3-2-1 Blast Off! International Numbers Puzzle

This multilingual numbers puzzle is made from beautifully colored, sustainable rubber wood. Inspired by the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing mission, the double-sided pieces fit together in a rocket shape inside a wooden tray. With numbers printed in English, Spanish, French, and Chinese, little explorers are introduced to counting in different languages.

In the early 20th century, it was common for children, some as young as four, to work in America’s factories, mines, fields, canneries, and tenement sweatshops. In 1910, children under the age of 15 made up 18.4 percent of the nation’s workforce. Outraged reformers began a campaign to end child labor in the United States. By 1915, several states had passed child labor laws. Congress twice enacted legislation that the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional. A constitutional amendment restricting child labor passed Congress in 1924, but the necessary number of states failed to approve the amendment. In 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act was passed, prohibiting most children under age 16 from working in industry. Agricultural and domestic labor were excluded.

More information about child labor can be found within records of rights, a National Archives permanent exhibit, following the history of the ongoing struggle of Americans to define, attain, and protect their rights.