Greatest Common Factor word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Greatest Common Factor word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this greatest common factor puzzle set for my 5th graders during our number theory unit. The kids could list factors but had no idea how to find the biggest one two numbers shared, which made fractions harder. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like greatest common factor, GCF, factor, common factor, largest, shared, both numbers, list, find, multiply, prime factorization, divisor, reduce, simplify, and fraction. Examples include GCF of 12 and 18 is 6, GCF of 8 and 12 is 4, GCF of 15 and 25 is 5. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the GCF concept finally stick.

The PDF is four pages. Three puzzles plus one answer key page. The word search works well for quiet time after recess. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about whether GCF helps with simplifying fractions. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple Venn diagram and number list drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers find the GCF of 24 and 36 on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.