Introduction

Number blocks is a British animated television series for preschoolers that debuted on CBeebies on 23 January 2017. The program was created by Joe Elliot and produced by Alphablocks Ltd with Blue Zoo. It was commissioned by the British Broadcasting Corporation, with Larkshead Media and Learning Resources holding merchandising rights.
Number Blocks is a popular animated TV series designed to help young children learn about numbers and basic mathematical concepts. With its colorful characters and engaging storyline, Number Blocks not only entertains but also provides a fun and interactive way for kids to learn English. In this blog post, we will explore how Number Blocks can be an effective tool for teaching English to young learners.
Number blocks follows the adventures of block characters in Numberland, each named after a number, and made up of the equivalent number of blocks. A black floating number, called a Numberling, appears above their heads to show their value. When one block hops on top of another, they transform into a different character to make a new number. Many of the numbers have styles and personalities associated with their numbers (One is brave and independent, Seven is rainbow-color and lucky, Eight has octopus-like tentacles, etc.) [3]
The show helps toddlers and young kids learn numeracy skills, especially how to count and do simple math. Integer concepts such as even vs. odd, and factoring are discussed and explored. More sophisticated ideas are also explored in later episodes such as comparison, square numbers, and triangular numbers (known as "Step Squads") as well as counting using binary numbers. [4]





Vocabulary Building
 Number Blocks introduces children to various English words and concepts related to numbers, counting, shapes, and basic mathematical operations. Each episode focuses on a specific number and explores its properties, helping children expand their vocabulary and develop a strong foundation in English.


Phonics and Pronunciation
 The show emphasizes phonics by introducing each number as a character with a distinct sound. Children can learn the correct pronunciation of each number through catchy songs and rhymes. The repetition of sounds and words helps improve phonemic awareness, a crucial skill for English language acquisition.


Sentence Structure and Grammar
Number Blocks incorporates simple sentence structures and grammar rules in its dialogue. By following the interactions between the characters, children can learn how to form basic sentences, use prepositions, and understand sentence syntax. The show's clear and concise language makes it easier for young learners to grasp grammatical concepts.


Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking
 Number Blocks encourages problem-solving and critical thinking skills through interactive scenarios. Children are presented with mathematical puzzles and challenges that require logical reasoning and creative thinking. These problem-solving activities help develop cognitive skills while simultaneously exposing kids to English language concepts.


Cultural Awareness
 Number Blocks also introduces cultural diversity through its characters and settings. Children can learn about different cultures and customs as they follow the adventures of the Number Blocks across various mathematical landscapes. This exposure to different cultural contexts helps broaden children's understanding of the world while enhancing their English language skills.





Mathematical concepts and problems taught in the Number Blocks cartoon
Since preschool children do not have a wide understanding of the meaning of numbers, this cartoon series has done a great job in this direction. The popular set of number blocks (Number Blocks) for preschool children or even elementary school children has been very successful in teaching math problems and concepts. The blocks of this cartoon are actually the same educational tools that are very popular and practical in schools today to teach children math concepts. In this collection, children are taught the simplest math problems related to how to count numbers and do simple math such as the four basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) in the first place.


YouTube Channel 
The popularity of this cartoon is so high that many people from all over the world (not only children) are following this cartoon on its channel on YouTube. Its channel has about 7.5 million members and its collection of views has reached about 7 billion views since 2018. The most visited video is related to the Pattern Palace video in the fourth season, which your favorite child can enjoy watching with you on the Happy Ant website.


Target Audience 
This collection is generally suitable for children aged 2 to 6 years, because there is no teaching or direct reference to numbers and math problems, and it only teaches concepts. Dear parents, if you have blocks or math classes at home, you can practice the concepts of this collection with your children. Many mothers who have distributed this series to their children have stated that their 6-year-old children are learning things that they generally have problems with in school, or even 13- and 16-year-old teenagers. In many cases, they get involved with its mathematical problems.




Number blocks Cartoon on Happy Ant Website
So far, 8 seasons of Number Blocks cartoon series have been produced and presented. Currently, there are 6 seasons of this very attractive and child-friendly series on the Happy Ant website, which includes 90 different episodes of this cartoon for you and your beloved children, which you can watch online on the Happy Ant website or even download it. Soon, two more seasons will be added to this collection on the site, and you can access the entire content of this up-to-date cartoon collection.


Conclusion
 Number Blocks is an excellent resource for teaching English to young learners. Through its engaging storyline, interactive activities, and clear language, the cartoon series provides an effective platform for children to learn and practice English vocabulary, phonics, sentence structure, and critical thinking skills. By incorporating Number Blocks into English language lessons, teachers and parents can create an enjoyable and educational experience for kids as they embark on their language learning journey.
Kay Benbow of BBC Studios commissioned Number blocks as an animated series for children aged 3–6 to be developed by Essex production company Blue Zoo.[5][6] The production was made in partnership with the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) to complement the Alpha blocks series.[7] Created by Joe Elliot, the series was made to give children a deep understanding of how numbers work. Elliot wanted to visually show the concepts of math in a way no other number series had, as he thought many people struggled with how the subject is taught.[5] In October 2018, Aardman Animations' international sales and acquisitions arm acquired the distribution rights to the show, along with Alpha blocks.[8]



References
1 1 "One" Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Miquel Cabot (Animation Lead) Ben Lee-Delisle, Joe Elliot 23 January 2017
Learn all about the number 1 with Numberblock One herself, as she sings a song about how it's like to be the only one.
2 2 "Another One" Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Miquel Cabot (Animation Lead) Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh, & Andrew Jones 24 January 2017
3 3 "Two" Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Krissy Josephides (Animation Lead) Ben Lee-Delisle, Joe Elliot 25 January 2017
4 4 "Three" Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Krissy Josephides (Animation Lead) Ben Lee-Delisle, Joe Elliot 26 January 2017
5 5 "One, Two, Three" Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Mariella Capasso (Animation Lead) Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones 27 January 2017
6 6 "Four" Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Mariella Capasso (Animation Lead) Ben Lee-Delisle, Ciaran Murtagh, & Andrew Jones 30 January 2017
7 7 "Five" Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Krissy Josephides (Animation Lead) Ben Lee-Delisle, Ciaran Murtagh, & Andrew Jones 31 January 2017
8 8 "Three Little Pigs" Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Miquel Cabot (Animation Lead) Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones 1 February 2017
9 9 "Off We Go!" Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Lizzie Hicks (Animation Lead) Joe Elliot 2 February 2017
10 10 "How To Count" Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Miquel Cabot (Animation Lead) Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones 3 February 2017
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The show follows the Number blocks, characters made of blocks who represent numbers. They live on a fictional planet called Numberland and embark on adventures relating to mathematical concepts. In 2017, the show was nominated for a BAFTA award in the "Learning" category.[2]