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How to Introduce Prime Numbers to Fifth Graders

If your children are in the fifth grade and you want to help them learn prime numbers, you can lead them in a factoring and counting exercise that drills prime numbers so that they can count them and identify them naturally. Prime numbers are numbers that you can multiply by "1" and the number itself. Some examples are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11 and 13. To complete "prime factorization" of a number, figure out all the prime numbers of a certain number.

Instructions

    • 1

      Count through numbers 1-20. With each number, ask the following question:

      What numbers can you multiply to equal ____ ?

      Keep in mind that "1" is not a prime number officially because it can be divided by all numbers. However, it is included in prime factorization.

    • 2

      Write out the numbers 1-20 on a piece of paper. With each number, write out the numbers you must multiply to equal that number. Here is an example:

      8 = 2 X 2 X 2

    • 3

      Identify which numbers in your multiplication list are prime numbers. In this case, all the numbers in the prime factorization of "8" are prime numbers.

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