DBE Workbooks Teacher Guide — Using Rainbow Books in Class

If you teach Grades R–9 and use DBE Rainbow workbooks in class, this page is for classroom use — pacing, pairing with CAPS and ATPs, and where to find current PDFs. It is not a full year file index; for downloads use DBE workbooks.

Start from the official hub

Bookmark the DBE Workbooks hub and open the current year’s Term 1–2 and Term 3–4 indexes from there:

• Workbooks hub
• 2026 Terms 1 & 2/2026Workbooks1.aspx)
• 2026 Terms 3 & 4/2026WorkbooksTerm3and4.aspx)

Print packs still arrive through LTSM. Digital PDFs help when a learner loses a book, for relief teaching, or for planning ahead of the next term.

Pacing (from the hub FAQ)

DBE’s workbooks FAQ describes a simple classroom rhythm for the worksheet books: about four worksheets a week across roughly eight weeks in a term. Use that as a planning guide — adapt for multi-grade classes, catch-up weeks, and your school’s timetable.

Rainbow books are practice worksheets. They support CAPS; they do not replace your CAPS subject file, ATP, or textbook.

Pair with CAPS and the ATP

1. 1. Open the CAPS subject document for the grade and subject.
2. 2. Align the week’s ATP topics with the workbook section you will use.
3. 3. Use Rainbow pages for guided practice or homework after the concept is taught — not as the only teaching input.
4. 4. Keep language of learning consistent with the class (Home Language vs FAL packs differ).

Parents who only need “what are these books?” can read A guide to the DBE workbooks.

Training Manual and interactive materials

The Workbooks hub also links Workbooks Training Manual and Interactive Workbooks resources. Those deep links can change (LinkClick / file tickets). Prefer opening them from the live Workbooks hub rather than a saved PDF URL.

Practical classroom tips

• Number books and record who received which copy — learners own the books, so returns are not always reliable.
• Photograph or note the grade/language cover if you photocopy a lost page for one child; better still, download the matching official PDF.
• Do not sell or redistribute unofficial “Rainbow” packs that are not from education.gov.za.

DBE call centre: 0800 202 933 | callcentre@dbe.gov.za.

Disclaimer

CAPS123 is an independent summary for teachers. It is not an official DBE training manual. Confirm pacing notes, indexes and any Training Manual links on education.gov.za before you plan a full term.