Ep 21. What's the Difference?

In "What's the Difference?" the Numberblocks explore the concept of subtraction. They count objects and subtract them from the total, with some blocks disappearing as a result. As they go along, they realize that subtraction can be a bit tricky, especially when there are multiple ways to take away objects. They also learn that the remaining blocks represent a difference from the original amount, and they work together to solve subtraction problems of all kinds.

The episode starts off with the Numberblocks standing in a room full of objects, such as balls, blocks, and toys. They count the objects - 10 in total - and talk about what they can do with them. One of the Numberblocks suggests that they take some away, and the others agree to try it out. They take away 2 objects, leaving 8, and count to make sure they did it correctly.

However, when they try to take away 3 more objects, they quickly realize that they can't without breaking up one of the Numberblocks. They start to fret, worried that they won't be able to subtract anything further, but one of them - Numberblock Seven - has an idea. They can disappear and come back! So, they try this out, and as they disappear, the remaining blocks count what's left. They find that they have subtracted 3 objects, leaving 5 in total.

As they continue exploring subtraction, they encounter a few problems that challenge them. For instance, when they try to take away 5 objects from a set of 7, they can't do it all at once. They have to break up one of the Numberblocks into smaller blocks to get the difference. This leads to a discussion about how the difference is what is left over after you take away a certain number, and how there can be multiple ways to get to that difference. They also talk about how they can add the difference back to the original set to get back to the starting number.

The Numberblocks encounter more complex subtraction problems throughout the episode, such as taking away 9 objects from a set of 15 or subtracting 8 objects from a set of 13. They work together to figure out the answers, using what they learned about subtracting in earlier parts of the episode. They also talk about how subtraction can be used in real life situations, such as sharing a pizza or dividing up a set of toys.

Overall, "What's the Difference?" is a fun and educational episode that teaches kids about the basics of subtraction. The Numberblocks are engaging and entertaining, and they make it easy to understand the math concepts they're exploring. Kids will enjoy counting along and figuring out the answers to subtraction problems right alongside the Numberblocks.