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    Factor Finder

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    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.
    • Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.

    • 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:

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