Math3-5
Giant Pumpkin Escape Room: Word Problems for Grade 4
By Jennifer W.
A self-paced escape room in which 4th graders solve eight multi-step word problems about a giant pumpkin contest, recording each lock's answer to unlock the next challenge. It builds multi-digit operations, money reasoning, and multi-step problem solving, with a code-recording chart to keep students organized.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use as a 45-minute math block or a small-group center, and have students work in pairs so they can check each other's reasoning before submitting a code.
- Discussion question: What information in the problem tells you whether to add, subtract, or multiply, and how did you decide? Ask students to explain their reasoning aloud for Lock 2.
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pre-read the first sentence of each lock with the group, underline the numbers and the question, and have students draw a quick bar model before calculating.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to write their own ninth lock with a multi-step money or measurement problem and a verified answer.
- Estimated time: About 5 to 8 minutes per lock, roughly 45 minutes for the full set of eight.
Math3-5
Giant Pumpkin Escape Room: Word Problems for Grade 4
By Jennifer W.
A self-paced escape room in which 4th graders solve eight multi-step word problems about a giant pumpkin contest, recording each lock's answer to unlock the next challenge. It builds multi-digit operations, money reasoning, and multi-step problem solving, with a code-recording chart to keep students organized.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use as a 45-minute math block or a small-group center, and have students work in pairs so they can check each other's reasoning before submitting a code.
- Discussion question: What information in the problem tells you whether to add, subtract, or multiply, and how did you decide? Ask students to explain their reasoning aloud for Lock 2.
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pre-read the first sentence of each lock with the group, underline the numbers and the question, and have students draw a quick bar model before calculating.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to write their own ninth lock with a multi-step money or measurement problem and a verified answer.
- Estimated time: About 5 to 8 minutes per lock, roughly 45 minutes for the full set of eight.