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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12 Days of Christmas Maths Activity
Try our 12 Days of Christmas Maths Activity pack to get your students thinking, calculating and solving problems related to the holiday song.
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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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Build a Board Game – Maths STEM Project
Improve maths skills and spark creativity by having students plan, design, and create their own maths-based board games.
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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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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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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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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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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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Daily Maths Word Problems - Year 5
A set of 20 problem solving questions suited to year 5 students.
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Interactive Maths Review – Activities for Years 5, 6 and 7
Review important maths concepts covered in years 5, 6 and 7 with a student-led interactive activity.
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Maths Brain Teasers Task Cards
Spark critical thinking with maths brain teasers embedded in real-world scenarios to engage and challenge your upper primary students.
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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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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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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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Pandora's Party Palace Maths Activity – Middle Years
16 mathematics problem solving task cards involving money in a real-world context.
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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 Problems – Year 5
A 44 slide editable PowerPoint Template for problem solving in mathematics.
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Class Carnival – Probability STEM Challenges
A set of four carnival-themed STEM challenges where students create fun games that incorporate probability.
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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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Open-Ended Problem Solving Questions Maths - Year 1 and Year 2
Use these 20 open-ended problem solving questions covering a range of mathematical concepts with your Year 1 and Year 2 students.
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Daily Maths Word Problems - Year 6 (Worksheets)
A set of 20 problem-solving questions suited to year 6 students.
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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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Daily Maths Word Problems - Year 4 (Worksheets)
A set of 20 problem-solving questions suited to year 4 students.
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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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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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Addition and Subtraction Word Problems - Match Game
Practise reading, modelling, and solving addition and subtraction word problems with a matching activity.
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Data Maths Investigation – Line Up the Coins
A mathematics investigation about data, embedded in a real-world context.
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Word Problem Worksheets - Year 5 and Year 6
4 mixed operations word problem worksheets with answers.
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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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Converting Time Word Problems Worksheet
Develop problem solving skills set of printable multi-step time conversion worksheets.
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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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Word Problem Worksheet - Money
Money word problem worksheet with answers.