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Factor Frenzy!

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Lesson Plan

Factor Frenzy!

Students will be able to identify factors of whole numbers up to 100 with speed and accuracy through an interactive game.

Understanding factors is crucial for building a strong foundation in multiplication, division, fractions, and eventually algebra. This lesson makes learning factors active and enjoyable, helping students solidify their number sense in a fun way.

Audience

5th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

An interactive game show format to practice identifying factors.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Optional: Individual whiteboards/scratch paper, Factor Frenzy! Slide Deck, Factor Frenzy! Game Instructions, and Factor Frenzy! Game Answer Key

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review the Factor Frenzy! Lesson Plan and all generated materials.
  • Ensure whiteboard/projector is set up and working.
  • Have markers/pens ready.
  • (Optional) Prepare individual whiteboards or scratch paper for students if you wish for them to work out answers individually before team discussion.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Factor Find

5 minutes

  • Begin with the Factor Frenzy! Warm-Up activity.
  • Display the warm-up question on the board or via the Factor Frenzy! Slide Deck.
  • Ask students to quickly jot down their thoughts or discuss with a partner: "What does it mean to be a 'factor' of a number? Give an example!"
  • Bring the class together to share definitions and examples, clarifying any misconceptions. Listen to student responses and use them to guide a brief review of factors before starting the game.

Step 2

Introduce Factor Frenzy!

5 minutes

  • Display the title slide from the Factor Frenzy! Slide Deck.
  • Explain that today they will be playing a game called "Factor Frenzy!" to practice their factor-finding skills.
  • Briefly go over the game's objective and rules as outlined in the Factor Frenzy! Game Instructions and on the slides.
  • Divide the class into 2-3 teams. Assign each team a designated area in the classroom.

Step 3

Play Factor Frenzy!

15 minutes

  • Start the game by displaying the first number on the Factor Frenzy! Slide Deck.
  • Read the number aloud and the instruction: "Find all the factors of this number!"
  • Give teams a set time (e.g., 60-90 seconds) to discuss and write down their factors. Encourage teamwork and collaboration.
  • After the time is up, have one representative from each team share their list of factors.
  • Use the Factor Frenzy! Game Answer Key to verify answers and award points.
  • Repeat for several rounds, increasing the difficulty of numbers as appropriate. Keep track of team scores on the board.
  • Facilitate as a game show host, ensuring fair play and encouraging all students to participate in their teams.

Step 4

Cool-Down: Factor Reflection

5 minutes

  • Conclude the game and announce the winning team.
  • Transition to the Factor Frenzy! Cool-Down activity, displaying it on the final slide.
  • Ask students to reflect individually on what they learned or found challenging during the game.
  • Collect their responses as an exit ticket, or have a quick whole-class share-out to reinforce learning.
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Slide Deck

Welcome to Factor Frenzy!

Get ready to dive into the world of factors!

Welcome students and set an energetic tone for the lesson. Introduce the game as a fun way to practice math skills.

Warm-Up: What's a Factor?

What does it mean to be a 'factor' of a number? Give an example!

Display the warm-up question. Give students a few minutes to think or discuss with a partner. Encourage them to explain their reasoning.

Review: Factors

A factor is a number that divides another number exactly, without leaving a remainder.

Think: What numbers can you multiply together to get the target number?

After discussing the warm-up, quickly review the definition of factors with the class. Use an example like 12 (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12) to illustrate.

Game On! Factor Frenzy!

Objective: Be the team to find all factors of a given number the fastest!

Rules:

  1. Teams work together.
  2. You'll have a time limit for each number.
  3. Write down ALL factors.
  4. The team with the most correct factors wins the round!

Explain the game's objective and rules clearly. Emphasize teamwork and quick thinking.

Challenge 1: Find the Factors!

What are all the factors of 24?

Display the first challenge number. Set a timer for 60-90 seconds. Circulate to observe team discussions and provide guidance if needed.

Answer 1:

The factors of 24 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24

After teams present, reveal the answer using the Factor Frenzy! Game Answer Key. Award points and keep score visible.

Challenge 2: Find the Factors!

What are all the factors of 36?

Display the second challenge number. Repeat the process. Consider increasing the time slightly for larger numbers if needed.

Answer 2:

The factors of 36 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36

Reveal the answer for 36. Update scores.

Challenge 3: Find the Factors!

What are all the factors of 48?

Display the third challenge number. Encourage teams to try new strategies if they struggled with previous rounds.

Answer 3:

The factors of 48 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 48

Reveal the answer for 48. Update scores. If time permits, add more challenge numbers (e.g., 60, 72, 84, 96).

And the Winner Is...

Great job everyone! You crushed Factor Frenzy!

Let's reflect on what we learned.

Conclude the game and announce the winning team. Transition to the cool-down activity.

Cool-Down: Factor Reflection

What was one strategy your team used today to find factors?


What was the most challenging number for you and why?

Display the cool-down prompt. Have students write their responses or share orally as an exit ticket.

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Activity

Factor Frenzy! Game Instructions

Objective:

Be the team to correctly identify all factors of a given number the fastest and most accurately!

Materials Needed:

How to Play:

Step 1: Team Up!

  • The teacher will divide the class into 2-3 teams.
  • Each team should gather in their designated area.

Step 2: The Challenge Begins!

  • The teacher will display a number on the Factor Frenzy! Slide Deck.
  • Your team's goal is to find ALL the factors of that number.

Step 3: Collaborate and Conquer!

  • As a team, discuss and work together to identify all the numbers that divide evenly into the challenge number.
  • Write down your list of factors on your scratch paper or mini whiteboard.

Step 4: Time Is Ticking!

  • You will have a set amount of time (e.g., 60-90 seconds) for each challenge number.
  • When the timer goes off, stop writing!

Step 5: Share Your Factors!

  • A designated team representative will share your team's list of factors with the class.
  • The teacher will use the Factor Frenzy! Game Answer Key to check the answers.

Step 6: Score Points!

  • Teams earn points for each correctly identified factor.
  • The team that lists all factors correctly (and possibly first, if the teacher adds a speed bonus!) will earn bonus points.
  • Partial points may be awarded for incomplete lists, but strive for perfection!

Step 7: Next Round!

  • The game continues with new challenge numbers. Keep track of your team's score!

Winning the Game:

The team with the highest total score at the end of the game wins "Factor Frenzy!"

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Answer Key

Factor Frenzy! Game Answer Key

This answer key provides the complete list of factors for each challenge number presented in the Factor Frenzy! Slide Deck. Use this to quickly verify team responses and award points.

Challenge 1: Find all factors of 24

Thought Process:
To find the factors of 24, we look for pairs of numbers that multiply to 24, starting from 1.

  • 1 x 24 = 24
  • 2 x 12 = 24
  • 3 x 8 = 24
  • 4 x 6 = 24
    (We don't need to check 5, and 6 is already found)

Factors of 24: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24

Challenge 2: Find all factors of 36

Thought Process:
To find the factors of 36, we look for pairs of numbers that multiply to 36, starting from 1.

  • 1 x 36 = 36
  • 2 x 18 = 36
  • 3 x 12 = 36
  • 4 x 9 = 36
  • 6 x 6 = 36
    (We don't need to check 5, 7, 8 as they don't divide evenly)

Factors of 36: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36

Challenge 3: Find all factors of 48

Thought Process:
To find the factors of 48, we look for pairs of numbers that multiply to 48, starting from 1.

  • 1 x 48 = 48
  • 2 x 24 = 48
  • 3 x 16 = 48
  • 4 x 12 = 48
  • 6 x 8 = 48
    (We don't need to check 5 or 7)

Factors of 48: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 48

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Warm Up

Factor Frenzy! Warm-Up

Objective: To activate prior knowledge about factors and prepare students for the game.

Question:

What does it mean to be a "factor" of a number?







Can you give an example of a number and list some of its factors?










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Cool Down

Factor Frenzy! Cool-Down

Objective: To allow students to reflect on their learning and the strategies used during the game.

Reflection Questions:

  1. What was one strategy your team used today to find factors quickly and accurately?






  2. What was the most challenging number for you to find factors for, and why?






  3. How does understanding factors help you with other math topics, like multiplication or division?






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