Go back See all

Factor Finder

from

Subject: Math

Lesson Length: 30 - 40 mins

Topic: Operations and Algebraic Thinking; Factor Pairs/ Prime or Composite Numbers

Grade Level: 4

Standards / Framework:

Brief Description: Students will learn about prime and composite numbers and their factors.

Know Before You Start: This lesson is a great introduction to prime and composite numbers. Pairs of dice will be needed.

Hook:

  • Read and discuss the sample comic.

    • What’s the difference between a prime and composite number?

    • Is Maggie correct about the buses? 

  • Practice finding the factors of prime and composite numbers as a class.

  • Have students work in pairs, taking turns providing numbers for their partner to determine if it is a prime or composite number and provide the factors. 

Activity:

  • Give each student a pair of dice.
  • Have students roll the dice to create a two digit number (one number from each die.)
  • Students will now create a four-panel comic
    • In Panel 1: Have students explain the difference between prime and composite numbers by providing a definition/explanation in their own words.
    • In each of the following panels, students will share the number they rolled, determine if it is a prime or composite number and provide the factors.
    • Students will repeat this process for three separate numbers.

Closure:

  • Have students share their comic with a partner.

Differentiation:

  • Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.

  • Provide the definitions of prime and composite numbers for students. 

  • Provide a prime and composite number chart. 

  • Provide sentence stem: "____ is a prime/composite number because _______."

  • Allow students to work in pairs.

Resources:

  • Comic to print or display: Comic.

Suggested Content Packs:

Related Ideas

Guess My Number

In this lesson, students will provide clues to the location of a mystery rational number on the number line.

Pattern Pair Play

Students will create a numerical pattern using a given rule and apply to generate ordered pairs. Students will explain the relationship between the numbers.

Shape Riddles

In this lesson, students will craft riddles to describe 2D shapes based on their points, angles, and lines.