What Do You Learn in 4th Grade? Overview, Subjects & Skills

Is your kid starting 4th grade? Then by now, they have already gotten the hang of school life and routine. So, it’s time for social skill building and advanced academic training. 

What do you learn in 4th grade? This year marks the beginning of upper elementary school, where students delve deeper into math, reading, writing, and science. In this grade, kids build on foundational skills learned in 3rd grade. 

Fourth grade will foster your child’s social and academic growth through new activities and lessons. So, to prepare your child for a new grade, you should first understand what is taught to kids in 4th grade. This will help you prepare your 4th grader for a new class. 

What Is Taught to Kids in 4th Grade? Key Subjects & Skills

The fourth-grade curriculum for each state and district is slightly different. However, the main lesson structure and subjects in all states are the same. The basic lessons and some crucial things you learn in 4th grade include multiplication, division, decimals, science concepts like the solar system, and reading comprehension. 

Now, let’s explore important 4th-grade subjects and skills, along with activities and strategies parents can use to supercharge their child’s learning at home. 

Math for 4th Graders

Fourth-grade math will be more complicated and fractional. In third grade, your child has learned all about sequences and patterns. They will learn to find factors and multiples of different numbers in the fourth grade. In addition, your child will learn to subtract fractions and recognize equivalent and non-equivalent fractions by the end of fourth grade.

They will also learn to analyze, collect, organize, and present data. Moreover fourth grade will also teach your children how to convert and calculate different units of measurement. 

Here are important math skills kids learn in 4th grade, along with fun learning activities parents can use to reinforce these skills:

1.  Number Sense

• Identify place values of multi-digit whole numbers.

i) Place Value Spinner: Create a spinner with place values (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc.) and a separate spinner with digits (0-9). Have your child spin each one, place the resulting digit in the corresponding place value, and read out the number created. This helps reinforce the role of each place value.

ii) Interactive Place Value Games: In these games, kids learn place values in multi-digit numbers by working with place value charts, base 10 blocks, and expanded form. They will also learn to build 4-digit numbers with given digits.

Master place values in large numbers!

• Compare multi-digit numbers.

i) Write pairs of multi-digit numbers on place value charts (e.g., 3,456 and 3,652). Have your child compare each place value, starting from the highest place value. Encourage them to explain their reasoning as they go. 

ii) Here are fun games to practice this activity: Kids will practice solving a set of questions by comparing numbers with up to 6 digits.  

Compare numbers using a place value chart!

Related Reading: How to Teach Number Sense

2. Arithmetic Operations

• Fluently add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers.

i) Grocery List Addition/Subtraction: Create a pretend grocery list with items and prices in the hundreds and thousands. Have your child “shop” by adding up the total or subtracting certain items from their list to practice multi-digit addition and subtraction in a practical context.

ii) Addition and Subtraction Games: In these games, kids will solve problems using base-10 blocks, column method, horizontal strategy, regrouping, and word problems.

Master multi-digit addition and subtraction!

• Multiply a whole number up to four digits by a one-digit number.

i) Array Creation: Use graph paper to have your child draw an array that represents a four-digit number multiplied by a one-digit number (e.g., 3,000 x 4). They can color in groups to visually understand the multiplication and count to confirm their answer.

ii) Give your child a four-digit number and a one-digit multiplier (e.g., 2,345 x 3). Ask them to break down the four-digit number by place value (e.g., 2,000, 300, 40, and 5), then multiply each part by the one-digit number and add the results. This shows the structure of multi-digit multiplication.

iii) Multiplication Games: In these games, kids will use different strategies, such as long multiplication, area model multiplication, and horizontal multiplication.

Play and master multiplication!

• Divide four-digit dividends by one-digit divisors.

i) Set up a long division problem on paper (e.g., 4,528 ÷ 4). Walk through each step with your child, asking them to divide each part of the number one at a time. Practice with multiple problems to build fluency. 

ii) Here are fun games that will guide your child at every step of the long division process: Kids will work with up to 4-digit dividends and 1-digit divisors. 

Let’s practice long division!

• Solve multi-step word problems.

i) Real-Life Math Scenarios: Create simple, relatable scenarios that require multiple steps to solve. For example, “You have $20 and buy two snacks that cost $4 each. How much do you have left after buying the snacks?” This involves both multiplication and subtraction. Have your child solve each step one at a time, writing down the answer for each step.

ii) Multi-step Word Problem Worksheets: In these exercises, kids will solve multi-step word problems focusing on four operations, comparison scenarios, and various fun themes.

Let’s solve multi-step word problems!

Related Reading: Best Strategies for Solving Math Word Problems

3. Fractions

• Identify and create equivalent fractions.

i) Prepare cards with fractions and their equivalents (e.g., 1/2, 2/4, 3/6, 4/8). Shuffle them and lay them face down. Have your child play a memory game where they flip over two cards at a time, trying to find equivalent fractions. They must explain why the fractions are equivalent to claim the pair.

ii) Equivalent Fraction Games: In these games, kids will learn to recognize and generate equivalent fractions using visual models, number lines, and playful activities.

Play and identify equivalent fractions!

• Compare and order fractions using >, =, or < by finding common denominators and using benchmark fractions.

i) Use fruit or pizza slices divided into fractions (like 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4) and ask, “Which is bigger?” Similarly, you can draw fraction bars on paper for different fractions and use >, =, or < symbols to order them by size. Here are interactive games to practice fraction comparison with real-world models:

Compare fractions using models!

ii) Have your child compare fractions to 1/2 or 1 (e.g., ask, “Is 3/4 closer to 1/2 or 1?”) using paper strips or drawings to visualize the benchmarks. Get started with these engaging games: 

Compare fractions easily using benchmark fractions!

iii) Try these games to help kids understand the concept of common denominators. Kids will learn to compare fractions with both like and unlike denominators.

Learn to compare like and unlike fractions! 

• Add and subtract fractions with like denominators. 

i) Use paper “pizza” slices (cut into 1/4s or 1/8s) to add or remove slices from a whole pizza to practice addition and subtraction.

ii) Fraction Addition and Subtraction Games: In these games, kids will use fraction models, number lines, and also direct strategies to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers.

Master addition and subtraction of fractions!

• Add and subtract mixed numbers with like denominators.

i) Use a ruler to measure lengths in mixed numbers (like 1 1/4 inches) and add or subtract them to find the total.

ii) Mixed Number Operations Games: In these games, kids will use fraction models, number lines, and direct strategies to add and subtract mixed numbers.

Master addition and subtraction of mixed numbers!

• Compose and decompose fractions.

i) Use Legos or small blocks to create a whole from parts, like four 1/4 blocks, then separate them back into fractions.

ii) Draw a whole square on paper, divide it into fractions (like halves), and shade in parts to show how fractions combine to make a whole.

• Multiply a fraction by a whole number.

i) Set up a snack-time scenario: “Each person gets 1/3 of a sandwich. How many sandwiches do we need for 4 people?”

ii) Draw a rectangle divided into fractions and color in parts to show, for example, what 314 looks like visually. 

iii) Fraction Multiplication Games: In these games, kids will multiply fractions with whole numbers using models, number lines, and direct calculations.

Play and multiply fractions with a whole number!

• Solve word problems involving the addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators and involving multiplication of a fraction by a whole number.

i) Discuss story problems with your child: “If you read 1/2 of a book each day, how much will you have read in 4 days?

ii) Help your child fun word problems on fraction operations using these engaging games:

Learn to solve fraction word problems!

4. Decimals 

• Understand decimal notation for fractions. 

i) Show how fractions like 1/10 or 1/100 convert to decimals (e.g., 1/10 = 0.1) by drawing grids and shading parts. 

ii) Reading and Writing Decimals Games: In these games, kids will learn to use models to identify and represent decimals like tenths and hundredths.

Identify and represent decimals!

• Compare decimal fractions. Compare two decimals using >, =, or <.

i) Use a number line and place decimal fractions (e.g., 0.4 and 0.6) to visually compare which is greater.

ii) Decimal Comparison Games: In these games, kids will use place value charts and number lines to compare decimals with ease.

Compare decimal fractions!

• Express a fraction with denominator 10 as an equivalent fraction with denominator 100, and use decimal notation to express these fractions.

i) Use a grid of 100 squares and color in tenths (like 4/10 as 40/100) to illustrate the equivalence visually.

ii) Here are engaging worksheets that help kids identify equivalent decimals:

Identify equivalent decimals!

Related Reading: How to Teach Decimals: A Step-by-Step Guide

V. Measurement and Data

• Solve problems involving measurement and conversion of measurements from a larger unit to a smaller unit.

i) Use a ruler to measure items around the house, converting measurements (e.g., convert 3 feet to inches).

ii) In the kitchen, ask your child to convert larger units to smaller ones while measuring ingredients (e.g., convert 1 quart to cups).

iii) Unit conversion games: In these games, kids will use conversion tables to convert metric and customary units of length, weight, and capacity.

Convert units of measurement!

• Use four operations to solve word problems involving measurement.

i) Create a word problem like, “If a rope is 15 feet and you cut off 4 feet, how much is left?” Practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with measurements.

ii) Discuss questions like—”If each tile is 1 foot wide, how many tiles are needed to cover a 12-foot floor?”—Practice multiplication and division.

• Represent and interpret data.

i) Have your child collect data, like how many books each family member read, and make a bar chart.

ii) Track the daily temperature and create a line graph to show temperature changes over a week.

• Solve problems using information presented in line plots.

i) Measure various objects in inches and create a line plot to show the different measurements.

ii) Gather data like daily reading minutes, create a line plot, and ask questions (e.g., “On which day did you read the most?”).

• Recognize and sketch angles. Measure angles in whole-number degrees using a protractor.

i) Show examples of angles around the house (e.g., door corners) and have your child identify them as right, acute, or obtuse. Try these fun games on identifying angles:

Play and identify angles!

ii) Use a protractor to draw and measure specific angles (like 30°, 90°, and 120°) on paper. Practice this skill with these engaging worksheets:

Draw and measure angles with a protractor!

• Solve addition and subtraction problems to solve unknown angles.

i) Draw two connected angles and label one angle; ask your child to find the other angle (e.g., if one angle is 50° and the total is 90°, the unknown is 40°).

ii) Try these printables to reinforce the concept of addition and subtraction of angle measurements.

Find the sum and difference of angles!

VI. Geometry

• Classify two-dimensional figures based on properties.

i) Sort shapes like triangles, squares, and rectangles by properties, such as “all sides equal,” “right angles,” or “parallel sides.”

ii) Here are fun games that challenge kids to sort shapes based on their attributes, such as sides and corners.

Enjoy sorting shapes by their attributes!

• Identify and draw points, lines, line segments, rays, angles, and perpendicular and parallel lines in two-dimensional figures.

i) Use a blank paper and draw dots (points), then connect them to create lines, line segments, rays, and angles, labeling each one together.

ii) Interactive Games: In these games, kids will identify lines (parallel and perpendicular), line segments, rays, and angles in different shapes.

Identify lines, line segments, and rays!

• Recognize and draw lines of symmetry for two-dimensional figures.

i) Fold paper shapes (like hearts or rectangles) to find lines of symmetry, then unfold and draw the lines of symmetry.

ii) Try this fun game where kids will draw lines of symmetry in quadrilaterals with the help of a grid.

Draw lines of symmetry!

VII. Algebra (Number Patterns)

● Generate a number or shape pattern using a given rule.

i)  Pattern Creation with Rules: Give your child a rule to create a number or shape pattern. For example, “Start at 2 and add 3 each time” (resulting in 2, 5, 8, 11…). Ask them to write or draw the pattern and explain how they followed the rule to generate each new term.

ii) Pattern Generation Games: In these interactive games, kids will solve a set of problems on creating different number patterns using addition, multiplication, and given rules.

Generate number patterns!

● Identify additional hidden patterns apart from the original rule.

i) Hidden Patterns Hunt: After creating a pattern, ask your child to look for any additional patterns or relationships. For instance, if the sequence is “1, 3, 5, 7, 9,” they may notice it’s an odd-number sequence or that each number is +2 from the previous. Discuss why this pattern makes sense and how it could continue indefinitely.

ii) Play and Master Patterns: In these games, kids will practice identifying the correct rule for given number patterns.

Identify the pattern!

● Explain the pattern. Describe why the observed pattern continues.

i) Pattern Explanation: Once your child identifies the pattern and any hidden rules, ask them to explain it aloud or in writing. For instance, in a shape pattern of “circle, square, triangle, circle, square, triangle,” they might explain, “The shapes repeat every three because that’s the original rule.” Discuss why the pattern continues based on the structure of the rule.

ii) Number Pattern Worksheets: In these worksheets, kids will identify the rule of the pattern and find the next number in the different patterns—repeating, shrinking, growing, and more!

Can you identify the rule of the pattern?