I gave my students a prime factorization practice booklet which gave them a chance to try out both methods we learned for prime factorization – the factor tree method and the birthday cake method.
After giving students a bit of time to work each problem, a student volunteer came to the SMARTBoard to present a solution. We alternated methods with each solution presentation.
My students were SHOCKED to find out that they always got the same prime factorization even though they took many different paths to get there!
Free Download of Prime Factorization Practice Booklet
Prime Factorization Practice Book (PDF) (1343 downloads )
Prime Factorization Practice Book (Editable Publisher File ZIP) (1004 downloads )
More Activities for Teaching Prime Factorization
- Free Printable Factors Chart 1-100
- Prime Numbers Chart
- Factors Race Activity
- Prime Factorization Foldable
- Prime Factorization Graphic Organizer
- Factor Tree Puzzles Inspired by Dr. Harold Reiter
- Prime Numbers Below 100 Chart
- Prime Factorization Practice Booklet
- Prime Numbers Poster
- Prime and Composite Numbers Chart
- Prime Factorization using the Birthday Cake Method
Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)
Tuesday 18th of April 2017
Very cool. Thanks for sharing!
Benjamin Leis
Saturday 11th of February 2017
Somehow in teaching factor trees, students can often miss the forest for the trees (as it were). That's because most examples are shown where you can easily see a starting factor to try. The idea that there is a methodical process that can find any factorization and how that would go tends to get lost.
See: http://blog.mathoffthegrid.com/2017/01/110-new-years-celebration.html
It was really eye opening to ask my kids what to do next when there was no obvious starting point.
Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)
Tuesday 18th of April 2017
Thanks for sharing!
Anonymous
Friday 10th of February 2017
For years, I have made my middle school students prime factor from 2 to 100. They hate it until they are shown how P.F. can help with all fraction operations. Then they are blown away. I wish that 4th grade would focus on factors and multiples to the exclusion of everything else. That sort of in-depth number theory can really help their conceptual understanding in so many future math classes! Keep fighting the good fight! -snapdragon
Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)
Tuesday 18th of April 2017
Agree with this so much!