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Why do cicadas wait 13 or 17 years?

4th GradeFactors and multiplesabout 3 minCCSS 4.OA.B.4

Pick how many years the cicadas wait, then see which birds are waiting for them.

Lesson Plan

Explore factors, multiples and prime numbers by finding when two cycles meet.

  1. Question: Ask what students spot and what they are curious about. Read “How often will they meet the 4-year bird?” aloud. Have each student guess and say why.

  2. Question: Read “Which birds are waiting in year 13?” aloud. Have partners explain their guesses to each other.

  3. Big idea: Pause. Ask a student to say the idea in their own words.

  4. Real-world application: Ask: Where else have you seen this?

  5. Your turn: Have students try their own. Ask them to predict before they test.

How to run it

  1. Whole classPut the lesson on the board. At each choice the class votes, then you select the winner.
  2. SoloShare the link, QR code, or post to Google Classroom. Each student gets to take their own path.