Rainbow Number Puzzles: A Visual for Counting within Number Symbols

Making connections between the number of objects and the number symbol is an important step in the development of numeracy. The Rainbow Number Puzzles were designed to make it easy for children to relate the number counted with the number symbol. The one puzzle has one piece, the two puzzle has two pieces, and the three puzzle has three pieces. These puzzles can be used to develop counting within the number symbols. If a child does not remember the name of the number symbol, the child can count the number of pieces to recall the name of the number.

At an early age, a child can put the puzzles together to develop readiness and familiarity with the meaning of each number symbol. The zero comes without a piece. The word name of each number is printed on the puzzle for language development. On the back of the puzzle pieces, a related concept is engraved. If all the puzzle pieces are jumbled, one can look on the back of each piece to identify the puzzle it goes with. For example, on the back of the 2 pieces, there are two eyes. On the back of the 5 pieces, there is an imprint of a hand with five fingers. As students see the whole number and a visual of the sum of the pieces within that whole number, they will be able to see the meaning of each number symbol by learning enhanced by the Rainbow Number Puzzles.