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problem solving activities for 5th grade math

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5th grade math problem solving

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Resource types, all resource types, results for 5th grade math problem solving.

5th Grade Math Word Problem of the Day | Yearlong Math Problem Solving Bundle

5th Grade Math Word Problem of the Day | Yearlong Math Problem Solving Bundle

Differentiated Teaching with Rebecca Davies

Also included in:  5th grade Math Warm-Up Bundle: Daily Spiral Review & Word Problem Solving

5th Grade Problem Solving for Advanced Math Learners, 20 Weeks of Enrichment!

5th Grade Problem Solving for Advanced Math Learners, 20 Weeks of Enrichment!

Gina Kennedy

Also included in:  Gifted Math Resource Bundle! Hundreds of Advanced Math Problems!

Math Word Problems 5th Grade Collaborative Problem Solving Worksheets

Math Word Problems 5th Grade Collaborative Problem Solving Worksheets

Runde's Room

5th Grade 160 Word Problems Math Problem Solving CCSS *All Standards*

Teaching in Walla Walla

Multi-Step Word Problems 4th Grade 5th Grade Math Worksheets Story Problems

Elementary Lesson Plans

5th Grade Math Review Activities Centers Problem Solving Test Prep Worksheets

Think Grow Giggle

5th Grade Daily Math Problem Solving , 290 Yearlong Multi-Step Word Problems

5th Grade Math Anchor Charts

5th Grade Math Anchor Charts

Teaching on the Island

Also included in:  6th Grade Math Common Core GROWING Bundle

Numberless Word Problems Bundle for 5th Grade Math

Numberless Word Problems Bundle for 5th Grade Math

Leaf and STEM Learning

5th Grade Common Core Math Assessments 5.NF.1 - 5.NF.7 Fractions problem solving

 CC's Cool School

September Word Problem of the Day: 5th Grade Daily Math Problem Solving Practice

5th Grade STAAR Math Review Tests Growing Bundle - Digital Google Forms & Print

5th Grade STAAR Math Review Tests Growing Bundle - Digital Google Forms & Print

Marvel Math

Challenging Word Problems - 5th Grade - Multi-Step - Common Core Aligned

PawPrintables by Burke

Also included in:  Challenging Multi-Step Word Problems BUNDLE!! 2nd-5th Grade!!

5th Grade Math Centers - Add & Subtract Fractions - 5th Grade Math Task Cards

5th Grade Math Centers - Add & Subtract Fractions - 5th Grade Math Task Cards

Math Tech Connections

Also included in:  5th Grade Math Centers Task Cards Bundle | Games | Math Review Activities

5th Grade September Math, Daily Problem Solving Word Problems (Multi-Step)

5th Grade September Math, Daily Problem Solving Word Problems (Multi-Step)

Also included in:  5th Grade Daily Math Problem Solving , 290 Yearlong Multi-Step Word Problems

Math Logic Puzzles: 5th grade Enrichment - [Digital & Printable PDF]

Math Logic Puzzles: 5th grade Enrichment - [Digital & Printable PDF]

Christy Howe

Also included in:  Math Logic Puzzles: 3-5 BUNDLE - [Digital & Printable PDF]

5th Grade Math STAAR Review - Math Test Prep Games

5th Grade Math STAAR Review - Math Test Prep Games

Word Problems for 5th Grade Bundle

Word Problems for 5th Grade Bundle

Mix and Math

Math Project-Based Learning: Multiply & Divide Multi-digits | 5th Grade Math

Performing in Education

Also included in:  The Project-Based Math Library | 5th Grade Math Project-Based Learning

Math Word Problems | Math Problem Solving Program Grades 4-5

Math Word Problems | Math Problem Solving Program Grades 4-5

Tanya Yero Teaching

5th Grade Math Exit Tickets: Florida B.E.S.T. Standards Bundle

5th Grade Math Exit Tickets: Florida B.E.S.T. Standards Bundle

Math Mojo

5th Grade Weekly Math Homework Year-Long Set

Desert Designed

5th Grade Volume of Rectangular Prisms Math Search {5.MD.3, 5.MD.4, 5.MD.5}

Games 4 Gains

Also included in:  5th Grade Math Worksheets for Math Centers, Homework, Morning Work & Review

5th Grade Math ERROR ANALYSIS | Find the Error | BUNDLE

5th Grade Math ERROR ANALYSIS | Find the Error | BUNDLE

Exceeding the CORE

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7 Activities to Help Your Child Master 5th Grade Math Word Problems

problem solving activities for 5th grade math

Last Updated on May 31, 2022 by Thinkster

Fun and interactive activities are a great way to reinforce important math concepts. Whether your child is struggling or looking to practice more challenging concepts, try these ideas to help your child succeed and master fifth grade math word problems.

1. Draw Pictures

One reason many students have trouble with 5th grade math word problems is that they are not properly visualizing the problem . They don’t know what to do because they can’t picture what the problem is asking them to do.

You can help by encouraging your child to draw pictures. The picture does not have to be to scale or even fully accurate, but it can give your fifth grader a starting point to figure out the processes required to solve the problem. By visualizing the word problem, you can help your student better grasp what needs to be done.

To make this even more fun as an after-school activity, take it outside! Use your driveway and some sidewalk chalk for a fun way to visualize word problems.

2. Cook Together

To kids, cooking may seem unrelated to math, but it actually involves many math concepts, such as fractions, division, and multiplication.

Cook or bake with your child and create basic math word problems for them to solve.

math cooking

For instance, you can bake a batch of cookies and tell your child, “we are going to double this recipe.” Then, have him double each amount. Some problems may be easy to solve, such as two cups of flour becoming four, but others involving fractions are not as simple.

3. Home Improvement Projects

Many homes have plenty of house projects that need to be tackled. Finding the time, energy, and money to do so might be difficult, but that doesn’t mean your fifth-grader can’t help!

For example, if he wants to repaint his room, direct him to figure out the area of his walls, how much paint will be needed, how much that paint will cost, and how much estimated time the job will require.

He will be applying math skills to a real-world problem, which ultimately helps him with 5th grade word problems. Then, when you do get around to painting his room or any other planned projects, he will be more eager to help!

4. A Trip to the Store

Shopping at a retail or grocery store is a great way to have your child practice math.

Give your fifth grader a shopping list and a budget, then let her do the shopping while you push the cart.

math shopping

Be a little vague about how much of each item you need so that she must determine what she can afford. Allow for some wiggle room so she can buy a treat, but again, ask her to use her estimation skills to decide if she will have enough money for that treat.

If your fifth grader is advanced and eager for a challenge, you can also have her calculate sales tax on the purchase!

5. Party Planning

Kids love parties, and though you obviously can’t let them throw unlimited bashes, you can let them plan as many as they want!

Give your child a budget and challenge him or her to come up with a menu, party favors, and decorations that will keep them within their budget. For example, your fifth-grader may want to order specialty pizzas instead of just going to Pizza Hut —how will that decision affect what other food can be served and how many guests can ultimately be invited?

Your child will use essential math skills while discovering how challenging the task of planning a party can be.

6. Help Develop  Problem-Solving Plans

Another way to help kids think through word problems is to teach them to use a problem-solving plan. This is a four-step plan that can help them conquer word problems.

It involves:

1. Understanding the problem

2. Devising a plan

3. Carrying out the plan

4. Going back to check work

Students must first read and understand the problem, then create and carry out a plan.

The final step, checking their work, is crucial because it is what helps them determine if their answer and plan make sense. The more your child uses this process with 5th grade math word problems,  the better equipped  she will be.

To make this an activity, give your child some fun word problems and work through the four steps together.

7. Use Technology to Help Master Math Word Problems

If your kids are running to the tablet or computer after school, enroll in an engaging, tech-based tutoring program to help with word problems. With the right math learning program, your children can be motivated, engaged, and even entertained while learning and developing crucial math skills.

When shopping for a program, look for one that is personalized to your child’s level of learning. This ensures that your child gets the exact practice needed for fifth grade math word problems. Thinkster Math is a program created by teachers that personalizes instruction for each child .

Plus, it’s a fun and exciting way to reinforce math skills after school!

What activities have you tried with your fifth grader to help them with math word problems?

4 After School Activities to Master 5th Grade Math Word Problems

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Math Workbooks for Grade 5

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5th Grade Math Word Problems Worksheets

Math word problem worksheets for grade 5.

These worksheets present students with real world word problems that students can solve with grade 5 math concepts. 

We encourage students to think about the problems carefully by:

The four operations

Mixed 4 operations

Estimating and rounding word problems

Grade 5 fractions and decimal word problems

Addition and subtraction of fractions

Addition and subtraction of mixed numbers

Division of numbers with fractional answers

Dividing by unit fractions

Multiplying fractions word problems

Mixed operations with fractions

More mixed fraction word problems

Decimals word problems

Measurement word problems

Mass and weight word problems

Volume and capacity word problems

Length word problems

Word problems worksheets with variables

Variables and expressions

Variables and equations

Other grade 5 word problems worksheets

Volume of rectangular prisms

GCF / LCM word problems

Mixed grade 5 word problems  

problem solving activities for 5th grade math

Sample Grade 5 Word Problem Worksheet

More word problem worksheets

Explore all of our math word problem worksheets , from kindergarten through grade 5.

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CHALLENGE ZONE 5th Grade Math Problems

Welcome to our 5th Grade Math Problems. Here you will find our range of challenging math problem worksheets which are designed to give children the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge to solve a range of longer problems.

These problems are also a great way of developing perseverance and getting children to try different approaches in their math.

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5th Grade Math Problems

Here you will find a range of problem solving worksheets.

The 5th grade math problems on the sheets are longer math problems designed to encourage children to use a range of math skills to solve them.

The skills the problems will help to develop include:

At fifth grade, the problems are more advanced with children needing to become more systematic in their approach and experimenting using trial and improvement strategies.

Many of the problems have addition 'What if ...' questions with them to extend learning and get children looking for alternative solutions.

These sheets are great for extending learning for more able mathematicians, or using in a whole class problem solving lesson.

Bertie's Big Win is a problem involving both money and fractions which can be worked backwards. The aim of the problem is to work out how much money Bertie started with from the clue that are given.

Fox vs Rabbit is an activity involving mathematical modelling of a fox chasing a rabbit. The rabbit has a head-start, but the fox is faster. The aim is to find out when the fox will catch the rabbit, and whether or not the rabbit has time to reach his burrow.

The 1..2..3..4.. Challengs is a number problem involving using the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 along with arithmetic operators to make the numbers from 1 to 20. It is great for practicing PEMDAS and getting children to persevere and develop their mental arithmetic skills.

There are 2 versions of the problem sheet, one with a pre-prepared template for filling in, and a second blank version for children to show their own recording system.

Frazer's Wall #2 is a fraction problem solving activity which involves trying to work out the number of bricks that were laid in each day to find out how long it would take to make a wall. This problem is best solved by using a table or working it out one day at a time.

Millenary Math is a time problem involving what the time will be in a thousand years/weeks/hours/minutes, etc. It is a good activity for converting units of time and knowing facts like how many days are in each month. There is no answer sheet, as the activity involves using the current time.

Sally's Fruit Punch is a money and scaling activity. The aim is to use the information to work out how much ingredients are needed. The ingredients then need to be priced to work out a total cost.

Share the Treasure is a fraction sharing activity where the aim is to work backwards to find out how many bars of treasure the pirates had before they shared them all out. It is a good activity for developing fraction problem solving and working backwards.

Something Fishy is a money problem which involves working out exactly how many of each fish were bought in order to have spent a fixed amount of money on the fish. It is a good activity for using lists and tables to find all possibilities. It is also great for perseverance!

The Five Primes is a number activity involving finding five primes with different totals. It is a good activity for learning prime numbers up to 30, and also for working systematically.

The Rock Race is a 5th grade math problem which needs some perseverance to complete. The aim of the activity is to try different routes around the 6 rocks to determine which route is the shortest.

Who Chose Which is a logical number activity where you need to use the clues to work out which numbers each of the salamanders chose.

Birthday Bonanza is a logic problem which requires logical thinking to work out who got which present and how old each of them was.

Number Totals Investigation is a PEMDAS number task which involves using 3 digits and operations to make the largest or smallest possible total.

Looking for some easier math problems?

We have a range of easier word problems on our 4th grade math problems page.

The problems on this page are at a simpler level than those here.

Many of the problems, e.g. Share the Treasure, The Rock Race, Something Fishy have easier versions on this page.

Looking for some more fifth grade math word problems?

Here you will find our selection of free 5th grade math word problems.

Each sheet is availabel in both standard and metric units (where applicable).

Each sheet comes complete with a separate answer sheet.

All the problems are based around 'real life' such as the planets, heights of mountains, or length of rivers.

Using these sheet will help your child to:

All the worksheets help to support Elementary math benchmarks.

5th Grade Math Puzzles

Here you will find a range of printable 5th grade math puzzles for your child to enjoy.

The puzzles will help your child practice and apply their addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts as well as developing their thinking and reasoning skills in a fun and engaging way.

Using these puzzles will help your child to:

All the puzzles support elementary math benchmarks for 5th grade.

Fifth Grade Math Games

Here you will find a range of free printable 5th Grade Math games.

All children like to play Math games, and you will find a good range of Grade 5 Math Games here for your child to play and enjoy.

The following games involve different 5th Grade Math activities which you and your child can enjoy together.

All the free 5th Grade Math Worksheets in this section follow the Elementary Math Benchmarks for Grade 5.

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Teaching Expertise

55 Challenging Word Problems for 5th Graders

word problems for 5th graders

April 22, 2022 //  by  Seda Unlucay

Why not add some colorful manipulatives to make 5th grade learning more concrete, review the core numeracy skills with worksheets, or incorporate them into a daily math lesson to build problem-solving fluency?

These multi-step word problems incorporate addition , subtraction , multiplication , and division as well as time , money, place value , and fractions . Since they involve more than one step, students should be encouraged to express their thinking with pictures and words to help plan, solve and check each problem.

1. Jamie traveled 4325 km in 640 days. How many kilometers did he travel on average each day?

word problems for 5th graders

2. Miss Jones gave her students the number 30,808 and asked them to write the number in expanded form. Tammy wrote (3 x 10,000) + (8 x 10) + (8 x 1). Jack wrote (3 x 10,000) + (8 x 100) + (8 x 1). Who is correct? Explain your reasoning.

word problems for 5th graders

3. James bought crayons for $2.50 and erasers for $4.50. How much change did he get back if he paid with a $20 bill?

word problems for 5th graders

4. There are 89 puppies for sale at the pet store. 16 are black and 34 are brown. The rest have spots. How many puppies have spots?

word problems for 5th graders

5. Terrance and his three friends earned $359 in August, $522 in July, and $420 in September selling lemonade. How much would they each earn if they divided their earnings equally?

word problems for 5th graders

6. Steve and Paul were playing football. Steve gained 82 yards and Paul gained 35 yards. What was the total number of yards gained by both boys during the game?

word problems for 5th graders

7. Patrick bought lunch at the school fair. He bought 3 hotdogs for $4.50 each and 2 hamburgers for $5.60 each. He also used a coupon for $2 off the price of lunch. How much money did he spend on lunch altogether?

word problems for 5th graders

8. The school bus seats 85 students. At the first stop, 16 students got off the bus. At the second stop, another 18 students got off the bus. How many students were left on the bus?

word problems for 5th graders

9. Sandra spent $135 on new clothes. She bought a blouse for $48 and two t-shirts for $23 each. How much money does she have leftover?

word problems for 5th graders

10. Four teachers handed out pencils to their students. Two classes had 24 students each, the third class had 29 students and the fourth one had 27 students. How many pencils were handed out in all?

word problems for 5th graders

11. Andrew was watching the chimpanzees at the zoo. 45 of them were eating bugs, 36 were playing with sticks and the rest were napping. If there were 122 chimpanzees in all, how many were napping?

word problems for 5th graders

12. William feeds his fish 8 containers of fish food each day. Each container costs $3.25. How much money does William spend on fish food in one week?

word problems for 5th graders

13. Elizabeth is making shell necklaces for her 7 friends. She needs 23 seashells to make each necklace. She has 89 seashells collected so far. How many more seashells does she need to make all 7 necklaces? 

word problems for 5th graders

14. Edward and Carl were playing a video game. Edward scored 835 points and Carl scored 345 points. How many more points did Edward score than Carl?

word problems for 5th graders

15. Ava bought 8 cookies for $2.25 each, 5 chocolate bars for $1.50 each, and 6 cupcakes for $1.25 each. How much change should she get back if she paid with a $50 bill?

word problems for 5th graders

16. 320 people visited the amusement park on Saturday. Four times as many visited on Sunday. How many people visited the amusement park on the weekend? 

word problems for 5th graders

17. Stephanie bought 45 plain cookies for $2.20 each. She decorated them with icing and sold them for $3.75 each. How much profit did she make selling her decorated cookies? 

word problems for 5th graders

18. Miles made 45 t-shirts to sell online. He sold each one for $30 but she had to pay $8.50 tax for each shirt. How much money did he make in all?

word problems for 5th graders

19. Amy went to the gym for 15 years. She trained three times a week every year. How many times did she go to the gym in 15 years?

word problems for 5th graders

20. Lisa sold sweaters. She sold 899 sweaters in her first year in business, 1450 in her second year, and 2450 in her third year. How much did she make in total if each sweater cost $29?   

word problems for 5th graders

21. Tyler was catching butterflies. In the first hour, he caught 7 butterflies. In the second hour, he caught 9. In the third hour, he caught 11. If this pattern continued, how many hours would it take him to catch more than 60 butterflies?

word problems for 5th graders

22. Peter sees 144 cars drive by his house per week. How many cars does he see over 3 years? 

word problems for 5th graders

23. Shannon has to reserve buses for a field trip. She has 271 children, 12 teachers, and 9 parents. Each bus can seat 22 passengers. How many buses would she need and how many spare seats would be left?

word problems for 5th graders

24. John wants to bake 1400 cupcakes for the school bake sale. He can bake 36 cupcakes per day. He has already baked 396. How many days will it take him to bake 1400 cupcakes?

word problems for 5th graders

25. Ben and his 4 friends read 60 books in one year. Each book has an average of 235 pages. How many pages did they read in total in one year?

word problems for 5th graders

26. Mandy is having a birthday party. She invited 25 friends and baked 432 cookies. She wants to share the cookies at her party but also wants to save 35 for her siblings. How many cookies will each person get at the party?

word problems for 5th graders

27. Edward wanted to give away his stamps to 12 friends. He has 624 stamps. How many stamps will each friend get and how many will be left over?

word problems for 5th graders

28. Movie tickets cost $24 per adult and 1/4 of that price per child. How much will a family with 2 adults and 5 children pay in total? 

word problems for 5th graders

29. Melissa earned $560 in September and only 2/5 of that in October. How much money did she earn in October?

word problems for 5th graders

30. Paul ate 1¼ pizzas and Sam ate 3 ¾ pizzas. How many pizzas did they eat in all?

word problems for 5th graders

31. Jamie earned $800 in his first year in business. If he shares 3/4 of his earnings with his family, how much money will he have left?

word problems for 5th graders

32. Sarah had to cut a 230 m piece of wood into 5 pieces. How long would each piece be after cutting?

word problems for 5th graders

33. A school of 385 students and 12 teachers was going camping and needed to reserve some buses. If one bus can carry 70 people, how many buses would they need?

word problems for 5th graders

34. James is selling his house. He will keep 70% of the profit and give 30% to his mother. If the house sells for $300,000, how much money will they each receive?

word problems for 5th graders

35. Steven earned $200 during 1 week of work. The following week, he earned 30% more. How much money did he earn over 2 weeks?

word problems for 5th graders

36. Alex made $540 selling buttons at a garage sale and Andy made 2/5 of Alex's amount. How much money did Andy make? 

word problems for 5th graders

37. Jennifer has a backyard that is 13m by 9m. She wants to add a garden that will measure 7m by 4m. How many meters of space will she have leftover in her backyard? 

word problems for 5th graders

38. Sandra bought $250 worth of school supplies. The store was having a sale so she got a 30% discount. How much did she have to pay?

word problems for 5th graders

39. Danny was building a large playhouse for his daughter. The perimeter of the dollhouse was a square. If one side was 21m long, how long would the entire perimeter be? 

word problems for 5th graders

40. Kimberly painted a new painting. She spent $530 on paint, $223 on the easel, $55 on the frame, and $421 on the canvas. She sold her painting for $3264. How much profit did she make?

word problems for 5th graders

41. Kyle, Jack, and Jamie went to a pizza party where they each ate 3¼ slices of pizza. How many pizza slices did they eat in all?

word problems for 5th graders

42. Sam made $500 selling baseball cards in February. He made 40% more than that in March. How much did he earn over the months?

word problems for 5th graders

43. Mary wants to add a carpet to her living room. The area of her living room is 123m2 and the carpet costs $8 per square meter. How much would the carpet cost in total?

word problems for 5th graders

44. Amy was buying snacks for a party. She bought 35 bags of chips that cost $2.50 each, 6 bottles of soda at $4.50 each, and a large cake that cost $77. How much did she spend in total on the party?

word problems for 5th graders

45. Samantha wanted to add some new wallpaper to her walls. Each wall was 8m by 13m and she had 7 walls to cover. How much area did she have to cover in all?

word problems for 5th graders

46. Pam bought a new laundry machine for $1500 and a dryer for $850. She got a 20% on the total. How much did she have to pay?

word problems for 5th graders

47. Tammy bought a packet of stickers with 78 stickers inside. She decided to keep 2/3 of them and give 1/3 to her sister. How many stickers did her sister get?

word problems for 5th graders

48. James earned $900 in October moving lawns. Sam earned 8/9 of that amount. How much money did Sam earn?

word problems for 5th graders

49. Patricia cut a chocolate bar into equal pieces to share with 3 friends. If the chocolate bar was 42.6 cm long, how long were each of the three pieces?

word problems for 5th graders

50. James ate 4/5 of a cake and Amy ate 2/3. How much did they eat altogether? 

word problems for 5th graders

51. Stanley's parents agreed to let him buy a new video game console if he paid for half of it. They gave him the $180 for their portion. If Stanley has saved $108.70 so far, how much more money does he need to buy the console? 

word problems for 5th graders

52. Stephanie made brownies for the class bake sale. The box says that the pan will make 12 servings. If each serving is 250 calories, how many calories would the entire pan have? 

word problems for 5th graders

53. Every month the Smith family pays $45 for their basic cell phone plan plus $6.95 for each of their 4 phones. They also pay $29.99 for a data and texting plan and an additional $7.45 in taxes. How much is their monthly bill? 

word problems for 5th graders

54. A beetle is about 3/4 of an inch long. A rattlesnake is about 30 times longer. How long is a rattlesnake?

word problems for 5th graders

55. Yasmine needed 45 facts about giraffes for her science project. She recorded 2/5 of the facts she needed from her first book, 12 facts from the second book, and 1/9 of the facts she needed from the third book. How many more facts does she need to complete her project?

word problems for 5th graders

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problem solving activities for 5th grade math

K-5 Math Centers

K-5 math ideas, 3rd grade math, need help organizing your k-5 math block, 5 ways to include math problem solving activities in your classroom.

problem solving activities for 5th grade math

Are you looking for math problem solving activities that are not too easy and not too hard, but juuust right? I’ve got something just for you and your students.

problem solving activities for 5th grade math

Solve and Explain Problem Solving Tasks are open-ended math tasks that provide just the right amount of challenge for your kids. Here’s a little more about them.

Open-ended math problem solving tasks:

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What Makes These So Great?

You can find out more details for your grade level by clicking on the buttons below.

I’m sure you really want to know how can you use these with your kids. Check out the top 5 ideas on how to use Solve and Explain Problem Solving Tasks in your classroom.

How and When Can I Use Them?

Solve and Explain Tasks Cards are very versatile. You can use them for:

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So this wraps up the top 5 ways that you can use problem solving tasks in your classroom.  Click your grade level below to get Solve and Explain problem solving tasks for your classroom.

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Check Out These 50 Fifth Grade Math Word Problems of the Day

Three trains pulled into the station at 3 p.m.

problem solving activities for 5th grade math

Opening your daily math lesson with a Fifth Grade Math Word Problems of the Day is an excellent way to set the stage for learning! Incorporate them at the start of your math block to build confidence, critical thinking skills, and a learning community. Students will get used to reading for meaning, while also identifying key information. Encourage students to write out equations and draw pictures to explain their thinking, since this helps them see the light when they are stuck!

Topics in these fifth grade math word problems cover patterns & place value, addition/subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, measurement, and comparisons. If you’d like even more  fifth grade math word problems, we publish them daily on our kid-friendly site: the Daily Classroom Hub . Make sure to bookmark the link!

Want this entire set of word problems in one easy document? Get your free PowerPoint bundle by submitting your email here . All you need to do is post one of the problems on your whiteboard or projector screen. Then let kids take it from there.

50 Fifth Grade Math Word Problems

1. three trains pulled into the station at 3 p.m. the menton train had 2,589 passengers. the reston train had 671 passengers. the pearson city train had 1,024 passengers. how many passengers were there all together.

Three trains pulled into the station at 3 p.m. The Menton train had 2,589 passengers. The Reston train had 671 passengers. The Pearson City train had 1,024 passengers. How many passengers were there all together?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

2. Grow Up Farmer’s Market had 4 crates of lemons delivered. One crate had 2,100 lemons. Two other crates had 2,010 lemons. The last crate had 1,999 lemons. How many lemons were delivered in all?

Grow Up Farmer’s Market had 4 crates of lemons delivered. One crate had 2,100 lemons. Two other crates had 2,010 lemons. The last crate had 1,999 lemons. How many lemons were delivered in all?

3. Ruffle Truffle Candy Company got an order for 850 chocolate truffles from the candy shop. They also got an order for 7,309 truffles from a food store. Then one more order came in for 3,125 truffles from a restaurant. How many truffles does the factory have to make to fill these orders?

Ruffle Truffle Candy Company got an order for 850 chocolate truffles from the candy shop. They also got an order for 7,309 truffles from a food store. Then one more order came in for 3,125 truffles from a restaurant. How many truffles does the factory have to make to fill these orders?

4. The Tri-City Peninsula has 3 cities. 405,245 people live in Sunset City. 695,212 people live in Sunrise City. 415,937 people live in Sunup City. How many people live on Tri-City Peninsula all together?

The Tri-City Peninsula has 3 cities. 405,245 people live in Sunset City. 695,212 people live in Sunrise City. 415,937 people live in Sunup City. How many people live on Tri-City Peninsula all together?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

5. Smiley’s Greeting Card Store ordered 25,294 birthday cards and 15,280 Mother’s Day cards to sell last year. They sold 11,065 Mother’s Day cards and 24,229 birthday cards. How many birthday cards did they have left?

Smiley’s Greeting Card Store ordered 25,294 birthday cards and 15,280 Mother’s Day cards to sell last year. They sold 11,065 Mother’s Day cards and 24,229 birthday cards. How many birthday cards did they have left?

6. Flyaway Airlines has 3 flights to New Park City every day from San Sandoz. Each plane seats 400 passengers. On Monday, the first flight had 325 passengers. The second flight had 387 passengers. The third flight had 221 passengers. How many empty seats were there all together?

Flyaway Airlines has 3 flights to New Park City every day from San Sandoz. Each plane seats 400 passengers. On Monday, the first flight had 325 passengers. The second flight had 387 passengers. The third flight had 221 passengers. How many empty seats were there all together?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

7. In 1999 a million people lived in Western Deskateria. 350,268 are native to that country. The rest have moved there from another country. How many people have moved there from somewhere else?

In 1999 a million people lived in Western Deskateria. 350,268 are native to that country. The rest have moved there from another country. How many people have moved there from somewhere else?

8. Birthday candles from The Happy Hippy Candle Company are sold in packs of 8. They manufactured 6,000 boxes this past week and sold 8,000 candles. How many boxes of candles did they sell this past week?

Birthday candles from The Happy Hippy Candle Company are sold in packs of 8. They manufactured 6,000 boxes this past week and sold 8,000 candles. How many boxes of candles did they sell this past week?

9. Some of the new books in the South City Library were non-fiction. There were 25,025 new hardback books and 7,333 new paperbacks. 15,000 hardbacks were fiction. How many hardback books were non-fiction?

Some of the new books in the South City Library were non-fiction. There were 25,025 new hardback books and 7,333 new paperbacks. 15,000 hardbacks were fiction. How many hardback books were non-fiction?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

10. Giganto Mall has 6 levels. The top 5 levels each have 2,950 workers. There are 15,000 workers at the mall. How many workers work on the bottom level?

Giganto Mall has 6 levels. The top 5 levels each have 2,950 workers. There are 15,000 workers at the mall. How many workers work on the bottom level?

11. There are 96 frozen turkeys and 65 hams in the meat freezer at Frosty Food Mart. Each turkey weighs 19 pounds. Each ham weighs 10 pounds. How much do the turkeys weigh all together?

There are 96 frozen turkeys and 65 hams in the meat freezer at Frosty Food Mart. Each turkey weighs 19 pounds. Each ham weighs 10 pounds. How much do the turkeys weigh all together?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

12. Each new dictionary purchased for the school has 355 pages. There are 35 dictionaries ready for each classroom. They weigh almost 300 pounds. How many pages is that in total?

Each new dictionary purchased for the school has 355 pages. There are 35 dictionaries ready for each classroom. They weigh almost 300 pounds. How many pages is that in total?

13. Each Penguin Fruit Tree has 10,251 leaves. There were 96 fruit trees in Uncle Arch’s Orchard. Half of them were Penguin Fruit Trees. How many leaves were there on those Penguin Fruit Trees all together?

Each Penguin Fruit Tree has 10,251 leaves. There were 96 fruit trees in Uncle Arch’s Orchard. Half of them were Penguin Fruit Trees. How many leaves were there on those Penguin Fruit Trees all together?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

14. Benny’s Bait Shop sells worms in 12 packs. There are twelve packs in a gross. They sold 12 gross of worms this week. How many worms did they sell this week?

Benny’s Bait Shop sells worms in 12 packs. There are twelve packs in a gross. They sold 12 gross of worms this week. How many worms did they sell this week?

15. The Kwik Kar Rental Company has 27 locations in 12 states. They have 1,350 cars to rent out. If they distribute all the cars evenly among their locations, how many cars will each location get?

The Kwik Kar Rental Company has 27 locations in 12 states. They have 1,350 cars to rent out. If they distribute all the cars evenly among their locations, how many cars will each location get?

16. It was a sellout crowd at the football game. There were 42,500 fans in attendance. Every seat was filled. There are 85 rows of seats that wrap around the stadium. There is the same number of seats in every row. How many fans were seated in each row?

It was a sellout crowd at the football game. There were 42,500 fans in attendance. Every seat was filled. There are 85 rows of seats that wrap around the stadium. There is the same number of seats in every row. How many fans were seated in each row?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

17. Mr. Sketch had 180 colored pencils in his classroom art bin. He bought new boxes of colored pencils that had 10 in a box. Now he has 400 colored pencils. How many new boxes did he buy?

18. 4,500 people arrived at the stadium for the rock concert on buses. another 4,500 came by train. the rest came in cars. each bus could hold 225 people and every bus was filled. how many buses were there.

4,500 people arrived at the stadium for the rock concert on buses. Another 4,500 came by train. The rest came in cars. Each bus could hold 225 people and every bus was filled. How many buses were there?

19. Super Duper Corporation pays rent on their big headquarters building every month. Last year they paid $60,756 in rent and about the same amount on heat. They pay the same amount every month for the rent. How much is the rent per month?

Super Duper Corporation pays rent on their big headquarters building every month. Last year they paid $60,756 in rent and about the same amount on heat. They pay the same amount every month for the rent. How much is the rent per month?

20. Straight Arrow Dress Shirts sold a lot of dress shirts last month. Each shirt has 7 buttons down the front and 1 button on each sleeve. They used 72,000 buttons on the shirts sold last month. How many shirts did they sell?

Straight Arrow Dress Shirts sold a lot of dress shirts last month. Each shirt has 7 buttons down the front and 1 button on each sleeve. They used 72,000 buttons on the shirts sold last month. How many shirts did they sell?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

21. Lake Louie has boats that take tourists on cruises around the lake. On Saturday ,8,112 tourists wanted to cruise around the lake. 3 boats cruise at a time in a shift. Each boat holds 500 people. A cruise lasts 30 minutes. How many shifts did they need to run so every tourist could cruise?

Lake Louie has boats that take tourists on cruises around the lake. On Saturday ,8,112 tourists wanted to cruise around the lake. 3 boats cruise at a time in a shift. Each boat holds 500 people. A cruise lasts 30 minutes. How many shifts did they need to run so every tourist could cruise?

22. Superstar Sam is a professional baseball player and practices pitching every day. He spent 12,000 minutes practicing his pitching in July. He practices batting for 1 hour each week. How many hours did he practice his pitching in July?

Superstar Sam is a professional baseball player and practices pitching every day. He spent 12,000 minutes practicing his pitching in July. He practices batting for 1 hour each week. How many hours did he practice his pitching in July?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

23. The new sidewalk leading up to the front door of Elemental Elementary School was 55 feet long and 36 inches wide. 25 feet of it were painted gold and the rest was silver. How many inches long was the silver section?

The new sidewalk leading up to the front door of Elemental Elementary School was 55 feet long and 36 inches wide. 25 feet of it were painted gold and the rest was silver. How many inches long was the silver section?

24. The Dig-It Mining Company dug up 12,000 pounds of a rare mineral, Bobodium, every day for a week. They sell it in 8 ounce boxes. How many boxes will they need to pack up that week’s Bobodium?

The Dig-It Mining Company dug up 12,000 pounds of a rare mineral, Bobodium, every day for a week. They sell it in 8 ounce boxes. How many boxes will they need to pack up that week’s Bobodium?

25. Rita Writealot, the famous author, is visiting Collegial College and giving everyone who attends one of her two lectures, 2 of her books. 600 people came to her first lecture. The second lecture had a good turnout also. She gave out 2,468 books all together. How many people came to her second lecture?

Rita Writealot, the famous author, is visiting Collegial College and giving everyone who attends one of her two lectures, 2 of her books. 600 people came to her first lecture. The second lecture had a good turnout also. She gave out 2,468 books all together. How many people came to her second lecture?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

26. Mr. Amazing is preparing his magic act. There are 12,366 gold coins that he uses in one of his acts. He uses some in each scheduled appearance. He put aside 229 gold coins for each appearance. How many appearances is he planning on?

Mr. Amazing is preparing his magic act. He has 12,366 gold coins that he uses in one of his acts. He uses some in each scheduled appearance. He put aside 229 gold coins for each appearance. How many appearances is he planning on?

27. Rick has 4/5 of a Choco-bar. Sid has 6/7 of a Choco-bar. Nick has 6/8 of a Choco-bar. Who has the biggest piece of a Choco-bar?

28. ginny has 6/4 of some watermelons. william has 3/9 of another watermelon. steve has ½ of a different watermelon. who has the smallest amount of watermelon.

Ginny has 6/4 of some watermelons. William has 3/9 of another watermelon. Steve has ½ of a different watermelon. Who has the smallest amount of watermelon?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

29. Luz is going to make a cheese dip. She bought ½ pound of American cheese. She also bought ¾ pound of Swiss cheese and ¼ pound of Cheddar cheese. How much cheese did she buy?

Luz is going to make a cheese dip. She bought ½ pound of American cheese. She also bought ¾ pound of Swiss cheese and ¼ pound of Cheddar cheese. How much cheese did she buy?

30. Mercy had to select how much of a pepperoni pizza she wanted. She could have 7/8, 8/16, or 8/10. If she wants the most pizza, which amount should she choose?

Mercy had to select how much of a pepperoni pizza she wanted. She could have 7/8, 8/16, or 8/10. If she wants the most pizza, which amount should she choose?

31. Explorer Elmo Adventure found an ancient site with gold bars. He found three. The first was 5/12 of a pound. The second bar was 7/12 of a pound, and the third was 3/6 of a pound. How much did the bars weigh all together?

Explorer Elmo Adventure found an ancient site with gold bars. He found three. The first was 5/12 of a pound. The second bar was 7/12 of a pound, and the third was 3/6 of a pound. How much did the bars weigh all together?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

32. Sandy had 3/4 of a loaf of fresh baked bread her mom made. She gave half of it to her cousin Stella. How much of the loaf did Sandy have left?

Sandy had 3/4 of a loaf of fresh baked bread her mom made. She gave half of it to her cousin Stella. How much of the loaf did Sandy have left?

33. The fifth grade teacher, Ms. Marvelous, had 9/10 of an apple pie. She gave 3/10 to her principal, Mr. Pal, and 3/10 to her co-teacher, Mrs. Merry. How much pie did Ms. Marvelous have left?

The fifth grade teacher, Ms. Marvelous, had 9/10 of an apple pie. She gave 3/10 to her principal, Mr. Pal, and 3/10 to her co-teacher, Mrs. Merry. How much pie did Ms. Marvelous have left?

34. Grace was laying pieces of ribbon she had end-to-end. The blue piece was 3/12 of a foot. The red piece was ½ of a foot and the white piece was 8/12 of a foot long. How long was the total?

Grace was laying pieces of ribbon she had end-to-end. The blue piece was 3/12 of a foot. The red piece was ½ of a foot and the white piece was 8/12 of a foot long. How long was the total?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

35. Rob was reading a book that had 400 pages. He read 1/3 of it on Monday and another ¼ of it on Tuesday. What fraction of the book does he have left to read?

Rob was reading a book that had 400 pages. He read 1/3 of it on Monday and another ¼ of it on Tuesday. What fraction of the book does he have left to read?

36. Ty had ½ of his whole birthday cake left. He gave his sister, Janelle, ¼ of that. How much of the whole cake did Janelle get?

Ty had ½ of his whole birthday cake left. He gave his sister, Janelle, ¼ of that. How much of the whole cake did Janelle get?

37. The high school football team was meeting for the first time for practice. There were 64 players. ¾ of them were seniors. The rest were underclassmen. How many players were underclassmen?

The high school football team was meeting for the first time for practice. There were 64 players. ¾ of them were seniors. The rest were underclassmen. How many players were underclassmen?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

38. The treasure hunters dug up a shoebox with $1,500 in it. There were five people on the treasure hunter team, so each got to keep 1/5 of the money. How much money did each person get to keep?

The treasure hunters dug up a shoebox with $1,500 in it. There were five people on the treasure hunter team, so each got to keep 1/5 of the money. How much money did each person get to keep?

39. Tristan only has 1/8 of his deck left to paint. The whole deck has a total area of 100 square feet. He figured he could get ½ of what’s left done on Friday and the rest on Saturday. How fraction of the total deck does he plan to paint on Saturday?

40. three friends were keeping track of their running. these are the results from their runs on saturday. paige ran 0.75 miles. tanner ran 0.09 miles. liza ran 0.706 miles. who ran the farthest.

Three friends were keeping track of their running. These are the results from their runs on Saturday. Paige ran 0.75 miles. Tanner ran 0.09 miles. Liza ran 0.706 miles. Who ran the farthest?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

41. Gary’s professional kickball cards are divided among 3 teams. ¼ of his cards are San Fransisco Seals players. 0.25 are New York Yaks players. The rest play for the Nova Scotia Salmon. What decimal would best describe how much of his collection is Salmon players?

Gary’s professional kickball cards are divided among 3 teams. ¼ of his cards are San Fransisco Seals players. 0.25 are New York Yaks players. The rest play for the Nova Scotia Salmon. What decimal would best describe how much of his collection is Salmon players?

42. Molly the miner was weighing small amounts of gold dust. She had 3 packets of gold dust. They weighed 0.29 ounces, 1.07 ounces, and 0.92 ounces. She has to get 3 ounces of gold dust before she sells it. How much more gold dust does she need to make the sale?

Molly the miner was weighing small amounts of gold dust. She had 3 packets of gold dust. They weighed 0.29 ounces, 1.07 ounces, and 0.92 ounces. She has to get 3 ounces of gold dust before she sells it. How much more gold dust does she need to make the sale?

43. Heather has 4 bank accounts. The first has $25.09 in it. The second has $106.75 in it and the third and fourth each have $108.08 in them. What is the total amount of money Heather has in these accounts?

44. each member of kirk’s family got a payment of $1,070.09 from their family business. there are 12 people in kirk’s family, including him. they range in age from 12 to 99. how much did the family get paid in total.

Each member of Kirk’s family got a payment of $1,070.09 from their family business. There are 12 people in Kirk’s family, including him. They range in age from 12 to 99. How much did the family get paid in total?

45. The number of t-shirts Ollie sells at the flea market runs in a predictable pattern. He sold 120 shirts in January, 60 shirts in February, 240 shirts in March, 120 shirts in April, 480 shirts in May, and 240 shirts in June. If the pattern of sales continues, how many shirts will he sell in August?

The number of t-shirts Ollie sells at the flea market runs in a predictable pattern. He sold 120 shirts in January, 60 shirts in February, 240 shirts in March, 120 shirts in April, 480 shirts in May, and 240 shirts in June. If the pattern of sales continues, how many shirts will he sell in August?

46. A number code is used to unlock the special vault. Three numbers must be entered in the correct order on a keypad numbered 0-100. The first is an odd number less than 20 that has 2 digits, both the same. The second number is even and is ½ of the number that is ¼ of 16. The third number is the product of the first two numbers and then doubled. What is the code?

A number code is used to unlock the special vault. Three numbers must be entered in the correct order on a keypad numbered 0-100. The first is an odd number less than 20 that has 2 digits, both the same. The second number is even and is ½ of the number that is ¼ of 16. The third number is the product of the first two numbers and then doubled. What is the code?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

47. Kim noticed this pattern on an old piece of parchment. 2, 5, 11, 23, 47, 95. Kim figured out the next two numbers. What are they?

Kim noticed this pattern on an old piece of parchment. 2, 5, 11, 23, 47, 95. Kim figured out the next two numbers. What are they?

48. Al is 5 years older than Ted. Ted is 2 years older than Alice. Alice is a year younger than Fran. Fran is 8 years old. How old is Al?

Al is 5 years older than Ted. Ted is 2 years older than Alice. Alice is a year younger than Fran. Fran is 8 years old. How old is Al?

49. Liam finally got to the ferry dock at 4 p.m. He had taken the train to the ferry from Chairtown station. That train took half an hour to get to the ferry. To get to the station, he had driven for 4 and a half hours from Deskville Airport. He flew to Deskville from Tabletown Aiport that morning. The flight was 2 and a half hours. What time did he fly out of Tabletown Airport?

Liam finally got to the ferry dock at 4 p.m. He had taken the train to the ferry from Chairtown station. That train took half an hour to get to the ferry. To get to the station, he had driven for 4 and a half hours from Deskville Airport. He flew to Deskville from Tabletown Aiport that morning. The flight was 2 and a half hours. What time did he fly out of Tabletown Airport?

50. Chris worked three jobs on Saturday. She mowed a lawn and finished it at 6 p.m. She washed windows for 3 hours. Also, she washed, waxed, and vacuumed 3 cars. Each car took an hour and a half to do. Chris started her day working at 9 a.m. How many minutes did it take her to mow the lawn?

Chris worked three jobs on Saturday. She mowed a lawn and finished it at 6 p.m. She washed windows for 3 hours. She also washed, waxed, and vacuumed 3 cars. Each car took an hour and a half to do. Chris started her day working at 9 a.m. How many minutes did it take her to mow the lawn?- fifth Grade Math Word Problems

Plus, get a PPT version of these fifth grade math word problems.

Did you like these fifth grade math word problems check out our fifth grade hub for even more resources..

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problem solving activities for 5th grade math

problem solving activities for 5th grade math

Problem Solving Activities: 7 Strategies

problem solving activities for 5th grade math

Problem solving can be a daunting aspect of effective mathematics teaching, but it does not have to be! In this post, I share seven strategic ways to integrate problem solving into your everyday math program.

In the middle of our problem solving lesson, my district math coordinator stopped by for a surprise walkthrough. 

I was so excited!

We were in the middle of what I thought was the most brilliant math lesson– teaching my students how to solve problem solving tasks using specific problem solving strategies. 

It was a proud moment for me!

Each week, I presented a new problem solving strategy and the students completed problems that emphasized the strategy. 

Genius right? 

After observing my class, my district coordinator pulled me aside to chat. I was excited to talk to her about my brilliant plan, but she told me I should provide the tasks and let my students come up with ways to solve the problems. Then, as students shared their work, I could revoice the student’s strategies and give them an official name. 

What a crushing blow! Just when I thought I did something special, I find out I did it all wrong. 

I took some time to consider her advice. Once I acknowledged she was right, I was able to make BIG changes to the way I taught problem solving in the classroom. 

When I Finally Saw the Light

To give my students an opportunity to engage in more authentic problem solving which would lead them to use a larger variety of problem solving strategies, I decided to vary the activities and the way I approached problem solving with my students. 

Problem Solving Activities

Here are seven ways to strategically reinforce problem solving skills in your classroom. 

This is an example of seasonal problem solving activities.

Seasonal Problem Solving

Many teachers use word problems as problem solving tasks. Instead, try engaging your students with non-routine tasks that look like word problems but require more than the use of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to complete. Seasonal problem solving tasks and daily challenges are a perfect way to celebrate the season and have a little fun too!

Cooperative Problem Solving Tasks

Go cooperative! If you’ve got a few extra minutes, have students work on problem solving tasks in small groups. After working through the task, students create a poster to help explain their solution process and then post their poster around the classroom. Students then complete a gallery walk of the posters in the classroom and provide feedback via sticky notes or during a math talk session.

Notice and Wonder

Before beginning a problem solving task, such as a seasonal problem solving task, conduct a Notice and Wonder session. To do this, ask students what they notice about the problem. Then, ask them what they wonder about the problem. This will give students an opportunity to highlight the unique characteristics and conditions of the problem as they try to make sense of it. 

Want a better experience? Remove the stimulus, or question, and allow students to wonder about the problem. Try it! You’ll gain some great insight into how your students think about a problem.

This is an example of a math starter.

Math Starters

Start your math block with a math starter, critical thinking activities designed to get your students thinking about math and provide opportunities to “sneak” in grade-level content and skills in a fun and engaging way. These tasks are quick, designed to take no more than five minutes, and provide a great way to turn-on your students’ brains. Read more about math starters here ! 

Create your own puzzle box! The puzzle box is a set of puzzles and math challenges I use as fast finisher tasks for my students when they finish an assignment or need an extra challenge. The box can be a file box, file crate, or even a wall chart. It includes a variety of activities so all students can find a challenge that suits their interests and ability level.

Calculators

Use calculators! For some reason, this tool is not one many students get to use frequently; however, it’s important students have a chance to practice using it in the classroom. After all, almost everyone has access to a calculator on their cell phones. There are also some standardized tests that allow students to use them, so it’s important for us to practice using calculators in the classroom. Plus, calculators can be fun learning tools all by themselves!

Three-Act Math Tasks

Use a three-act math task to engage students with a content-focused, real-world problem! These math tasks were created with math modeling in mind– students are presented with a scenario and then given clues and hints to help them solve the problem. There are several sites where you can find these awesome math tasks, including Dan Meyer’s Three-Act Math Tasks and Graham Fletcher’s 3-Acts Lessons . 

Getting the Most from Each of the Problem Solving Activities

When students participate in problem solving activities, it is important to ask guiding, not leading, questions. This provides students with the support necessary to move forward in their thinking and it provides teachers with a more in-depth understanding of student thinking. Selecting an initial question and then analyzing a student’s response tells teachers where to go next. 

Ready to jump in? Grab a free set of problem solving challenges like the ones pictured using the form below. 

Which of the problem solving activities will you try first? Respond in the comments below.

problem solving activities for 5th grade math

Shametria Routt Banks

problem solving activities for 5th grade math

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problem solving activities for 5th grade math

2 Responses

This is a very cool site. I hope it takes off and is well received by teachers. I work in mathematical problem solving and help prepare pre-service teachers in mathematics.

Thank you, Scott! Best wishes to you and your pre-service teachers this year!

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problem solving activities for 5th grade math

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problem solving activities for 5th grade math

5 Problem-Solving Activities for the Classroom

Problem-solving skills are necessary in all areas of life, and classroom problem solving activities can be a great way to get students prepped and ready to solve real problems in real life scenarios. Whether in school, work or in their social relationships, the ability to critically analyze a problem, map out all its elements and then prepare a workable solution is one of the most valuable skills one can acquire in life.

Educating your students about problem solving skills from an early age in school can be facilitated through classroom problem solving activities. Such endeavors encourage cognitive as well as social development, and can equip students with the tools they’ll need to address and solve problems throughout the rest of their lives. Here are five classroom problem solving activities your students are sure to benefit from as well as enjoy doing:

1. Brainstorm bonanza

Having your students create lists related to whatever you are currently studying can be a great way to help them to enrich their understanding of a topic while learning to problem-solve. For example, if you are studying a historical, current or fictional event that did not turn out favorably, have your students brainstorm ways that the protagonist or participants could have created a different, more positive outcome. They can brainstorm on paper individually or on a chalkboard or white board in front of the class.

2. Problem-solving as a group

Have your students create and decorate a medium-sized box with a slot in the top. Label the box “The Problem-Solving Box.” Invite students to anonymously write down and submit any problem or issue they might be having at school or at home, ones that they can’t seem to figure out on their own. Once or twice a week, have a student draw one of the items from the box and read it aloud. Then have the class as a group figure out the ideal way the student can address the issue and hopefully solve it.

3. Clue me in

This fun detective game encourages problem-solving, critical thinking and cognitive development. Collect a number of items that are associated with a specific profession, social trend, place, public figure, historical event, animal, etc. Assemble actual items (or pictures of items) that are commonly associated with the target answer. Place them all in a bag (five-10 clues should be sufficient.) Then have a student reach into the bag and one by one pull out clues. Choose a minimum number of clues they must draw out before making their first guess (two- three). After this, the student must venture a guess after each clue pulled until they guess correctly. See how quickly the student is able to solve the riddle.

4. Survivor scenarios

Create a pretend scenario for students that requires them to think creatively to make it through. An example might be getting stranded on an island, knowing that help will not arrive for three days. The group has a limited amount of food and water and must create shelter from items around the island. Encourage working together as a group and hearing out every child that has an idea about how to make it through the three days as safely and comfortably as possible.

5. Moral dilemma

Create a number of possible moral dilemmas your students might encounter in life, write them down, and place each item folded up in a bowl or bag. Some of the items might include things like, “I saw a good friend of mine shoplifting. What should I do?” or “The cashier gave me an extra $1.50 in change after I bought candy at the store. What should I do?” Have each student draw an item from the bag one by one, read it aloud, then tell the class their answer on the spot as to how they would handle the situation.

Classroom problem solving activities need not be dull and routine. Ideally, the problem solving activities you give your students will engage their senses and be genuinely fun to do. The activities and lessons learned will leave an impression on each child, increasing the likelihood that they will take the lesson forward into their everyday lives.

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  1. Number Tiles: FREE Problem Solving Math Activities for Grades 5-8

    problem solving activities for 5th grade math

  2. 😊 Mathematics solving problem. Mathematics Through Problem Solving. 2019-01-12

    problem solving activities for 5th grade math

  3. Problem Solving Grade 2 Page 4

    problem solving activities for 5th grade math

  4. 1st Grade Problem Solving Worksheets

    problem solving activities for 5th grade math

  5. 5th Grade Math Problems

    problem solving activities for 5th grade math

  6. Grade 2 Math Problem Solving Worksheets

    problem solving activities for 5th grade math

VIDEO

  1. 1st Grade Video 18: Solving Problems Part 2

  2. Can you solve this 5th-grade math problem?

  3. Can you solve this 5th-grade math problem?

  4. Lego Camp

  5. 3rd Grade Video 17: Problem Solving Part 1

  6. Can you solve this 5th-grade math problem?

COMMENTS

  1. How Do You Do Math Percentage Problems?

    To calculate percentages, convert the percentage to a decimal and multiply it by the number in the problem. For example, to find 40 percent of 50, change it to 0.40 times 50, which gives you the result of 20.

  2. What Is the Answer to Your Math Problem?

    The answer to any math problem depends on upon the question being asked. In most math problems, one needs to determine a missing variable. For instance, if a problem reads as 2+3 = , one needs to figure out what the number after the equals ...

  3. What Is the Outlier in a Math Problem?

    In math, outliers are observations or data points that lie an abnormal distance away from all of the other values in a sample. Outliers are usually disregarded in statistics because they can skew calculations and cause the final statistical...

  4. Problem Solving Games Free

    Math Worksheets with Riddles I Fifth Grade Math Activities ... and effective problem-solving/critical thinking activities. N. Subjects:.

  5. 5th Grade Math Problem Solving Teaching Resources

    160 WORD PROBLEMS 5th Grade CCSS Math Aligned in 2 complete versions. Student ready worksheets filled with 160 word problems

  6. 7 Activities to Help Your Child Master 5th Grade Math Word Problems

    1. Draw Pictures · 2. Cook Together · 3. Home Improvement Projects · 4. A Trip to the Store · 5. Party Planning · 6. Help Develop Problem-Solving

  7. 5th Grade Math Word Problems Worksheets

    These worksheets present students with real world word problems that students can solve with grade 5 math concepts. We encourage students to think about the

  8. CHALLENGE ZONE 5th Grade Math Problems

    Frazer's Wall #2 is a fraction problem solving activity which involves trying to work out the number of bricks that were laid in each day to find out how long

  9. 15 5th grade problem solving ideas

    Nov 23, 2012 - Explore a Brown's board "5th grade problem solving", followed by 416 people on Pinterest. See more ideas about teaching math, math problem

  10. 55 Challenging Word Problems for 5th Graders

    55 Challenging Word Problems for 5th Graders · 1. Jamie traveled 4325 km in 640 days. · 2. Miss Jones gave her students the number 30,808 and

  11. 5 Ways to Include Math Problem Solving Activities in Your Classroom

    Solve and Explain Problem Solving Tasks are open-ended math tasks that provide just the right amount of challenge for your kids. Here's a little more about them

  12. Check Out These 50 Fifth Grade Math Word Problems of the Day

    50 Fifth Grade Math Word Problems · 1. Three trains pulled into the station at 3 p.m. The Menton train had 2,589 passengers. · 2. Grow Up Farmer's

  13. Problem Solving Activities: 7 Strategies

    When I Finally Saw the Light · Seasonal Problem Solving · Cooperative Problem Solving Tasks · Notice and Wonder · Math Starters · Puzzle Box · Calculators · Three-Act

  14. 5 Problem-Solving Activities for the Classroom

    5 Problem-Solving Activities for the Classroom · 1. Brainstorm bonanza · 2. Problem-solving as a group · 3. Clue me in · 4. Survivor scenarios · 5.