Common Multiples — Interactive Lesson (Year 5)

When will two dripping taps next drip together? This 12-slide interactive lesson teaches common multiples using a memorable dripping-tap problem.

Mastering Common Multiples in Year 5 Maths

Pupils learn to find common multiples of any pair of numbers, using their knowledge of times-tables and simple rules. They drag the first common multiple of 5 and 6, and of 2 and 3, to a box, list all multiples of 4 and 5 between 1 and 20 in ascending order, and find numbers that are common multiples of 2 and 7, or of 3 and 5, within a given range. A Venn diagram activity sorts numbers by which times-tables they belong to, and a reasoning question asks when two taps dripping every 6 and 7 seconds will next drip together.

What’s Included

• 12-slide interactive lesson on common multiples
• Learning objectives on finding common multiples of a pair of numbers
• Drag-and-drop activities finding the first common multiple
• A Venn diagram sorting activity
• A real-life dripping-tap reasoning question with instant feedback

Key Benefits for Students

• Builds fluency finding common multiples quickly
• Uses a Venn diagram to organise and compare multiples
• The tap-dripping question makes lowest common multiple memorable
• Instant feedback on answer questions

Why Teachers Love It

• No prep — ready for whole-class teaching on an interactive whiteboard
• A concise lesson that fits a single session
• Self-marking questions support independent practice
• Suits teaching, revision and homework
• A dependable foundation before finding the lowest common multiple

Love this? You’ll love…

• Columnar Addition — Interactive Lesson (Year 5)
• Divisibility Rules — Interactive Lesson (Ages 8–10)
• Negative Numbers — Interactive Lesson & Activities (Ages 9–11)

A dependable addition to a Year 5 number topic, giving pupils a clear method and a memorable real-life example for common multiples. This groundwork makes finding the lowest common multiple, and later adding fractions with different denominators, far more straightforward.

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FAQs

What year group is this for?
Year 5 (ages 9–10), KS2.

Does it use a Venn diagram?
Yes — to sort and compare multiples.

Is it self-marking?
Yes, with instant feedback on the questions.