Exploring Factors and Multiples

Developing children's number sense is key to their success as young mathematicians. In this feature for Primary teachers, we bring together tasks which encourage learners to play with factors and multiples in particular. This exploration will help build children'sĀ 'feel' for numbers as they gain a deeper understanding of the properties of numbers, and the relationships between them.

You can watch a recording of the webinar in which we discussedĀ the mathematical thinking which can be prompted by these problems.

This article for primary teachers outlines why developing an intuitive 'feel' for numbers matters, and how our activities focusing on factors and multiples can help.
In this activity, the book 'The Doorbell Rang' by Pat Hutchins provides an engaging context in which children can explore sharing.

Largest Even 

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level
How would you create the largest possible two-digit even number from the digit I've given you and one of your choice?

Tables Teaser 

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level
How will you work out which numbers have been used to create this multiplication square?

Light the Lights 

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level
Investigate which numbers make these lights come on. What is the smallest number you can find that lights up all the lights?

Dicey Array 

Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level
Watch the video of this game being played. Can you work out the rules? Which dice totals are good to get, and why?

Light the Lights Again 

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level
Each light in this interactivity turns on according to a rule. What happens when you enter different numbers? Can you find the smallest number that lights up all four lights?

Dozens 

Age 7 to 14
Challenge Level
Can you select the missing digit(s) to find the largest multiple?