Greatest Common Factor (GCF) Activity

Are you looking for some extra practice for your students to improve their understanding of greatest common factor (otherwise known as GCF)? Whether your students practice finding the GCF by a T-chart, making a list, or using a Venn Diagram, this important skill will help students with other concepts, such as finding common denominators.

Students can complete the cards in any order and record their responses on the provided sheet. There are 8 cards determining GCF of 2 numbers, 4 cards determining GCF of 3 numbers, 4 cards determining the missing factor in a set, 4 cards with true/false statements, and 4 cards with error analysis tasks.

The goal of this activity is to practice determining the greatest common factor of a set of numbers.

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this resource to support your math lessons.

In addition to individual student work time, use this set of task cards to enhance learning through guided math groups, whole class lessons, or remote learning assignments. 

If you have a mixture of above and below-level learners, check out these suggestions for keeping students on track with the concepts: 

🆘 Support Struggling Students

To support students:

• Provide a multiplication chart and a calculator.
• Provide completed examples and notes.
• Work with a peer tutor or one on one with the teacher.
• Chunk the assignment into more manageable portions or reduce the required number of cards.

➕ Challenge Fast Finishers

Ask students needing a challenge to determine the GCF of larger numbers and larger sets of numbers. For example: Determine the GCF of 120, 150, and 144.

🛴 Scoot Activity 

Place the cards around the room in numerical order and give each student a recording sheet. Assign students or pairs to a starting point card. Give students time to review the card and record their answers in the corresponding space on their paper. Students will rotate to the next card when you say, “SCOOT!” Continue in this manner until students return to their starting point. 

👋 Exit Ticket 

Use these cards as a formative assessment after your lesson. Pick a random assortment of cards and project them on the board for the whole class to see. Students can record their answers on a sheet of paper, sticky note, or their notebook. 

Plan lessons for all ability levels with our 10 Best Scaffolding Strategies! 

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the color PDF, black and white PDF, or editable Google Slides version of this resource. A recording sheet and answer key are also included with this download. 

Print on cardstock for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for easy access. 

To keep the task cards out of pockets or under desks, punch a hole in the corner of each to place them on a binder ring. 

Sustainability Tip: Print a few recording sheets on cardstock and slip them into dry-erase sleeves. Students can record their answers with a whiteboard marker, then erase and reuse them.  

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This resource was created by Lorin Davies, a teacher in Texas and Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Don’t stop there! We’ve got more activities and resources that cut down on lesson planning time:  

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