4th Grade Winter Math Story Problem Project Math Mystery

This math-story problem cross-curricular project is an awesome way to keep your students engaged in math problem-solving! Students will be intrinsically motivated to solve the mystery and along the way they will be engaged in solving math problems! This project is differentiated with two different levels includes to support students at different levels of problem-solving. It also includes a printable version and a digital version. It is also self-checking, so students will have feedback right away at the end of the project to see if they are correct because if they are incorrect their answer won’t be one of the suspect choices.

This project includes 14 pages per level of engaging math story problems! Embedded in the story problems are reading passages at an approximate 610-1000 Lexile level so they are great for fourth graders to read independently! If the reading level is too challenging for students, you can always do this project in small groups or as a read-aloud at school or at home. Both a printable and digital version are included. Links to Google Slides versions of the project are now included!

Look for the level key on the bottom right side of each page to ensure that students are working on the correct level. This project focuses on multiplication and division of whole numbers, including multiplicative compare and measurement conversion word problems. Both levels of this project are aligned to standards 3.OA.C.7, 4.OA.A.2, 4.OA.A.3, 4.NBT.B.4, 4.NBT.B.5, 4.NBT.B.6, 4.MD.A.2 and 3.MD.A.1. Level 2 is also aligned TO 5.NBT.B.5 and 5.NBT.B.6 The project is also aligned to ELA standards CCSS.ELA-LITERATURE-4.3 and ELA-LITERATURE.4.10. The levels include the following types of problems:

• Level 1: single-step multiplication and division problems with two-digit by two-digit factors, and three and four-digit by one-digit factors. Division with four-digit dividends and one-digit divisors. Mostly result-unknown story problem structure with measurement conversion and multiplicative compare.
• Level 2: multi-step multiplication and division problems with more complex story problem structure. Includes problems with two, three and four-digit factors. Division with four-digit dividends and one-digit divisors. More challenging multiplicative compare and measurement conversions.

How does it work?

• Students are presented with a mystery situation, and the possible suspects for who committed the “crime.”
• Students read the alibi statements for each character and solve the related math problem(s) on each page.
• Students use the additional details, clues, detective conversations and information to determine who is guilty of the crime.
• Students determine who they think is guilty. Then they solve the final problem to see if they are correct. In order for this to work, they must solve every problem correctly. If they find that the final problem is unsolvable, or their answer is not a possible option, then they need to go back and check their work!

*The Polar Bear Problem: Every year the Midvale Zoo hosts their Winterfest celebration! It is a day of fun and festivity with twinkling holiday lights, a fun run, hot cocoa and more! The penguin parade and the polar bears in winter hats are a huge hit with the zoo guests! But this year, something terrible has happened. All the food for the polar bears and penguins has gone missing. The polar bears are growling so loud it's scaring away the guests and the penguins refuse to do the penguin parade. How can the zoo possibly have Winterfest without happy polar bears and penguins? Help the detectives solve the mystery and find the fish so Winterfest can be saved!

"Where were you at the time of the crime?

It couldn’t be you, so tell us why!

We hope you have a good alibi! "

The project opens as a ZIP file which includes:

• PDF versions of each level of the project
• Power Point versions of each level of the project (with easy-to-use "enter text here" boxes for easy online submission). Compatible with Google Drive/Google Classroom. Now including direct links to Google Slides versions of the project!
• Directions for Digital Use
• Answer keys for every page!

I hope you enjoy this engaging Winter math mystery project!

Check out more engaging math resources at https://ampeduplearning.com/teacher-contributor-stores/math-contributors/math-coach-connection/