Fourth grade math brings lots of new challenges, like division with remainders and decimals. Kids also spend a lot of time with fractions and place value. Teach all these concepts and more with these free and fun fourth grade math games!
1. Make division fun with Remainders Wanted
Fourth grade math students learn to divide larger numbers, often with remainders. In this game, the remainder is the goal! For each turn, students place a counter over a number on the board, then roll the die to see what number they’ll be dividing it by. The remainder is their score for that turn!
Learn more: Teacher Scout Mom
2. Give them a heads up with Factor Frenzy Headbands
Kids use dollar store headbands to hold cards showing multiplication products to their foreheads. Their partners try to get them to guess the number by telling them the factors without saying the number itself.
Learn more: Teaching With a Mountain View
3. Strategize to win the Factor Game
Write the numbers from 1 to 30 as shown. The first player marks a number (their score for that round). The second player then marks all the remaining factors of that number (which add up to their score for that round). Play continues until all numbers are marked.
Learn more: Cognitive Cardio
4. Introduce patterns by asking, “What Do You Notice?”
Lay out a pattern problem and ask students to write down what they notice about it on sticky notes. Collect and talk about the notes to see which are helpful in finding the right number to fit the pattern. Award points to correct answers, if you like.
Learn more: Family Math Night
5. Guess then deduce with Number Pattern Solver
Draw a circle and set a number range, then tell fourth grade math students you have a pattern in mind. As they begin guessing numbers, write them inside the circle if they fit the pattern, and outside if they don’t. At first, they’ll just be guessing, but eventually, they’ll start to see a pattern emerge.
Learn more: Education.com
6. Toss LEGO bricks for place value practice
LEGO bricks really are ideal for place value activities. Toss the bricks onto a homemade target with rings to represent ones, tens, and so on. Count the studs of each brick that lands on a place value ring, then add them up to get your final number.
7. Build a number, including decimals
Kids select some number cards, then try to meet a series of challenges like making the largest number they can. Add in a decimal card to up the complexity of the game.
Learn more: Mathwire.com
8. Roll to win Place Value Yahtzee
These free printable Place Value Yahtzee boards include differentiated versions for various skill levels. Add some dice, and you’re ready to play!
Learn more: Games 4 Gains/Place Value Yahtzee
9. Use playing cards to practice decimal place values
Fourth grade math students take turns drawing cards, competing to build the highest possible number to the thousandths place.
Learn more: Games 4 Gains/Playing Card Decimals
10. Stack cards to learn expanded form
Grab the free printable cards, then have kids roll the dice and choose a card that matches. They build the numbers on the included worksheet to get the total. For extra practice, have them write out the word names too.
Learn more: Kids Activities Blog
11. Have a rounding practice snowball fight
Up for a little controlled chaos in the classroom? Write one number on each sheet of paper, underlining the place it should be rounded to. Pass out a few sheets per student, and have them crumple them up into “snowballs.” Allow a 30-second safe “snowball fight,” then have each student pick up a snowball and read the number out loud, rounding it correctly. Repeat!
Learn more: Tales From a Fourth Grade Math Nut
12. Multiply large numbers to get Three In a Row
Fourth grade math students work on multi-digit multiplication by choosing one number from box A and one from box B. They multiply them together, while their partner checks their answer on a calculator. If they get it right, they place a marker on the free printable board. The goal is to get three spots in a row. (Savvy players will use rounding to determine which numbers to pick next!)
Learn more: The Polka-Dotted Teacher
13. Hold a Quotient Tournament
Division problems go head-to-head to see which has the larger quotient. Students use the answer for each to complete the bracket for the next round.
Learn more: Education.com/Quotient Tournament
14. Give Spoons an equivalent fraction twist
Spoons is a classic and beloved card game where players race to match four-of-a-kind and grab a spoon in each round. In this version, they’re racing to match equivalent fractions (get some free printable cards to use at the link).
Learn more: Games 4 Gains/Spoons
15. Get those fractions in order
Students draw fraction cards, swapping them out to build a series of four in ascending order. Learn how it works at the link.
Learn more: Math Geek Mama
16. Declare a fraction war with dominoes
Each student draws a domino and positions it as a fraction. Then they compare the two to see whose is larger. The winning student keeps both dominoes. (See more cool ways to use dominoes for fraction games at the link.)
Learn more: Runde’s Room
17. Connect fractions to learn and win
Repurpose a Connect Four set to play fraction games! The goal is to match not only your colors, but the fractions themselves. For instance, you need four one-fourths in a row, but only three one-thirds, so there’s strategy involved, too.
Learn more: No Time for Flash Cards
18. Draw fractions without using numbers
Can you draw a fraction—without using any numbers? That’s the challenge of this fractions game. Kids can draw single objects divided to represent fractions or be more creative. For example, they might draw three apples and two oranges to represent three-fifths.
Learn more: Fraction Pictionary/E is for Explore
19. Line kids up for decimal practice
Get fourth grade math students up and moving by assigning them numbers. Draw a six-digit number card, and have another student help them line up by saying things like, “The 9 is in the hundreds place.” Once they’re in line, ask some follow-up questions to confirm understanding. Learn more at the link.
Learn more: Two Sisters Teach
20. Use plastic eggs to match up fractions and decimals
Snag some plastic eggs from the dollar store and write fractions on one half, with equivalent decimals on the other. Kids work to match them up.
Learn more: Meg Mac/Pinterest
21. Battle with area and perimeter to fill a graph page
Roll the dice to see the dimensions of your next rectangle, then mark it on the board. Try to fill your page completely before your partner does! (Have students write the area and perimeter in each block for practice along the way.)
Learn more: Unschooling Conversations
22. Go on a measurement scavenger hunt
Arm kids with measurement tools, then send them off to find objects that match the free printable challenge cards. Once they find it, they also need to convert the measurement within the same system (such as inches to feet).
Learn more: 123Homeschool4Me
23. Play geometry bingo
Fourth grade math students are learning terms like line, ray, and types of angles. This free printable bingo game is a fun way to do it!
Learn more: You’ve Got This Math
24. Tape off your tables for protractor practice
Use dry erase markers and masking tape to give students lots of angles to explore and measure! If you can’t write on your tables, try using a big piece of butcher paper instead.
Learn more: Cursive and Crayons/Instagram
25. Fold shapes to discover symmetry
Break students into groups and hand out a series of paper shapes. Challenge each group to experiment with folding their shapes to see which are symmetrical and how many lines of symmetry they have.
Learn more: Teacher Trap
Need some additional fourth grade ideas? Check out the Best 4th Grade Science Experiments and Activities.
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