Animal Jumps
Class 5 · Mathematics
5 ideas in Class 5 Mathematics, explained in plain words, with games and quizzes to practise.
Factors and Arrays
Part of: Understanding Factors
A factor is a number that divides another number exactly with no remainder. If 3 groups of 5 things make 15 things, then 3 and 5 are factors of 15. You can show this with an array—rows and columns of objects. If you can arrange 18 buttons in 3 rows of 6 buttons each, then 3 and 6 are factors of 18.
Why it matters. Finding factors helps children understand the structure of numbers and prepares them for division, fractions and later algebra. It also helps them share things fairly in real life.
Try it in two minutes
- Take 12 small objects like beans or pebbles. Try arranging them in rows and columns.
- Count the number of rows and columns for each arrangement: 1 row of 12, 2 rows of 6, 3 rows of 4.
- Tell your child: when we can make a perfect rectangle, the numbers of rows and columns are factors of 12.
Try at home. Ask your child to arrange 20 buttons in different ways as rectangles and name the factors found.
Multiples Through Number Patterns
Part of: Multiples and Jumps
A multiple is a number that you get by counting in equal jumps. If a frog jumps 4 steps at a time—4, 8, 12, 16, 20—each of these numbers is a multiple of 4. The pattern repeats: you add 4 each time. For example, multiples of 3 are 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and so on.
Why it matters. Finding multiples helps children understand repeated addition, prepare for multiplication facts, and later work with fractions. It also helps them see patterns in numbers.
Try it in two minutes
- Draw a number line from 0 to 30 on a piece of paper or chalk.
- Jump by 2s starting from 0 and mark each landing: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20.
- Ask your child to name the multiples of 2, then try jumping by 5s.
Try at home. Draw a number line to 50 and make jumps by 6s or 7s. List all the multiples found.
Common Multiples
Part of: Common Patterns
When two animals jump on a number line with different step sizes, a common multiple is a number where both of them land. If a rabbit jumps by 3s (landing on 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18...) and a frog jumps by 5s (landing on 5, 10, 15, 20...), they both land on 15. So 15 is a common multiple of 3 and 5. It is the smallest common multiple they share.
Why it matters. Common multiples help children understand how different patterns connect and are useful for working with fractions and scheduling in real life.
Try it in two minutes
- Draw two number lines on paper, one for each jumping pattern.
- Mark jumps of 2 on one line and 3 on the other, from 0 to 24.
- Circle the numbers that appear on both lines—these are common multiples.
Try at home. Use two colours of beads or buttons to make two different patterns and find where they meet.
Common Factors
Part of: Finding Common Factors
A common factor is a number that divides two or more numbers exactly. If 4 divides both 12 and 20 with no remainder, then 4 is a common factor of 12 and 20. For example, 1 and 2 both divide 8 and 10 exactly, so 1 and 2 are common factors of 8 and 10. The number 1 is always a common factor of any two numbers.
Why it matters. Finding common factors helps children simplify fractions, divide fairly into groups, and understand how numbers relate. It is also useful for organising and sharing in real situations.
Try it in two minutes
- Write down the factors of 12 by trying jumps: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12.
- Write down the factors of 18: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18.
- Circle the numbers that appear in both lists: 1, 2, 3, 6 are the common factors.
Try at home. Write factors of 15 and factors of 25 on separate pieces of paper and find which factors are common.
Divisibility Rules
Part of: Divisibility Patterns
Some numbers have shortcuts for checking if they divide evenly. All numbers ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 are divisible by 2. All numbers ending in 0 or 5 are divisible by 5. All numbers ending in 0 are divisible by 10. These patterns help you quickly sort numbers without having to divide each one.
Why it matters. Recognising divisibility patterns helps children become faster with mental maths. It also helps them understand number relationships and see structure in mathematics.
Try it in two minutes
- Write numbers 1 to 30 on a page. Circle all numbers ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8.
- Tell your child: these are all divisible by 2. They are even numbers.
- Now find numbers ending in 0 or 5. These are divisible by 5.
Try at home. Give your child a list of numbers and ask them to quickly sort which ones are divisible by 2, which by 5, and which by 10.
What your child will practise
- Common Factors: Ocean Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Common Multiples: Ocean Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Divisibility Rules: Jungle Sort (Sort It Out)
- Factors and Arrays: Castle Sort (Sort It Out)
- Multiples Through Number Patterns: Ocean Quest (Collect the Answer)
- Quiz: Common Factors (8 questions)
- Quiz: Common Multiples (8 questions)
- Quiz: Divisibility Rules (8 questions)
- Quiz: Factors and Arrays (8 questions)