Year 4 Place Value - Problem-Solving Investigations

These in-depth maths investigations are open-ended problem solving activities for Year 4 children.

In-depth Investigation: No Zero
Children investigate how many numbers between one and ten thousand have a zero. They use their understanding of place value in numbers with up to 4-digits.

In-depth Investigation: Magic Chains
Children use their knowledge of inverse operations to quickly work out a sequence of calculations.

In-depth Investigation: Tell the Teacher
Children consider whether given calculations are harder or easier and work out a scoring system.

In-depth Investigation: Roman Numeral Teaser
Children apply their knowledge of place value to a different number system.

These investigations will develop maths meta-skills, support open-ended questioning and logical reasoning, and enable children to learn to think mathematically and articulate mathematical ideas.

These problem-solving investigations come from our Year 4 Maths Blocks. Each Hamilton maths block contains a complete set of planning and resources to teach a term’s worth of objectives for one of the National Curriculum for England’s maths areas.