Four-Square for Story Problems
Topics: Fourth Grade, Math
There is a simple way to help your fourth-grader better understand what to do when faced with a story problem. It is called “Four-Square for Story Problems” and it involves students identifying key words that signal specific operations – addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. It begins as a quick, fun activity, but turns into a finished product that will be a study tool for years to come!
What You Need:
- paper/pencils
- multi-colored markers
- small poster board or construction paper
What You Do:
1. Cut 4 sheets of paper into approximately 35 cards (medium-size).
2. Write each word/phrase below on one card:
| Addition | Subtraction | Multiplication | Division |
| total | difference | times | each |
| altogether | left | multiplied by | divided by |
| in all | fewer | product of | quotient of |
| add | loss | every | per |
| combined | minus | at this rate | |
| sum | less | ||
| remains | |||
| subtract |
3. Shuffle all cards. Next, challenge your fourth-grader to sort the word cards in less than two minutes. Direct her to find the four headings and then the key words that would fit under each heading (shown above). Check her work. If she is completely correct in her sorting, praise her and offer a small prize. If she made some errors, help her make corrections and try again. Give her a small consolation prize to keep her motivated!
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