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. Play missing factor bingo
Math Geek Mama/Missing Factor Bingo via mathgeekmama.com
Prepare kids for algebraic thinking by tackling missing factor equations. Playing bingo with these free printable boards is a fun way to do it!
Learn more: Math Geek Mama/Missing Factor Bingo
2. Guess equivalent fractions with Fat Rat
@resource_source/Fat Rat via instagram.com
This is sort of like hangman, but with equivalent fractions and a cute rat! As kids try to guess the numbers that fit in each box, each missed guess earns them one more piece of the “fat rat.”
Learn more: @resource_source
3. Sort equivalent and non-equivalent fractions
@4theloveofteaching/Equivalent Fractions via instagram.com
This is an easy one to set up, and the rules are simple. Kids simply sort the cards by whether the fractions on them are equivalent or not. Tip: Have them use a whiteboard to reduce fractions and check their answers.
Learn more: @4theloveofteaching
4. Build and measure polygons
Ashleigh’s Education Journey/Perimeter Game via ashleigh-educationjourney.com
Students roll a die and take a corresponding number of tiles, then assemble them into a polygon. After each turn, they calculate the perimeter of their new shape, aiming for a total of exactly 24.
Learn more: Ashleigh’s Education Journey/Perimeter Game
5. Make division fun with Remainders Wanted
Teacher Scout Mom/Remainders Wanted via teacherscoutmom.com
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
6. Give them a heads up with Factor Frenzy Headbands
Teaching With a Mountain View/Factor Headbands via teachingwithamountainview.com
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
7. Strategize to win the Factor Game
Cognitive Cardio Math/The Factor Game via cognitivecardiomath.com
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 Math/The Factor Game
8. Introduce patterns by asking “What do you notice?”
Family Math Night/Number Puzzle via familymathnight.com
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
9. Guess, then deduce with Number Pattern Solver
Education.com/Number Pattern Solver via www.education.com
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
10. Toss LEGO bricks for place value practice
WeAreTeachers
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.
11. Build a number, including decimals
Mathwire.com/Build a Number via mathwire.com
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
12. Roll to win Place Value Yahtzee
Games 4 Gains/Place Value Yahtzee via games4gains.com
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
13. Use playing cards to practice decimal place values
Games 4 Gains/Playing Card Decimals via games4gains.com
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
14. Stack cards to learn expanded form
Kids Activities Blog/Expanded Form via kidsactivitiesblog.com
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
15. Have a rounding practice snowball fight
Tales From a Fourth Grade Math Nut/Math Snowballs via fourthgrademathnut.blogspot.com
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
16. Multiply large numbers to get Three in a Row
The Polka-Dotted Teacher/Three in a Row via polkadottedteacher.blogspot.com
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
17. Hold a Quotient Tournament
Education.com/Quotient Tournament via education.com
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
18. Give Spoons an equivalent fraction twist
Games 4 Gains/Spoons via games4gains.com
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
19. Get those fractions in order
Math Geek Mama/Comparing Fractions via mathgeekmama.com
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/Comparing Fractions
20. Declare a fraction war with dominoes
Runde’s Room/Domino War via rundesroom.com
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
21. Connect fractions to learn and win
No Time for Flash Cards/Fractions Connect Four via notimeforflashcards.com
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
22. Draw fractions without using numbers
E Is for Explore/Fraction Pictionary via eisforexplore.blogspot.com
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: E Is for Explore/Fraction Pictionary
23. Line kids up for decimal practice
Two Sisters Teach/Student Decimals via twosistersteach.blogspot.com
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
24. Use plastic eggs to match up fractions and decimals
Pinterest/Fraction Eggs via pinterest.com
Snag some plastic eggs from the dollar store and write fractions on one half and equivalent decimals on the other. Kids work to match them up.
Learn more: Pinterest
25. Convert decimals to fractions with Decimal Dice
Cognitive Cardio Math/Decimal Dice via cognitivecardiomath.com
Think of this kind of like Yahtzee with a decimal spin. Learn the rules at the link, and give it a try with your students.
Learn more: Cognitive Cardio Math/Decimal Dice
26. Battle with area and perimeter to fill a graph page
Unschooling Conversations/How Long, How Many via marcialmiller.com
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
27. Go on a measurement scavenger hunt
123 Homeschool 4 Me/Measurement Hunt via 123homeschool4me.com
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: 123 Homeschool 4 Me
28. Compete at Geometry Bingo
You’ve Got This Math/Geometry Bingo via youvegotthismath.com
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
29. Tape off your tables for protractor practice
@simplystainedclassroom/Table Angles via Instagram
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: @simplystainedclassroom
30. Fold shapes to discover symmetry
Teacher Trap/Folded Shapes via teachertrap.com
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
