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.
- Plus Plan
Pandora's Party Palace Maths Activity – Upper Years
Sixteen mathematics problem-solving task cards involving money in a real-world context.
- Plus Plan
Pandora's Party Palace Maths Activity – Lower Years
16 mathematics problem solving task cards involving money in a real-world context.
- Plus Plan
Adding and Subtracting Word Problems Interactive Task Cards
Engage your students with this interactive adding and subtracting word problems activity that features a variety of problem types.
- Plus Plan
Maths Problem Solving Strategy Mats
Help your students solve math word problems with this set of strategy mats.
- Plus Plan
Soccer-Themed Maths Problem Solving Worksheets
Practise multiplication, division and problem solving skills with a high-interest soccer-themed scenario activity.
- Plus Plan
Multiplication Money Word Problems Worksheets
Create equal groupings to solve real-world scenarios with our multiplication money word problems worksheets.
- Plus Plan
Daily Maths Problems - Year 3
A 63 slide editable PowerPoint Template for problem solving in mathematics.
- Plus Plan
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.
- Plus Plan
Daily Maths Problems - Year 6
A 44 slide editable PowerPoint Template for problem solving in mathematics.
- Plus Plan
Daily Maths Problems - Year 2
A 44 slide editable PowerPoint template for problem solving in Mathematics.
- Plus Plan
Maths Brain Teasers - Year 2 Word Problems
Challenge your year 2 students to solve these brain teasers with a set of 24 maths word problems.
- Plus Plan
Daily Maths Word Problems - Year 2 (Worksheets)
A set of 20 problem-solving questions suited to Year 2 students.
- Plus Plan
Rounding to Estimate Worksheet Set
Use our rounding to estimate worksheet set to sharpen number sense and mental maths skills.
- Plus Plan
Mixed Operations - Length Word Problems Worksheets
Solve multi-step length word problems with a printable pack of 3-act Maths Word Problem Worksheets.
- Plus Plan
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.
- Plus Plan
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.
- Plus Plan
Mini-Mystery – Who Won the Race?
A fun, logic-based activity where students read clues to solve the mystery.
- Plus Plan
10 Problem Solving Strategies Posters
Boost problem solving skills and remind your students to use their strategies with our Word Problem Solving Strategy Posters.
- Plus Plan
Telling Time - Story Problem Comprehension Worksheets
Practise reading comprehension and telling time skills with a printable pack of Telling Time Maths Story Worksheets.
- Plus Plan
Daily Maths Problems - Year 4
A 44 slide editable PowerPoint Template for problem solving in mathematics.
- Plus Plan
CUBES Classroom Display and Bookmark Set
Tackle word problems with this CUBES problem-solving classroom display and bookmark set.
- Plus Plan
Open-ended Maths Problem Solving Cards - Lower Primary
A set of 20 open-ended problem solving cards covering a range of mathematical concepts.
- Plus Plan
Open-Ended Maths Problem Solving PowerPoint - Middle Primary
A PowerPoint with 20 open-ended problem solving questions covering a range of mathematical concepts.
- Plus Plan
3-Act Maths Tasks - Time Word Problems
Practise problem-solving skills and time conversions with a printable pack of 3 Act Maths Task worksheets.
- Plus Plan
Part Part Whole Word Problem Task Cards and Worksheet
Explore these animal-themed part-part-whole word problems that will open discussions with your young mathematicians.
- Plus Plan
Bar Model Poster Pack
Help your students solve problems using the four operations with a pack of printable strip diagram anchor charts.
- Plus Plan
Algebraic Expressions – Task Cards
Read, write and solve algebraic expressions with this set of 24 task cards.
- Plus Plan
Estimation Activity - Estimating Space Worksheet Set
Use estimation activities like this estimating space worksheet set to give your students practice estimating, converting measurements and problem solving.
- Plus Plan
Money Word Problems Addition and Subtraction Board Game (American Money)
Download this money word problems addition and subtraction board game for a fun way to practise double-digit operations using real-world scenarios.
- Plus Plan
Basic Multiplication and Division Word Problems - Matching Game
Practice reading, writing, and solving basic multiplication and division word problems with a matching activity.
- Plus Plan
Adding and Subtracting Within 10 - Word Problem Task Cards
Solve word problems practicing addition and subtraction to ten with a set of printable task cards.
- Plus Plan
Find the Whole From a Percentage Worksheet
Practise how to find the whole from a percentage with this standard-practice worksheet.