• NumberSense Mathematics Programme Workbooks

    The workbooks of the NumberSense Mathematics Programme represent a mathematical journey from the start to the end of primary school. Presented as a journey, the programme provides for differentiated teaching that is responsive to the developmental level of each child. The NumberSense Mathematics Programme Workbooks provide a coherent and robust mathematics programme for Grades R to 7 that addresses all the elements of the primary school mathematics curriculum in one place. Schools and teachers using the programme do not have to develop and/or supply additional learning materials.

    The NumberSense Workbooks:

    • Provide a rigorous approach to Space and Shape (Geometry), Measurement, and Data Handling.
    • Include a set of Grade 7 workbooks designed to support a smooth transition from Grade 6 to Grade 8.
    • Deliberately structure the use and incorporation of the full range of NumberSense teaching and learning resources.
    • Incorporate the use of explanations in Grades 1 to 3, Grades 4 to 6, and Grade 7.
    • Have 64 pages per workbook with a set of four workbooks for each school year – a workbook per term, four workbooks per year, offering complete curriculum coverage over the four workbooks.
    • Make use of colour throughout the materials.


    10 compelling reasons to use the NumberSense Mathematics Programme as your mathematics programme of choice:

    1. Provides a comprehensive mathematics teaching and learning solution for Grades R to 7.
    2. Is informed by research on how children learn mathematics.
    3. Is grounded in evidence-based practices and is responsive to the feedback from and needs of the NumberSense User Group.
    4. Supports differentiation and provides learning opportunities for children at their developmental level.
    5. Encourages independent engagement by children.
    6. Uses context-based problems to reveal mathematics.
    7. Includes an extensive range of teaching and learning resources that are used in conjunction with the workbooks and can also be used independently.
    8. Provides extensive support to schools and teachers by:
      • Hosting an annual NumberSense User Group conference that brings together teachers from across the country to share experiences and learn about programme developments and implementation strategies.
      • Presenting a minimum of two all-day SACE-accredited workshops in all major city centres every year.
      • Providing school-based support visits that include lesson demonstrations, teacher observation and feedback, bespoke workshops to address the school’s needs, and parent meetings.
    9. Has an expansive website with a vast range of free downloadable resources (www.NumberSense.co.za).
    10. Has been used in a wide range of contexts for more than a decade with great success.
  • NumberSense Workbooks by Grade

    Use the NumberSense Workbook Grade Level Guide to determine the ideal workbook for a child based on their grade and the time of the year. The workbooks are developmental in nature. Each workbook builds on the concepts and skills developed in the previous workbook. To gain as much as possible from the workbook series, children should work through the materials in the sequence that they appear in the workbook.

    In Grades 1-6, each workbook addresses more than one mathematics learning area and is organised by section. The pages in each section should be completed in sequence. However, the entire workbook is not completed in sequence. It is expected that the teacher will switch between sections throughout the term to both add variety and also to make sure that each of the learning areas in each workbook are addressed throughout the term. For example, the teacher may decide to let the class do Number, Operations and Relationships and Pattern pages on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and then two pages of Measurement on Thursday and Friday. Teachers need to plan carefully because, on some occasions, activities in, for example, the Measurement sections may be spread over several pages and these pages should be completed as a single unit.

    NumberSense Workbook Grade Level Guide

    Grade R NumberSense Mathematics Programme Workbooks
    Grade R
    • Two 48-page NumberSense workbooks per year.
    • Grade R teachers will have to mediate the activities in the workbooks with the children.
    Grade 1-3 NumberSense Mathematics Programme Workbooks

    Full curriculum coverage across the four 64 page workbooks per grade.

    Grades 1-3

    Specific features of the Foundation Phase workbooks include:

    • A blue rectangle with two icons at the top of many of the Geometry, Measurement, and Data Handling pages. This rectangle suggests an activity that the teacher should complete with the children as part of the teacher-led activity at the start of each lesson. This activity should be completed before the children work independently (alone, in pairs or small groups) to complete the remaining tasks on the page. The rectangle also indicates the resources needed for the activity.
    • A natural alignment of the workbooks with the school terms (one workbook per term):
      • Grade 1: Workbooks 1, 2, 3 and 4
      • Grade 2: Workbooks 5, 6, 7 and 8
      • Grade 3: Workbooks 9, 10, 11 and 12
    Grade 4-6 NumberSense Mathematics Programme Workbooks

    Full curriculum coverage across the four 64 page workbooks per grade.

    Grades 4-6

    Specific features of the Intermediate Phase workbooks include:

    • Robust Space and Shape (Geometry), Measurement, and Data Handling activities and tasks. Many topics are now dealt with thematically.
    • A natural alignment of the workbooks with the school terms (one workbook per term):
      • Grade 4: Workbooks 13, 14, 15 and 16
      • Grade 5: Workbooks 17, 18, 19 and 20
      • Grade 6: Workbooks 21, 22, 23 and 24
    Grade 7 NumberSense Mathematics Programme Workbooks

    Full curriculum coverage across the four 64 page workbooks per grade.

    Grade 7

    Specific features of the Grade 7 workbooks include:

    • Chapters that begin with a chapter heading followed by section headings etc.
    • Definitions and detailed explanations.
    • Clearly demarcated exercises.
    • Investigations that are a hallmark of the NumberSense Mathematics Programme.
    • Robust coverage and content for each of the learning areas.
    • A more natural alignment of the workbooks with the school terms (one workbook per term):
      • Grade 7: Workbooks 25, 26, 27 and 28