Fourth Grade Math Curriculum

Everything You Want to Know About Fourth Grade Math

For some schools, fourth grade marks a change from elementary school and into middle school. 

Whether this fourth grade year means students are going to a new building or not, they will all be learning the same things in math class. 

Fourth grade math curriculum covers skills such as:

• Developing an understanding of multi-digit multiplication and division
• Working with fractions (including equivalent fractions and operations with fractions)
• Understanding and analyzing geometric figures
• Performing arithmetic operations with larger numbers
• Solving word problems involving multiple steps
• Exploring the properties of shapes and angles
• Learning measurement concepts such as converting units and calculating area and perimeter 

Solid understanding of these topics will prepare students for the more advanced concepts in fifth grade math and beyond. 

What is covered in 4th Grade Math?

Most 4th grade math classrooms in the United States use Common Core State Standards (CCSS) when creating math lessons. 

Common core is universal standards that set the learning goals for 4th grade math and other classes. They ensure that all students have the same skills and know the same concepts by the end of a particular grade. 

Common core standards aim to ensure that all students receive a high-quality education, regardless of where they live. 

Across all subjects, these standards focus on developing critical thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills that can be used for success in students’ college journey, career path and life.

4th grade common core standards emphasize several areas to deepen students' math understanding. 

Fourth grade common core standards focus on: 

• Operations
• Developing fluency with multi-digit multiplication and division
• Performing operations with multi-digit whole numbers, including multiplication of four-digit numbers by one-digit numbers and two-digit numbers by two-digit numbers
• Fractions
• Understanding and working with fractions
• Comparing fractions
• Understanding equivalent fractions
• Adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators
• Exploring decimal notation for fractions 
• Learning to convert between fractions and decimals
• Geometry
• Exploring geometric figures and their properties
• Classifying shapes based on their properties
• Understanding symmetry
• Working with angles
• Measurement
• Converting measurements from a larger unit to a smaller unit, such as converting feet to inches or kilograms to grams

Teaching Fourth Grade Math

When contemplating how to teach fourth grade math, choosing the right teaching strategy is key. 

Let’s explore a few teaching strategies that are effective for a fourth grade math lesson plan. 

Interactive and Hands-On Learning: Fourth graders learn well from lessons that are interactive and have hands-on elements. 

Manipulatives like base-ten blocks, fraction strips and geometric shapes work well with fourth graders. They can help you teach multi-digit multiplication, division, fractions and more.

Real-World Applications and Problem-Solving: Connecting math to real-world scenarios can make learning more relevant and engaging for fourth graders. 

You can create projects and problems that involve real-life situations, such as budgeting for a classroom event, planning a garden or designing a simple structure. 

You could also try assigning a project that requires students to measure and calculate the area and perimeter of their classroom or schoolyard. Then they will use geometry shapes to fill the space with different objects.  

Technology Integration and Educational Games: Incorporating technology into math lessons often gets students very excited to learn and be engaged in your lessons. 

Educational apps and online platforms, like Prodigy Math, offer math exercises and games that reinforce the lessons you’re already teaching in the classroom. 

These tools can provide the immediate feedback that you would like to give each student, but not be able to depending on your class size. Online math games can provide personalized math practice to help each student flourish. 

You can also try using interactive whiteboards or tablets in the classroom to make your lessons more engaging and fun. 

Differentiated Instruction: If you’ve recognized that your students have diverse learning needs and paces, differentiated instruction can be crucial for their success in fourth grade math. 

You can use assessments to identify students' strengths and areas for improvement, then tailor instruction accordingly. 

Or you can use Prodigy Math to easily provide differentiated instruction. 

Small Group Work:

Small group work allows for targeted practice. Each student is able to get exactly what they need.

For example, students who need extra help with multiplication can work in a small group with focused activities. Meanwhile, advanced students can tackle more challenging problems. 

Group work also encourages peer learning, where students can support and learn from each other.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to teaching strategies. But by finding the teaching strategies that work for you and your students, you can create a supportive learning environment. And mostly importantly, you will be able to meet the diverse needs of your fourth graders. 

For more 4th grade math lesson planning ideas, check out our Fourth Grade Math worksheets.

Learning 4th Grade Math

Fourth graders are typically nine-year-old when beginning the school year and turn ten at some point throughout the year. 

Nine- and ten-year-olds are at a developmental stage where they are capable of more sophisticated thinking and problem-solving. They are becoming independent learners who can follow multi-step instructions and engage in more complex tasks. 

Though they are maturing, fourth grade math students still need a structured learning environment. Clear expectations and goals will help them succeed.  However, they should still be offered opportunities for exploration and creativity.

Social interactions and collaborative learning will also give them a well-rounded education. Nine-year-olds can learn a great deal from discussing ideas and working together with their peers.

How to Make Learning Fun for 9-Year-Olds

When nine-year-olds are in fourth grade learning math, they may not think that it can be very fun. But there are things you can do to make learning math fun!

Try incorporating a wide variety of engaging activities and approaches. Make each day new and exciting. 

Hands-on experiences, such as experiments, building projects and art activities, allow students to apply their knowledge in fun ways that they enjoy. 

Educational games can transform learning into a fun and competitive activity. Prodigy Math is a great option that can be played solo but still keeps the whole class on the same page. Or you can try using board or card games to practice math skills. 

Incorporating real-world applications can also make lessons more relatable and interesting. When students know why they’re learning something, they’re much more likely to engage and retain information. You can also cater to their interests and find ways to apply 4th grade math to their lives. 

How Prodigy Improves Fourth Grade Math

Imagine a math class where students are spellbound by magical adventures and exploring new realms—all while secretly sharpening their math skills. Welcome to Prodigy Math, where learning math feels more like a fantastical quest than homework.

This enchanting game-based platform turns math practice into an irresistible adventure, making it a breeze for teachers and parents to keep students engaged and eager to learn. 

By using Prodigy in your classroom, you’ll get to watch as your students develop a genuine love for math.

And Prodigy Math doesn’t just cast a fun spell on students—it works magic for teachers, too. 

With a curriculum that aligns perfectly with standards and an adaptive learning system that adjusts to each student's unique skill level, Prodigy ensures that everyone can progress at their own pace. 

The easy-to-use teacher dashboard makes tracking progress and pinpointing areas where students need extra support a piece of cake.

And the best part? Prodigy is completely free for teachers! You don’t have to give your budget a second thought. You can just focus on giving your students the best resources possible. 

Register for your free teacher account now!

Fourth Grade Math Curriculum

If you want to dive deeper into the fourth grade math curriculum used in your specific location, we’ve got all the information you need. 

Our easy-to-use curriculum finder can show you exactly what the math standards are in your state or country for students from 1st grade to 8th grade. 

To find the right standards, start by selecting your country at the top of the page. Then select your state or area. Finally, scroll down the grade if necessary. 

Head over to the Math Curriculum Standards page now.