List

Exploring Factors and Multiples

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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
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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
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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.
Dicey Array
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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?

Largest Even
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Favourite

Largest even

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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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
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Favourite

Tables teaser

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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How will you work out which numbers have been used to create this multiplication square?
Light the Lights
problem
Favourite

Light the lights

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

Dozens
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Favourite

Dozens

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
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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
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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?