Summer word problem practice · Grades 1–4

Word Problem Whiz

Keep word-problem thinking active this summer — turn story problems into number sentences kids understand.

Try 10 free problems (Grade 1, Semester 1) — always free, no account needed.

Free sample: Grade 1 — Semester 1, Set 1 (10 problems) · See how it works

Why families and teachers use it

Stories first, symbols second

Kids drag words from the story before they write equations — so math connects to meaning.

Built for independence

Gentle hints and 3 tries before the answer appears. Students learn the process, not just the number.

Easy for adults to support

No lesson prep. Pick a level, press Start, and let the app guide sort → equation → check.

How one problem works

  1. Step 1

    Read & sort

    Drag numbers and clue words (like “more” or “each”) into buckets.

  2. Step 2

    Build the sentence

    Drag or type into each slot — including missing numbers and multi-step rows.

  3. Step 3

    Check & learn

    Three tries with coaching hints before the full solution is shown.

Free sample vs full version

Free sample
  • 10 word problems — Grade 1, Semester 1
  • Full sort → equation flow with hints
  • Progress saved on this device
Full version
  • 400 problems — Grades 1–4, both semesters
  • Missing-number, two-step, ×, ÷, and more
  • Auto-resume sets · Teacher tools (coming)

Summer learning guides for parents & grandparents

Short, practical articles on summer math loss, worksheet-free practice, and building confidence with word problems.

Standards alignment

  • Grade 1: 1.OA.A.1 — add/subtract within 20, unknown in all positions
  • Grade 2: 2.OA.A.1 — one- and two-step within 100
  • Grade 3: 3.OA.A.1–3, 3.OA.D.8 — multiplication, division, multi-step
  • Grade 4: 4.OA.A.3, 4.NBT.B.4 — multi-digit operations and multi-step
  • Standards for Mathematical Practice: MP1 (make sense), MP2 (reason abstractly), MP4 (model with math)

Pedagogical rationale

Cognitive load: Separating “sort the story” from “write the equation” keeps working memory free for reasoning instead of hunting for numbers in a wall of text.

Language of math: Operation words stay visible (e.g. “more (+)”) so students connect vocabulary to symbols — critical for EL learners and struggling readers.

Productive struggle: Misconception-specific feedback and delayed solutions mirror best tutoring practice: try, reflect, then model.

Spiral practice: 50 problems per grade-semester in sets of 10 match how classrooms assign homework and intervention blocks.

Start with 10 free problems today

See if Word Problem Whiz fits your child or classroom — then unlock the full 400-problem library when you're ready.