What is a mystery picture?

A grid of squares, each with a number or a maths problem. Children colour every square with the colour the key gives for its number, and a picture appears. The picture’s name is only printed on the answer key, so it stays a surprise.

Can the squares show maths facts?

Yes. Choose Sums for addition within 10, like 3+4, or Take away for subtraction within 20, like 12–5. Children work out the answer to find the colour, so a page is 144 to 400 facts of practice.

Which pictures are there?

Fruit, animals, a bus, a house, a rainbow and seasonal pictures such as a pumpkin, a turkey and a Christmas tree. Each one is drawn from a full-colour illustration, so the finished picture looks right.

How many colours do children need?

At most seven, and only everyday crayon colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, pink, grey and black. Squares in the background say “leave white”.

Which grid size should I choose?

12 by 12 for preschool and Kinder, 16 by 16 for most children, and 20 by 20 for older children who like a longer project.

Colour by Number Mystery Pictures: Numbers, Addition and Subtraction

Why children love them

A mystery picture turns a page of number recognition or maths facts into a puzzle with a payoff. Children want to see what the picture is, so they keep going, and every square they colour is one more fact practised. Because a wrong answer shows up as a square of the wrong colour, they can often spot and fix their own mistakes.

Three ways to play

Numbers. Match each number to its colour in the key.
Sums. Addition within 10, every answer from 2 to 10.
Take away. Subtraction within 20, every answer from 2 to 10.

More puzzles

Try dot to dot for counting in order and mazes for pencil control. For more practice with the same facts, the addition worksheets come with answer keys too.

MATATAG links

KinderMatching numerals to sets of objects, and sorting things by colour and shape.
Grade 1Adding with sums up to 20, and subtracting within 20 as taking away.

Colour by number is not in the MATATAG guides, but its maths is. The Sums option, within 10, and Take away, within 20, sit inside the Grade 1 fact work, so a mystery picture makes a good end-of-week check.

The Grade 1 Language guide lists colours, shapes and numbers among early vocabulary. Ask children to say each colour in Filipino as they reach for it: pula, dilaw, asul, berde, kahel, lila, kayumanggi, rosas, abo and itim.

Summarised in our own words from DepEd’s MATATAG Kindergarten, Language (Grade 1) and Mathematics (Grades 1–10) Curriculum Guides (2023).