List

Exploring Factors and Multiples

14859 header
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's '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 discussed the mathematical thinking which can be prompted by these problems.

Using Books: \The Doorbell Rang
eyfs_activity

Using books: The Doorbell Rang

Age
3 to 5
In this activity, the book 'The Doorbell Rang' by Pat Hutchins provides an engaging context in which children can explore sharing.
Playing with factors and multiples
article

Playing with factors and multiples

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.
Largest Even
problem
Favourite

Largest even

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
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
problem
Favourite

Tables teaser

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
How will you work out which numbers have been used to create this multiplication square?
Dicey Array
game
Favourite

Dicey array

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
problem
Favourite

Light the lights

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

Investigate which numbers make these lights come on. What is the smallest number you can find that lights up all the lights?

Dozens
problem
Favourite

Dozens

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

Can you select the missing digit(s) to find the largest multiple?

Light the Lights Again
problem
Favourite

Light the lights again

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

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?