Prime and Composite Numbers word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Prime and Composite Numbers word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this prime and composite puzzle set for my 4th graders during our math unit. The kids could find factors but had no idea what made a number prime or composite. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like prime, composite, factor, multiple, exactly two factors, one and itself, more than two factors, even, odd, 2,3,5,7,11,13,17,19, and examples of composite like 4,6,8,9,10,12,14,15,16,18,20. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the prime and composite 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 1 is prime or composite. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple factor tree and number drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 4th through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers list all the prime numbers between 1 and 10 on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.