When you’re teaching the greatest common factor to 6th graders, it helps to have a clear structure and multiple methods at your fingertips. Whether you’re brand new to teaching this concept or just want a more effective way to deliver it, this post has you covered. I’ve pulled together two videos and a helpful classroom resource that will take the guesswork out of introducing and practicing GCF.
Greatest Common Factor Videos With Three Strategies That Work
In this first video, I explain what the greatest common factor actually means. Then, we walk through three go-to strategies to find it. We look at listing factors, using prime factorization, and my favorite, which is the ladder method. I show you how to help your students decide which method is best for the numbers they’re working with. I also weave in divisibility rules and factor trees to give your students extra tools for breaking down numbers. Each strategy builds a deeper understanding of how numbers connect. This helps to make the greatest common factor more than just a vocabulary term. It becomes something your students can use.
3 Ways to Find the Greatest Common Factor
Solving GCF Word Problems
Once your students understand how to find the GCF, it’s time to show them how to apply it. In the second video, I walk through a word problem that requires using GCF. I model how your students can organize their thinking, use a guess-and-check strategy if they feel stuck, and connect the numbers in the problem back to what they already know about factoring. We also solve the problem using the ladder method, allowing your students to see how math shows up in everyday problem-solving. This is a great way to answer the classic “When are we going to use this?” question.
Help Students Choose What Works With These Three GCF Strategies
When it comes to teaching the greatest common factor, it’s not just about memorizing the steps. It’s about helping your students understand why each method works and when to use it. Let’s take a closer look at the three strategies highlighted in the video and resource.
Listing Factors is a solid place to start with smaller numbers. You should always encourage your students to list pairs in order (starting with 1 and the number itself) and to stop once they meet in the middle. It’s simple and visual, but it can be tricky when working with larger numbers, especially if your students don’t know all their math facts.
Prime Factorization takes things a step further by using factor trees to break numbers into their prime parts. This method gives your students a way to actually see how numbers are built. They learn how to find what factors two numbers have in common. It’s a great strategy for reinforcing prime numbers and multiplication facts, too.
The Ladder Method is typically students’ favorite! It feels less messy than factor trees and works well with large numbers. You pull out common factors on the side and divide both numbers until there’s nothing left to pull out. It’s straightforward, systematic, and pairs beautifully with visual learning styles. Plus, once your students master it, it becomes their go-to method for both GCF and least common multiple later on.
Greatest Common Factor Resource
To go along with the videos, I’ve created a classroom resource packed with everything you need to teach the greatest common factor from start to finish. The resource includes print and digital versions of GCF notes and practice pages, plus two exit tickets that help you assess understanding right away. Each strategy, listing factors, prime factorization, and the ladder method, has its own dedicated lesson page and step-by-step examples.
Your students can also get a chance to try each method on their own with guided support. There’s a Fold It Up activity that helps solidify how to use GCF and when to apply it. Whether you’re teaching a whole group, a small group, or assigning it digitally, this set is built for flexibility and clarity. Your students will walk away knowing how to find the GCF and why it matters.
Help Students Master the Greatest Common Factor
Teaching the greatest common factor in 6th grade math doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right mix of visuals, guided examples, real-life application, and supportive practice, your students can truly understand and use GCF consistently. Whether you start with the videos, the printables, or both, you’ll set them up for success in future algebraic thinking and number sense.
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