Word Problems Teaching Resources
Browse maths word problems and word problem worksheets created by teachers for Australian teachers like you! This vast collection covers all four maths operations with problem-solving tasks that allow students to apply their maths skills to real-world problems!
From worksheets to task cards, this collection is full of Australian maths curriculum-aligned resources, ready for your classroom, your lesson plans and your students!
Curious about using word problems in your classroom? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a kid-friendly definition of the concept and tips to ensure your students succeed with word problems!
What Is a Word Problem? A Kid-Friendly Definition
No doubt you know the answer to this question, but would you know how to answer if a student asked? Here's a handy definition that you can use!
A word problem is a kind of maths problem that is presented in words instead of just numbers. Word problems require us to use our maths skills to solve real-life scenarios or situations.
A word problem usually includes a question or a scenario that needs to be solved using one of the four maths operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication or division.
How to Help Students Succeed With Word Problems
Word problems are a fantastic tool to help students build their problem-solving skills. So how do you set them up for success?
Our teacher team has a few tricks up our sleeve to ensure your students are able to translate their maths skills into real-world problem-solving situations.
1. Teach Key Word Problem Vocabulary
Word problems are full of, well, words that serve as cues for students to help them know which operations to apply. Make sure to explicitly teach students the words so they know the appropriate actions.
For example, if a student sees the term 'take away' in a word problem, they should know that subtraction is involved. Here are just a few other key word problem vocabulary terms:
- How much
- Increased by
- How much longer
- Lost
- Remain
- Reduce
You may want to create anchor charts as a class with some of these keywords so students have a handy reference.
2. Hand Out Highlighter Pens
Teach students to work through a word problem and highlight or underline the important information (such as what is being asked for), while they cross out redundant information and other bits that are not necessary.
This can help them focus on the key points that matter.
3. Teach the CUBES Strategy
This handy strategy is a favourite amongst our teacher team (you'll even find CUBES resources on our site!). CUBES stands for:
- Circle all the numbers
- Underline the question
- Box the key words
- Evaluate and write the equation
- Solve & check
4. Practise Creating Word Problems As a Class
Before you hand already crafted word problems to your students to solve, why not work together as a class to create some?
Take regular addition or subtraction problems from the many worksheets on Teach Starter, and turn them into word problems together so students can reverse engineer the process. Students can also draw a picture to illustrate the problem.
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Number Patterns Year 5 Worksheet Set
Explore algebraic ideas with this number patterns year 5 worksheet set that provides practice extending patterns, writing equations and completing number sentences.
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Multiplication and Division Word Problems Task Cards
Use a range of strategies to solve 2-digit by 1-digit multiplication and division word problems that exceed the facts of the 12 times tables.
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Money Task Cards - Multi-Step Word Problems
Practise solving money word problems with a printable set of multi-step word problem task cards.
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Multi-Step Addition and Subtraction Word Problem Cards – Middle Primary
Solve multi-step addition and subtraction word problems with a set of printable maths task cards.
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The Escape From Millbrook Manor – Whole Class Escape Game
Practise computation skills by solving puzzles with this differentiated Halloween escape room game.
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Multi-Step Word Problem Cards (Division and Multiplication) - Year 5-6
Solve multi-step multiplication and long division word problems with a set of printable maths task cards.
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12 Days of Christmas Maths Activity
Try our 12 Days of Christmas Math Activity pack to get your students thinking, calculating, and solving problems related to the holiday song.
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Multiplication and Division Word Problems Task Cards (Facts of 2, 5 and 10)
Use a range of strategies to solve multiplication and division problems with 2, 5 and 10 times tables.
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Multiplication Money Word Problems Worksheets
Create equal groupings to solve real-world scenarios with our multiplication money word problems worksheets.
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Mixed Addition and Subtraction Word Problems Escape Room
Search for a lost treasure in our mixed addition and subtraction word problems escape room that will give your students varied practice adding and subtracting one and two-digit numbers.
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Soccer-Themed Maths Problem Solving Worksheets
Practise multiplication, division and problem solving skills with a high-interest soccer-themed scenario activity.
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Maths Word Problems – Year 2
Boost problem-solving skills with these math word problems for Year 2, designed to help students tackle the four operations through real-world scenarios.
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Multiplication and Division Word Problems Task Cards (Facts of 1-12)
Use a range of strategies to solve multiplication and division problems for times tables facts 1-12.
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Activities for Multiplication and Division - Monkey Jungle Escape Room
Complete activities for multiplication and division like this escape room with your students to give them an engaging way to practise solving problems by modeling equal groups.
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Open-Ended Maths Problem Solving Cards - Upper Primary
Boost your students’ problem-solving skills with rigorous open-ended maths problems for Year 5 and 6 students.
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Daily Maths Word Problems - Year 5
A set of 20 problem solving questions suited to year 5 students.
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Daily Maths Word Problems – Year 3
A set of 20 problem solving questions suited to year 3 students.
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Basic Multiplication and Division Word Problems - Matching Game
Practice reading, writing, and solving basic multiplication and division word problems with a matching activity.
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Save Santa's Workshop – Whole Class Escape Game
Solve clues to save Santa's Workshop with this fun and festive escape room game.
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Daily Problem-Solving - Multistep Word Problems for Year 2-3
Boost your students’ problem-solving skills with rigorous daily review of multi-step word problems for Years 2 and 3.
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Open-Ended Maths Problem Task Cards – Year 3 and 4
Challenge students with open-ended maths problems that build real-world reasoning and stretch your students’ thinking.
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Daily Maths Word Problems - Year 4 (Worksheets)
A set of 20 problem-solving questions suited to year 4 students.
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Daily Maths Word Problems - Year 2 (Worksheets)
A set of 20 problem-solving questions suited to Year 2 students.
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Length Word Problems - Year 3 Maths Worksheet
Help your students relate addition and subtraction with length using a printable Measurement Word Problems Worksheet for Year 3.
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Word Problem Worksheet - Money
Money word problem worksheet with answers.
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Multiply and Divide! Word Problems Interactive
Practise solving one and two step worded maths problems and have fun with our Multiply and Divide Word Problems Interactive Activity.
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Addition and Subtraction Word Problem Task Cards (Numbers 10-50)
Use a range of addition and subtraction strategies to solve twenty word problems that contain numbers 10–50.
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Addition and Subtraction Word Problem Task Cards (Numbers 1-50)
Use a range of addition and subtraction strategies to solve twenty word problems that contain numbers 1–50.
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Word Problem Worksheets - Year 5 and Year 6
4 mixed operations word problem worksheets with answers.
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Pandora's Party Palace Maths Activity – Upper Years
Sixteen mathematics problem-solving task cards involving money in a real-world context.
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Find the Whole From a Percentage Worksheet
Practise how to find the whole from a percentage with this standard-practice worksheet.
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Pandora's Party Palace Maths Activity – Middle Years
16 mathematics problem solving task cards involving money in a real-world context.