Factor fun
This is a level 3 number link activity from the Figure It Out series. It is focused on practising multiplication facts. A PDF of the student activity is included.
About this resource
Figure It Out is a series of 80 books published between 1999 and 2009 to support teaching and learning in New Zealand classrooms
This resource provides the teachers' notes and answers for one activity from the Figure It Out series. A printable PDF of the student activity can be downloaded from the materials that come with this resource.
Specific learning outcomes:
- Practise multiplication facts.
Factor fun
Achievement objectives
NA3-2: Know basic multiplication and division facts.
Required materials
- coloured counter for each player
- Figure it out, Link, Number, Book Two, "Factor fun", page 5
- two paper clips
- a classmate
See Materials that come with this resource to download:
- Fun factor activity (.pdf)
Activity
This is an ideal basic facts game because it’s fun and easy to set up and explain, and it can be easily varied by changing the rules. For example, instead of covering four in a square, the students could cover four in a line or find four that have a common factor.
A basic facts game on its own does not ensure that students will recall basic facts. Encourage your students to use the facts they know to work out the ones they are unsure of. For example, if they don’t know 7 x 8, they might use 7 x 7 and add 7 or 8 x 8 and subtract 8. Your students can use this game to help them to identify the facts that they don’t know. The game will also encourage them to learn their facts so that they become more proficient at playing it.
Any memorisation programme you use with the students should encourage multi-sensory repetition of the fact as well as finding or inventing triggers, such as patterns, to establish long-term recall.
Game
A game using factors.
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