Math lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 30 minutes
Test divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10
Number sense
CCSS 6.NS.B.4England: Y5 Multiplication and divisionEngland: KS3 Number
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Test divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Factors, multiples, primes
Leads to: Tell prime numbers from composite numbers
Materials: Place value chart, Base-ten blocks or a number line, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Factors, multiples, primes). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which number is a factor of 48? (11 / 7 / 10 / 24) → 24Prompt: A factor divides the number exactly, with no remainder.
- Is 45 prime or composite? (Prime / Composite) → CompositePrompt: A prime number has exactly two factors: 1 and itself.
- What is the 6th multiple of 7? (The 1st multiple is 7.) → 42Prompt: Multiples of 7: 7, 14, 21, …
Hook · 3 min
- Show a number in the news or a price tag and ask what each digit is worth.
- Share the objective: Test divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Is 930 divisible by 3?
- Step 1: 930 ÷ 3 = 310, so yes.
- Answer: Yes
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Is 438 divisible by 2? (Yes / No) → YesPrompt: Test for 2: the last digit is even.
- Which number is divisible by 3? (928 / 364 / 173 / 243) → 243Prompt: Test for 3: the digit sum is a multiple of 3.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Is 583 divisible by 6? (Yes / No) → NoPrompt: Test for 6: it passes the tests for 2 and 3.
- The number 5□3 is divisible by 9. What is the smallest digit that can go in the box? → 1Prompt: A number is divisible by 9 when its digit sum is a multiple of 9.
Watch out for
- Reading 1,045 as one thousand four hundred five: point to each place and say its value.
- Thinking a longer number is always bigger, even with decimals (0.45 vs 0.5).
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Factors, multiples, primes.
- Use concrete materials: place value chart.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Tell prime numbers from composite numbers.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-6.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder