Fact Family Code Breaker Worksheets offer a fun and interactive way for students to explore the inverse relationship between multiplication and division while solving a mystery word! This no-prep activity is perfect for reinforcing fact family concepts through problem-solving and logical thinking.

Students complete a multiplication and division grid using the given clues, identifying matching fact families across both operations. Once completed, each correct number leads to a corresponding letter that helps students crack a secret code word. With three differentiated versions included - a three-letter, four-letter, and five-letter code - you can easily adjust the challenge to suit different learners in your classroom.

This activity is ideal to use after your explicit teaching of fact families or as part of your maths rotations, early finisher options, or assessment tasks. It encourages critical thinking, self-checking, and pattern recognition while helping students make important connections between multiplication and division operations.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Understand and apply the relationship between multiplication and division
• ✅ Identify and use fact families to solve related number sentences
• ✅ Develop problem-solving strategies through a code-breaking context
• ✅ Reinforce fluency with basic multiplication and division facts

What’s Included:

• 3 differentiated worksheets (3-letter, 4-letter, and 5-letter code versions)
• Clear instructions and grids for students to complete
• No-prep print-and-go format

Materials Needed:

• Printed worksheets
• Pencils or pens
• Optional: highlighters or coloured pencils for extra engagement

How to Use:

1. Choose the worksheet level appropriate for your class or group.
2. Students solve the multiplication and division problems to complete each grid.
3. As they complete the problems, they use the corresponding numbers to reveal letters and crack the code.
4. Check the decoded word and use it as a springboard for whole-class discussion or follow-up tasks.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use as a warm-up, early finisher task, or part of your maths rotation
• 💡 Differentiate by assigning different code lengths to different groups
• 💡 Pair students to encourage collaborative problem-solving
• 💡 Display code words around the room and challenge students to match them to completed grids

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Laminate and use whiteboard markers for repeated practice
• 💛 Combine with fact family anchor charts for reference during the task
• 💛 Use as an informal assessment task by reviewing student responses

Want to check for understanding? Pair this resource with our editable Fact Family Exit Tickets to wrap up your lesson!