Long-term planning for 4th grade math is a real challenge. There’s a lot to cover, and much of it takes many days — even weeks — for students to fully master (long division is a perfect example). Having a plan to teach everything before your state test is essential to setting students up for success. Here’s the roadmap I’ve honed over 30+ years of teaching 4th grade math.

Each bar spans the school year (August–May). The green stretch shows when that topic is taught — it pauses for each color-coded break and picks back up after. Notes list where the skills come from, where they’re headed, and the toughest concept.

1. Unit 1Place Value~23 days

   Reading & writing large numbers, expanded form, comparing digit values, comparing & ordering, and rounding.

   AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
   Mid-Aug → mid-Sep
   From 3rd gradeRounded to the nearest 10 and 100, read and wrote numbers to 1,000, and worked with hundreds, tens, and ones.

   Leads to in 5thDecimal place value (tenths, hundredths, thousandths) and multiplying or dividing by powers of 10.

   Toughest conceptsThe “ten times greater” relationship between places — the 3 in 300 is ten times the 3 in 30 — and rounding with 9s, where the digits roll over, like 129,957 rounded to the nearest hundred (130,000).
2. Unit 2Addition & Subtraction of Greater Numbers~20 days

   Estimation, multi-digit add & subtract, picture models, mental-math strategies, multi-step word problems, plus money and making change.

   AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
   Mid-Sep → mid-Oct
   From 3rd gradeFluently added and subtracted within 1,000 using strategies and the relationship between the two operations.

   Leads to in 5thCarries directly into adding and subtracting decimals to the hundredths.

   Toughest conceptSubtraction across zeros, such as 3,000 − 1,456. I dedicate at least one full day to this.

   Teaching noteA few skills here aren’t explicitly in the Common Core — counting money and making change, bar/picture models, and mental-math strategies. With a lower class or a slower pace, these can be trimmed.
3. Unit 3Multiplication Concepts~17 days

   Multiples, factors, and prime & composite numbers — the number sense behind multiplication.

   AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
   Mid-Oct → mid-Nov
   From 3rd gradeLearned multiplication as equal groups and arrays, built basic facts, and connected multiplication with division.

   Leads to in 5thFactors and multiples become the foundation for common factors/multiples and fraction denominators.

   Toughest conceptFinding every factor of a larger number that has many factors, like 42 or 48.

   Teaching noteStudents keep building fact fluency while they learn multiples, factors, and prime & composite numbers.
4. Unit 4Multiplication of Greater Numbers~14 days

   Multiplying by 10s, 100s & 1000s; 2–4 digit by 1 digit; 2 digit by 2 digit; and multiplication word problems.

   AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
   Mid-Nov → mid-Dec
   From 3rd gradeMultiplied one-digit numbers by multiples of 10 and mastered single-digit facts.

   Leads to in 5thFluently multiplying any multi-digit numbers with the standard algorithm.

   Toughest concept2-digit by 2-digit multiplication using the standard algorithm.

   Teaching noteThis algorithm — along with long division — needs dedicated review right before state testing to refresh students on the steps.
5. Unit 5Long Division~17 days

   The standard algorithm with 2–3 digit dividends, remainders, and interpreting remainders in word problems.

   AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
   Mid-Dec → mid-Jan
   From 3rd gradeUnderstood division as equal sharing and grouping, divided within 100, and related it to multiplication.

   Leads to in 5thDividing by two-digit divisors and, soon after, dividing decimals.

   Toughest conceptsThe multi-step algorithm itself — keeping divide, multiply, subtract, bring-down organized. And interpreting remainders in word problems — for example: John has baskets that hold 5 melons; if he has 42 melons, how many baskets does he need to carry them all? (Nine, since the leftover 2 melons still need a basket.)

   Teaching noteLike 2-digit multiplication, long division needs dedicated review before testing.
6. Unit 6Algebra & Patterns~7 days

   Writing expressions & equations, variables, and shape, number & input-output patterns.

   AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
   Mid-Jan → late-Jan
   From 3rd gradeSolved two-step word problems and described simple arithmetic patterns.

   Leads to in 5thWriting and interpreting numerical expressions, order of operations, and graphing patterns as ordered pairs.

   Toughest conceptSolving multi-step word problems and representing them as equations.

   Teaching notePatterns and algebra could easily be woven into other units, but I like to teach it as its own short unit — a welcome break from a long stretch of rote, algorithmic work like long division. Multi-step word problems are the key skill here, and I recommend practicing them in every unit to build students’ resilience.
7. Unit 7Fractions~27 days

   Parts of a group, equivalent fractions, comparing & ordering, decomposing, mixed & improper, add/subtract, multiplying unit fractions, and line plots.

   AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
   Late-Jan → early-Mar
   From 3rd gradePlaced fractions on a number line, found simple equivalents, and compared fractions with the same numerator or denominator.

   Leads to in 5thAdding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators, multiplying fractions, and dividing with unit fractions.

   Toughest conceptAdding and subtracting fractions when regrouping a whole is required, such as 1⅓ − ⅔ = ⅔.

   Teaching noteTeach long division first — it helps students understand how division relates to fractions. And although equivalent fractions is a 3rd-grade skill, I find little carryover, so plan to spend several days on it alone. Also note that while “mixed numbers” and “improper fractions” aren’t named in the Common Core, students are still expected to solve problems using them.
8. Unit 8Decimals~8 days

   Modeling decimals, tenths & hundredths, mixed decimals, and comparing & ordering.

   AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
   Early-Mar → mid-Mar
   From 3rd gradeBuilt the fraction understanding — especially tenths and hundredths as fractions — that decimals are built on.

   Leads to in 5thReading, comparing, and computing with decimals to the thousandths across all four operations.

   Toughest conceptComparing decimals like 0.37 < 0.8 — many students think, “Isn’t 37 bigger than 8?”

   Teaching noteMost 4th graders find decimals easy and fun — there are lots of real-world hooks to draw on, especially around sports.
9. Unit 9Geometry~6 days

   Symmetry; lines and angles (right, acute, obtuse); measuring angles with a protractor; and classifying two-dimensional shapes.

   AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
   Mid-Mar → early-Apr
   From 3rd gradeSorted shapes into categories like quadrilaterals and described shared attributes.

   Leads to in 5thClassifying two-dimensional figures in a hierarchy based on their properties.

   Toughest conceptClassifying quadrilaterals by their characteristics — angles, parallel sides, and side lengths. Learning the shape “names” isn’t strictly in the standard, but it makes sense to teach alongside their differences.

   Teaching noteI teach measuring angles with a protractor — and finding unit and additive angle measures — here in the geometry unit, right after right, acute, and obtuse angles. The standard files angle measurement under Measurement, but it flows naturally with shapes and angles.
10. Unit 10Area & Perimeter~6 days

    Area and perimeter of two-dimensional figures, including composite and irregular shapes, and real-world problems.

    AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
    Early-Apr → early-Apr
    From 3rd gradeMeasured area by counting unit squares, connected area to multiplication, and found the perimeter of polygons.

    Leads to in 5thVolume of rectangular prisms and area with fractional side lengths.

    Toughest conceptSolving word problems with area and perimeter — e.g., a rug has an area of 104 sq ft and a length of 13 ft; what is the width?
11. Unit 11Measurement~5 days

    Metric length, mass & volume, and measurement word problems.

    AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
    Early-Apr → mid-Apr
    From 3rd gradeMeasured and estimated lengths, liquid volumes, and masses, and worked with time.

    Leads to in 5thMulti-step conversions among different-sized units within a system.

    Toughest conceptMemorizing the units and conversions themselves. Students are only a little familiar with customary units and much less familiar with metric.

    Teaching noteIn my state, students get a reference sheet of conversions before the test — worth checking whether yours does too.
12. Unit 12Step Up to 5th Grade~10 days

    Fun, approachable 5th-grade skills to end the year on a high note.

    AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
    Late-Apr → late-May (after testing)
    TopicsDecimals to the thousandths, adding decimals, and plotting ordered pairs.

    Why it worksThese 5th-grade skills sit right next to what students just mastered, so they feel like easy wins — a confidence-building preview that builds momentum into next year.

Day counts and timing are approximate, based on the 2025–26 school year. Every classroom’s pacing will vary.