5th Grade Math Word Problem of the Day: Yearlong Story Problem Solving Practice

We all know that kids in 5th grade need help with word problems. The good news is, there's a resource for that! Daily Problem Solving for Grade 5 takes a "problem of the day" approach to avoid overwhelming struggling or reluctant learners while they work to build confidence and competence with strategies for math word problems.

Students love the format because it's both fun and engaging, with each week centering on a kid-friendly theme. A fun fact starts the week to build interest and get things started as students work through the daily multi-step word problem. In less than 15 minutes per day, they'll build confidence and strategies for successfully approaching math story problems commonly seen on state assessments.

If you're looking for the best resource to help your students master tricky word problems and you're hoping to avoid frustration for your struggling or reluctant learners, your search is over!

This 5th Grade Word Problem of the Day digital download includes:

✔ A total of 59 weeks of themed word problems (nearly 300 story problems total)

• Google Slides
• Paper-Saving Printable

✔ Easy-to-follow directions for printing & prep

✔ Instructional planning guide

✔Answer keys

✔ BONUS: Step-by-step directions for assigning these in Google Classroom

*Teacher note: These problems were designed to allow students safe opportunities for struggle time. Download the preview to see a sample of the problems. If you find it too difficult, the grade level below may be more appropriate for your learners.

Fifth Grade Daily Problem Solving includes:

1) Student-friendly formatting 

• Clear, easy to read problems 
• Workspace for students to problem solve & show work
• Weekly fun facts and themed problems to engage students
• Built-in graphic organizers to support skill acquisition
• Provided as a 1-page printable or as daily Google Slides

2) Approachable, yet challenging, practice with key types of word problems that all students should be exposed to: 

• Multi-step word problems
• Word problems with extra information
• Single-step word problems interspersed for a confidence boost
• Aligned to 5th grade standards & building in difficulty from August to July

3) Engaging, timely themes and fun facts that students love including:

• January: Resolutions, Health & Body, MLK, Soup, and Winter Sports
• February: Groundhogs, Valentines, Breakfast, and February Fun
• March: Reading, Pi Day, St. Patrick's Day, Spring, and Space
• April: Friendship, Frogs, Library Week, Earth Day, and Baseball
• May: Video Games, Mother's Day, Bicycles, Summer Safety, and Barbecue
• June: Vacation, Flags, Father's Day, Water Sports, and Beaches
• July: Fireworks, Ice Cream, Amusement Parks, and Fish
• August: Picnics, Eggs, Lemonade, Peaches, and Technology
• September: Labor Day, Grandparents, Potatoes, Pirates, and Apples
• October: Pizza, Autumn, Pumpkins, Cookies, and Halloween
• November: Board Grames, Veterans, Turkeys, Thanksgiving, Football
• December: Animals, Sickness, Winter, Holidays, & Snow and Ice

4) Teacher support materials

• Monthly scope & sequence includes weekly themes and skills being addressed
• Answer Keys for all problems
• Tips for preparation and implementation
• Instructions for digital Google Drive version

*Digital Access Note: This resource includes digital access via GOOGLE SLIDES. For the digital versions, you will need Internet access and a free Google account OR Google Classroom. Learners will work on computers or iPads. Upon purchasing, you will download documents containing links to the digital files, along with easy-to-follow instructions that will get you started in minutes! These are easily shared digitally between you and your students.

The Benefits of Using a Math Word Problem of the Day 

❑ Daily practice builds routine and structure for practice

❑ Less overwhelming to reluctant or struggling learners

❑ It helps identify students who may need additional support

❑ Encourages discussion about skills & strategies

Ways to incorporate these story problems into your math routine:

• Daily warm-ups or math center during summer school

• Whole or small-group math instruction

• Independent enrichment or early finisher challenge

Here's what others have to say about Daily Problem Solving...

♥  My students benefited tremendously when I began using these! Their confidence lacked when it came to word problems, but having one every day became routine and their confidence grew. The reflection at the end of the week told me a lot about how students were feeling, too. I also love how they aligned with holidays and true information… - Jennifer H

♥ I am obsessed with this set! My students love it, I love it, and after walking through my room when I was doing this whole group my Principal now loves it! Fantastically rigorous problems! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! - T.L.

♥ AMAZING RESOURCE! I have my kiddos do daily math each week but wanted to incorporate more word problems.  I staple this each week to their original daily math page.  The problems are diverse and challenging.  I love how many skills are covered and how they are multi-step.  Perfect!! - Samantha M. 

Terms of Use:

© Rebecca Davies. All rights reserved by the author. These materials are intended for personal use in a single classroom only. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited. For use in multiple classrooms, please purchase additional licenses. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Clipart and elements in this PDF are copyrighted and cannot be extracted or used outside this file without permission or license. See the product file for clip art and font credits.