What your learner will practice
Multi-step thinking. Fourth graders practice larger numbers, fractions, decimals and multi-step reasoning. Encourage estimation as a way to check answers.
With word problems in Grade 4, the goal is to build understanding and to explain the method, not just get a number. Take breaks and repeat short sessions when needed.
How to solve word problems problems
- 1Read the story once for meaning and again for quantities.
- 2Ask what is known and what is missing; draw a quick model.
- 3Write an equation, solve it, and label the answer with units.
Common mistake to watch for
Do not choose an operation based only on one keyword.
Try these six examples
Read each question, solve on paper, and then check the answer. The full printable sets below provide 20 new problems each.
- There are 22 red and 10 blue pencils in each of 9 boxes. How many pencils? Answer: 288
- There are 14 red and 15 blue pencils in each of 7 boxes. How many pencils? Answer: 203
- A class buys 24 notebooks at $13 each and 6 pens at $2 each. Total cost? Answer: $324.00
- A library gets 26 boxes with 8 books each, then donates 3. How many remain? Answer: 205
- A class buys 16 notebooks at $15 each and 16 pens at $2 each. Total cost? Answer: $272.00
- A team runs 24 miles each week for 5 weeks, plus 13 more miles. Total miles? Answer: 133
Helpful teaching idea
Tell the story back without the numbers before solving it.
Ask for a strategy before computation. Show how to check a result with the reverse operation.