubles to become Fourteen, who rescues Eight from the mischievous Terrible Twos using her extendable arms. Mathematics: Multiplication (7×2); introduction to 14. |
| 45 | Fifteen's Fifteen | 12 October 2018 | Three fives combine into Fifteen for a birthday party, where guests demonstrate multiples of five. Mathematics: Multiplication (3×5); introduction to 15. |
| 46 | Flatland | 15 October 2018 | Sixteen arrives as four fours and visits Flatland, contrasting 2D and 3D worlds while exploring squares. Mathematics: Square numbers (4×4); introduction to 16. |
| 47 | Heist | 16 October 2018 | Ten and Seven form Seventeen, who helps foil a jewel heist by the naughty numbers using quick additions. Mathematics: Addition (10+7); introduction to 17. |
| 48 | The Legend of Big Tum | 17 October 2018 | Eighteen (nine twos) awakens the legendary Big Tum in a cave adventure, learning about even multiples. Mathematics: Multiplication (9×2); introduction to 18. |
| 49 | Mirror, Mirror | 18 October 2018 | Nineteen (ten and nine) encounters mirror reflections that create tricky doubles, solving puzzles with odd number properties. Mathematics: Addition (10+9); introduction to 19. |
| 50 | The Wrong Number | 21 October 2018 | Twenty begins as twenty separate ones causing chaos but learns to group as two tens, celebrating with a proper introduction. Mathematics: Multiplication (2×10); introduction to 20. |
| 51 | Eleven | 21 January 2019 | Detailed review and adventure with Eleven, focusing on odd teens. Mathematics: Teens and odds. |
| 52 | Twelve | 22 January 2019 | Twelve's rectangle ways and doubling. Mathematics: 12 as 6×2. |
| ... | ... | ... | (Episodes 53-60: Continued introductions and reviews for 13-20, aired Jan 23 - Feb 1, 2019, e.g., Ep60 Step Squads on 1 Feb 2019.) |
Series 4 (2019)
The fourth series of Numberblocks aired on CBeebies from 10 June to 16 August 2019, comprising 30 episodes that shifted the educational focus to place value, particularly through the introduction of the twenties (numbers 20–29), building on the teen numbers from the previous series. Episodes explored how these numbers are composed of tens and units, with activities emphasizing counting by 10s, number bonds to 20 and beyond, and the role of place value in larger numbers. This series featured an increased emphasis on patterns and sequences, using visual and rhythmic elements to demonstrate mathematical relationships, such as how Twenty can be split into two tens or combined with units to form Twenty-One through Twenty-Nine. The series also touched on higher numbers like 30, 40, 50, and 100.[51][52][53] The 30 episodes are summarized below, with overall numbering 61–90. (Table abbreviated; full details on official sites.)| Overall Episode | Title | Air Date | Plot Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Fifteen's Minute of Fame | 10 June 2019 | Fifteen gains fame through quick calculations. Mathematics: Bonds to 15. |
| 62 | On Your Head | 11 June 2019 | Stacking games with teens. Mathematics: Place value in teens. |
| 63 | Ten's Place | 12 June 2019 | Ten explains place value. Mathematics: Tens and units. |
| ... | ... | ... | ... |
| 71 | Twenty | 8 July 2019 | Twenty debuts as two stacks of ten blocks, strutting in a dance number to explore the number 20 and its place value as tens; the episode features Twenty's sports day challenges that demonstrate addition and grouping by 10s.[54] |
| 72 | Tall Stories | 9 July 2019 | Building tall with twenties. Mathematics: Place value. |
| ... | ... | ... | (Episodes include Riddle Me This, I Can Count to Twenty ~11 July; up to One Hundred as ep90, 14 August 2019.) |
| 90 | One Hundred | 14 August 2019 | Introduction to 100 as ten tens. Mathematics: Place value to hundreds. |
Series 5 (2020–2021)
Series 5 of Numberblocks aired on CBeebies from 8 March to 25 June 2021, comprising 30 episodes that build on previous series by exploring advanced addition and multiplication concepts with numbers scaling from the thirties to hundreds.[55] The series emphasizes large-scale addition through grouping and patterns, introducing strategies for composing and decomposing larger Numberblocks like Thirty through Ninety, culminating in episodes featuring One Hundred. This focus helps young viewers understand place value and skip-counting in higher decades, using celebratory scenarios such as parties and competitions to illustrate concepts. Overall episodes 91–120.[56] The production of Series 5 was notably extended to 30 episodes—the longest run to date—and included a three-month hiatus midway through airing, attributed to delays from the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed for more detailed animations of complex number formations and additional festive themes in episodes like birthday celebrations and talent shows.[55] These unique elements made the series more engaging for home viewing during lockdowns, with an emphasis on interactive math play that reinforces addition up to 100 without introducing new core characters beyond scaling existing ones. The episodes are summarized below, highlighting key math explorations (full 30-episode list abbreviated):| Overall Episode | Title | Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | Your Turn | 8 March 2021 | The Numberblobs disrupt a theatre performance, teaching number lines, comparing quantities, and pattern recognition through bouncy games involving groups up to 20. |
| 92 | Now You See Us | 9 March 2021 | A magic spell renders the Numberblocks invisible, prompting them to regroup and add up to find each other, focusing on addition and visibility in sets of 10s and 20s. |
| ... | ... | ... | (Mid-series: Ten's Top Ten 10 March, etc.) |
| 100 | The Three Threes | 19 March 2021 | Three's triples lead to adding groups of three to form 30, 60, and 90, in a rhythmic dance sequence.[57] |
| ... | ... | ... | (Later: Hidden Talents, Making Patterns for 50s–70s.) |
| 120 | 100 Ways to Leave the Planet | 25 June 2021 | One Hundred leads an adventure counting 100 ways to blast off, celebrating addition to 100 with all major Numberblocks.[58] |
Series 6 (2023–2024)
Series 6 of Numberblocks premiered on CBeebies on 4 March 2024, following a three-year hiatus since the conclusion of Series 5 in 2021, and consists of 15 episodes broadcast over three weeks (overall 121–135). This series emphasizes multiplication through times tables (particularly the 3s and 4s, extending to 10x10), arrays, and skip counting, with Numberblocks collaborating in group formations to solve puzzles and create visual patterns that illustrate these concepts. The narratives incorporate more puzzle-solving elements, such as navigating challenges or building structures, to demonstrate how repeated addition leads to multiplication in engaging, song-filled stories.[59][60] The episodes build on foundational addition from prior series by showing how groups of numbers can be multiplied, using arrays to represent equal groups and skip counting to reinforce table patterns without delving into subtraction or advanced operations. For example, characters like Three and Four lead formations to explore their respective times tables, creating rectangular arrays that highlight scaling and repetition. This approach helps young viewers conceptualize multiplication as grouping and patterning rather than rote memorization.Episode List
| Overall Episode | Title | Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 121 | Painting by Numbers | 4 March 2024 | The Numberblocks paint pictures of each other, learning to count and identify groups of blocks in artwork, introducing the idea of equal groups as a precursor to multiplication arrays.[61] |
| 122 | Leap Blob | 5 March 2024 | Numberblocks leap over blob obstacles in a game, practicing skip counting by 2s and 5s to reach goals, demonstrating early times table patterns through rhythmic jumps.[59] |
| 123 | Ice and Dice | 6 March 2024 | Using dice rolls to build ice structures, the Numberblocks explore random groups and skip counting outcomes, focusing on probability within multiplication contexts like doubles.[59] |
| 124 | Go Go Domino | 7 March 2024 | The Numberblocks play a domino chain game, forming pairs and groups to create chains that illustrate multiplication by 2 and addition patterns leading to times tables.[62] |
| 125 | Ten in the Bed | 8 March 2024 | In a counting-down song adventure, the Numberblocks roll out of bed in groups of 10, reinforcing skip counting by 10s and the structure of the 10 times table.[63] |
| 126 | Shape Party | 11 March 2024 | At a 2D shape celebration, Numberblocks arrange themselves into triangular and rectangular arrays, learning how shapes represent multiplication groups like 3x4.[63] |
| 127 | Flatland | 12 March 2024 | Diving into a 2D world, the Numberblocks flatten to form area arrays, exploring how multiplication calculates space in patterns up to 10x10.[64] |
| 128 | The Patternberry Hunt | 13 March 2024 | Hunting patterned berries, the Numberblocks identify repeating sequences for skip counting by 3s and 4s, building arrays from found groups.[60] |
| 129 | On My Way to Numberblock Fair | 14 March 2024 | Navigating to a fair with directional patterns, the Numberblocks use skip counting steps to form multiplication paths and group formations.[65] |
| 130 | Octoblock and the Path of Justice | 15 March 2024 | Octoblock solves justice puzzles by creating 8s times table arrays, using equal groups of eight to balance scales and patterns.[65] |
| 131 | Five's Handy Shop | 18 March 2024 | Five organizes shop items into handy groups of five, demonstrating the 5 times table through arrays and skip counting for quick calculations.[60] |
| 132 | As Tall as the Sun | 19 March 2024 | Building sun-high towers, the Numberblocks stack vertical arrays to explore multiplication scaling, focusing on taller groups in the 4s and 6s tables.[66] |
| 133 | Rockets and Rekenreks | 20 March 2024 | Launching rockets with rekenrek beads, the Numberblocks skip count by multiples to fuel patterns, visualizing 7x and 9x tables.[60] |
| 134 | Feeding Time | 21 March 2024 | Feeding garden animals in equal portions, the Numberblocks form multiplication groups for the 3s table, using arrays to distribute fairly.[1] |
| 135 | The Pattern of Patterns | 22 March 2024 | Culminating in a grand pattern challenge, the Numberblocks combine all times tables into a mega-array puzzle, reinforcing skip counting and group strategies up to 10x10.[67] |
Series 7 (2024)
Series 7 of Numberblocks, aired on CBeebies from August 19 to September 6, 2024, comprises 15 episodes (overall 136–150) that advance the show's exploration of multiplication and division introduced in Series 6. The season centers on the six, seven, eight, and nine times tables, with each group of episodes featuring the corresponding times table character leading the Numberblocks in adventures that demonstrate multiplication patterns, division strategies, and problem-solving in engaging scenarios like rescues, sea voyages, and space explorations. These real-world-inspired settings, such as beach outings and hero missions, help children apply mathematical concepts to practical situations while balancing equations through teamwork and creative block arrangements.[68][69] The episodes emphasize conceptual understanding of times tables, using number lines and grid patterns to visualize operations, and include songs and rhymes to reinforce learning. Unlike earlier series, this season integrates more complex group dynamics among higher Numberblocks, showcasing how multiples collaborate to solve larger problems.[70]| Overall Episode | Title | Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 136 | Grid Unlocked | 19 August 2024 | The Numberblocks rotate to rescue the Five Times Table's 5 by 5 booster grid from a malfunction, learning about grid-based multiplication along the way.[71] |
| 137 | Friendly Fours' Beach Day | 20 August 2024 | The Four Times Table organizes a beach day with the Numberblocks, using sandcastles and waves to explore multiples of four in a playful setting.[72] |
| 138 | All-Star Line-Up | 21 August 2024 | The Numberblocks form an all-star team to line up for a big event, demonstrating how to arrange multiples on a number line for efficient counting and multiplication.[73] |
| 139 | Rescue Racers | 22 August 2024 | Rescue teams of Numberblocks race to save the day, applying division to share resources and multiplication to build vehicles quickly. |
| 140 | The Rolling Sixes | 23 August 2024 | The Six Times Table introduces rolling games where the Numberblocks use dice and patterns to discover multiples of six. |
| 141 | Remix the Sixes | 26 August 2024 | The Six Times Table remixes familiar Numberblocks into new teams, teaching flexible grouping for multiplication problems.[74] |
| 142 | Grid Games Galore | 27 August 2024 | The Numberblocks play grid-based games to reinforce times table patterns, focusing on strategic moves with multiples.[75] |
| 143 | The Rainbow Makers | 28 August 2024 | Using colors and blocks, the Numberblocks create rainbows by multiplying to match spectrum patterns, introducing division for sharing colors evenly. |
| 144 | Sail the Seven Seas | 29 August 2024 | The Seven Times Table captains a sea voyage, navigating with multiples of seven to chart courses and divide treasures among the crew. |
| 145 | We Need Another Hero | 30 August 2024 | Octoblock assembles heroes using the Seven Times Table to tackle a crisis, highlighting addition and multiplication for team formation.[76] |
| 146 | Super Eights Assemble | 2 September 2024 | The Eight Times Table rallies superheroes for an assembly, using power doubles to solve large-scale multiplication challenges. |
| 147 | Seventy-Two's Super Surprise | 3 September 2024 | Seventy-Two plans a surprise party with the Eight Times Table, balancing guest lists through division and multiplication equations. |
| 148 | The Magical Nines | 4 September 2024 | Ninety hosts a magic show to demonstrate the Nine Times Table, using tricks to reveal patterns and divide audiences into groups.[77] |
| 149 | Nine's Time to Shine | 5 September 2024 | The Nine Times Table shines in a performance, teaching multiplication through rhythmic dances and visual patterns for young learners.[78] |
| 150 | Space Division | 6 September 2024 | One Hundred leads a space mission where the Numberblocks use division to explore signals and share discoveries from the stars.[79][69] |
Series 8 (2025)
Series 8 of Numberblocks premiered on 18 August 2025 on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer, comprising 15 five-minute episodes (overall 151–165) produced by Blue Zoo Animation Studio. All episodes aired by early September 2025. This installment builds on prior series by incorporating magical elements and the chaotic Numberblobs to engage young viewers in more advanced mathematics, such as perimeter, area, capacity, subtraction strategies, and creative representations of numerical operations.[4][80] The episodes emphasize problem-solving through fantasy-themed adventures, like magic performances and somersault challenges, while maintaining the show's core focus on building conceptual understanding of math.[81] The series features Numberblobs as mischievous, unpredictable characters that introduce fun chaos to lessons, particularly in performance-based episodes involving nines and subtraction.[82] The content aligns with curriculum goals for preschoolers, using magical contexts to make abstract ideas accessible.[4] The following table lists all episodes from Series 8, including titles, air dates, and brief plot summaries highlighting their mathematical focus (corrected dates):| Overall Episode | Title | Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 151 | The Third Button | 18 August 2025 | Three loses a button needed for juggling practice, and detective One investigates clues to find it, introducing basic deduction and counting.[83][84] |
| 152 | The Great Bug Race | 19 August 2025 | One through Four enter their pet bugs in a race along special tracks, learning to measure and follow perimeters to navigate the course.[85] |
| 153 | The Big Picture | 20 August 2025 | Seventeen leads One through Four in an outdoor art class, where Three demands the largest canvas, prompting a challenge to compare sizes and areas creatively.[85][86] |
| 154 | Space Repair | 21 August 2025 | One repairs missing tiles on a Numberland space satellite, assisted by Twenty and an area specialist, exploring tile coverage and spatial arrangement.[85][83] |
| 155 | Capacity for Magic | 8 September 2025 | The Numberblocks use enchanted containers in a magic trick to measure and compare capacities, demonstrating volume through whimsical experiments.[87] |
| ... | ... | ... | (Episodes 156-161: Sequential adventures on perimeter, area, etc., aired late August to mid-September 2025.) |
| 162 | Double Doors Challenge | 1 September 2025 | One through Five tackle a series of locked double doors in a test, unlocking them with the "Super Special Secret Step" to practice addition patterns.[88] |
| 163 | The All-Knowing Nine | 2 September 2025 | Nine hosts a theatre magic show but fears boring the Numberblobs, so friends help revamp it with advanced nines tricks like multiplication and patterns.[82] |
| 164 | Subtraction Somersaults | 3 September 2025 | Thirteen aims to join the Subtraction Somersault Team but only knows subtracting threes; Ten coaches her on versatile subtraction at the gym.[89] |
| 165 | Ten-pin Tournament | 4 September 2025 | The Numberblocks compete in a bowling event, using tens to score and strategize pins, with Numberblobs adding unpredictable twists.[90] |
Specials (2021–2022)
The specials produced between 2021 and 2022 represent standalone episodes of Numberblocks with extended narratives focused on mathematical adventures and seasonal themes, distinguishing them from the standard 5- to 10-minute series format. These episodes, typically around 20 minutes in length, emphasize problem-solving through addition, subtraction, and pattern recognition, often incorporating holiday elements or crossovers to enhance educational engagement.[91] Three key specials aired during this period, each featuring core Numberblocks characters like One through Ten in collaborative scenarios.| Title | Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| The Treasure of Hexagon Island | 27 August 2021 | In this pirate-themed adventure, the Numberblocks embark on a treasure hunt, solving Captain Hexbeard's math riddles involving shapes, counting, and number bonds to locate hidden gems on Hexagon Island. The episode highlights geometric patterns and addition strategies in a quest narrative.[92][93] |
| The Twelve Days of Christmas | 12 December 2021 | The Numberblocks celebrate the holiday season with a festive rendition of the classic carol, using a magical Christmas train to count and distribute gifts through addition and multiplication, teaching cumulative counting in a joyful, gift-giving context.[94][95] |
| Making Friends | 14 February 2022 | This crossover episode introduces the Numberblocks to the Alphablocks from the companion series, exploring similarities and differences between numbers and letters as they team up to overcome challenges, blending arithmetic with phonics in a friendship-building story.[96][97] |
Numbersongs (2019–2023)
Numbersongs is a collection of short, standalone animated musical videos featuring the Numberblocks characters, aimed at teaching preschoolers counting and number recognition through catchy tunes and repetitive lyrics. Released primarily during production hiatuses between main series episodes, the series ran from 2019 to 2023 and includes adaptations of traditional nursery rhymes alongside original compositions focused on sequential counting. These videos emphasize early numeracy skills, such as counting objects and understanding small quantities, using vibrant animations to engage young viewers. Each Numbersong typically lasts 2 to 3 minutes, featuring simple melodies with no spoken dialogue beyond the lyrics to promote rhythmic memorization and active participation. The absence of narrative structure allows the focus to remain on the musical elements, making them ideal for repeated viewing in educational settings. The songs utilize the familiar Numberblocks designs, with voice performances by the same actors from the main series, including Marcel McCalla and Teresa Gallagher for key characters. Produced as a spin-off by Alphablocks Ltd. in collaboration with Blue Zoo Animation Studio—the same teams responsible for the core Numberblocks series—these shorts were distributed via the official Numberblocks YouTube channel and CBeebies platform to maintain audience engagement during off-seasons. They align with the BBC's educational goals for early years mathematics, drawing on research into music's role in cognitive development for number skills. The following table lists select Numbersongs from the period, highlighting representative examples that cover counting themes from small numbers to larger ones like 100:| Title | Release Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scoop a Scoop | April 26, 2019 | Numberblocks One through Ten count colorful ice cream scoops in a sunny parlor, reinforcing addition and quantity. |
| Five Little Speckled Frogs | April 26, 2019 | An adaptation of the classic rhyme where five frog Numberblocks jump off a log, teaching countdown from five. |
| Counting Cars | May 16, 2019 | Vehicles drive by as Numberblocks count them up to ten, introducing vehicle-themed sequential counting. |
| Ten in the Bed | 2019 | Ten Numberblocks roll out of a shared bed one by one, demonstrating subtraction through countdown. |
| How Many Passengers? | 2019 | Passengers board a train, with Numberblocks counting groups up to ten to fill the cars. |
| One Hundred (Sing-along) | May 21, 2022 | A celebratory tune featuring Numberblock One Hundred, reviewing counting from one to 100 with block formations. |