Australia · ACARA Content Descriptions
Year 4 Mathematics
A comprehensive Year 4 curriculum focusing on the development of multiplicative thinking, fractional reasoning, and geometric properties. Students engage in deep inquiry to connect mathematical concepts to real world problem solving and spatial analysis.

01The Power of Place Value
Exploring the base ten system to ten thousand and understanding how digit position influences value in whole numbers and decimals.
Recognizing and representing numbers up to at least 10,000 using various physical and digital tools, focusing on standard and expanded forms.
Introducing tenths as part of a whole, linking them to common fractions and visual models.
Extending decimal understanding to hundredths, connecting them to fractions and real-world contexts like money.
Applying place value knowledge to round whole numbers to the nearest ten, hundred, and thousand.
Comparing and ordering whole numbers up to 10,000 using various strategies and symbols.
Comparing and ordering decimals (tenths and hundredths) using visual models and place value.

02Multiplicative Thinking
Moving beyond additive thinking to master multiplication facts and related division strategies through arrays and area models.
Developing fluency with multiplication facts up to 10 x 10 through various strategies and games.
Understanding the inverse relationship between multiplication and division and using it to solve problems.
Using visual area models to multiply two-digit numbers by one-digit numbers, connecting to the distributive property.
Solving division problems and understanding what a remainder represents in simple contexts.
Interpreting what the remainder means in different real-world contexts (e.g., rounding up, ignoring, or as a fraction).
Identifying factors of whole numbers and exploring their relationships through arrays and divisibility rules.

03Fractions and Parts of the Whole
Investigating equivalent fractions and calculating fractions of a collection in practical scenarios.
Representing and identifying unit and non-unit fractions using various visual models and real-world examples.
Using number lines and area models to identify and create equivalent fractions.
Developing strategies to find equivalent fractions by multiplying or dividing the numerator and denominator.
Applying fractional understanding to find a unit fraction of a group of objects.
Applying fractional understanding to find a non-unit portion of a group of objects.
Modeling the addition of fractions that share the same denominator using visual aids.
Modeling the subtraction of fractions that share the same denominator using visual aids.

04Measuring the World
Developing precision in measuring length, mass, and capacity using metric units and understanding perimeter.
Selecting and using appropriate metric units for measuring length and converting between them.
Selecting and using appropriate metric units for measuring mass and converting between grams and kilograms.
Selecting and using appropriate metric units for measuring capacity and converting between milliliters and liters.
Calculating the perimeter of regular shapes (squares, equilateral triangles) using formulas and measurement.
Calculating the perimeter of irregular shapes by measuring and adding side lengths.
Reading analog and digital clocks to the minute and understanding AM/PM notation.

05Geometric Reasoning
Comparing angles, identifying symmetry, and classifying shapes based on their geometric properties.
Identifying and drawing right angles in the environment and in shapes, using a right angle checker.
Identifying and drawing acute and obtuse angles, comparing them to a right angle.
Identifying lines of symmetry in 2D shapes and creating symmetric patterns.
Exploring shapes that look the same after a turn, informally introducing rotational symmetry.
Using grid references to locate positions on a map or grid.
Using directional language (e.g., north, south, east, west, left, right) to describe paths and movements.
Classifying quadrilaterals (squares, rectangles, rhombuses, parallelograms, trapezoids) based on their properties.

06Data and Probability
Collecting and interpreting data using various displays and predicting the likelihood of outcomes.
Formulating questions for data collection and gathering data using surveys or simple experiments.
Creating effective column graphs with appropriate labels, scales, and titles to represent collected data.
Creating side-by-side column graphs to compare two related sets of data.
Analyzing column graphs to identify trends, draw conclusions, and answer questions about the data.
Constructing and interpreting pictographs with appropriate scales and keys.

07Patterns and Algebra
Exploring number patterns, identifying rules, and using symbols to represent unknown quantities.
Identifying and describing patterns involving addition and multiplication, and predicting next terms.
Identifying and describing patterns involving subtraction and division, and predicting next terms.
Using input-output tables to identify the rule for number patterns involving one operation.
Applying given rules to input-output tables to generate missing numbers in patterns.
Using symbols to represent unknown quantities in simple addition and subtraction number sentences.

08Financial Mathematics
Understanding Australian currency, calculating change, and making simple financial decisions.
Identifying Australian coins and notes and understanding their value and features.
Counting collections of Australian currency and making specific amounts using different combinations of coins and notes.
Calculating change from purchases and understanding efficient ways to give change.
Differentiating between needs and wants when making purchasing decisions and understanding their impact.
Making simple financial decisions and creating a basic budget for a given scenario.