Why number searches are sneaky-good practice
A number search hides numbers in a grid of digits. To find 3,482 you have to hold the digits in order in your head and scan carefully, which is good place-value and attention practice for children who are not yet strong readers. Because there is no spelling involved, number searches also work well for ESL learners and as a calm, focused early-finisher task.
Use the helpers to fill the list automatically: pick a times table to hide its products (7, 14, 21… become 14, 21, 28…, since single digits are too easy to stumble on), or generate 14 random numbers of 2 to 6 digits. Or type your own: years in history, phone-pad numbers, house numbers on a street.
Making it the right difficulty
- Easy: numbers read left-to-right and top-to-bottom only, in a 10×10 grid.
- Medium: diagonals too, which is ideal for most elementary classes.
- Hard: all directions, including backwards, with longer numbers.
Good to know
Single-digit numbers are left out, because a single digit appears all over any digit grid. Every number is placed exactly once, checked so it doesn't also appear by accident elsewhere, and the answer key outlines each one. The number list prints beneath the grid in numeric order.
Questions people ask
How does the times-table option work?
Pick a table, such as 7×, and press Fill: the products 14 through 84 are added to the list. Single-digit answers are skipped.
Why can’t I hide single-digit numbers?
A single digit appears many times in any digit grid, so it couldn’t be found in one specific place. Use two digits or more.
Can I use my own numbers?
Yes. Type them one per line or comma-separated. Commas inside numbers aren’t supported, so type 3482 rather than 3,482.
Is it good for ESL students?
Yes. There’s no spelling involved, so learners of any language can do it.
Does it come with answers?
Yes. The answer key prints on a separate page with each number outlined.