Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 5
Explain how to identify a prime number or a composite number
I can explain how to identify a prime number or a composite number.
- Year 5
Explain how to identify a prime number or a composite number
I can explain how to identify a prime number or a composite number.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- A prime number has only 2 factors, 1 and itself.
- A composite number is a number with more than 2 factors.
Keywords
Factor - A factor is a whole number which exactly divides another whole number.
Prime number - A prime number is a whole number greater than one which has exactly two factors.
Composite number - A composite number is a whole number which has more than two factors.
Square number - A square number is the result of multiplying an integer (not a fraction) by itself.
Common misconception
Every number has one and itself as a factor, so every number is a prime number.
Ensure pupils explore the different arrangements that numbers can make with tiles in arrays. Point out that the numbers which cannot be arranged in any way except for one row or column are prime numbers.
To help you plan your year 5 maths lesson on: Explain how to identify a prime number or a composite number, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 maths lesson on: Explain how to identify a prime number or a composite number, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 maths lessons from the Understand and use the concept of factorisation (square and prime numbers) unit, dive into the full primary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the expression to the correct square number.
2$$^2$$ -
4
3$$^2$$ -
9
11$$^2$$ -
121
8$$^2$$ -
64
Q2.What square number is represented by this incomplete factor bug?

Q3.What is the missing factor of 38 from this list? 1, 2, 19
Q4.The number 12 has factors.
Q5.The number 30 has factors.
Q6.Tick the numbers which are factors of both 15 and 20
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Exactly how many factors does a prime number have?
Q2.Match the number to the correct type.
Prime number -
13
Composite number -
12
Square number -
16