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F O R T H E C O M M O N C O R E STAT E STA N DA R D S I N M AT H E M AT I C S
K-12 MATHEMATICS
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/mathematics/
BECKY TAYLOR
Greenville
A.L. COLLINS
Vice Chair :: Kernersville
REGINALD KENAN
Rose Hill
WAYNE MCDEVITT
Asheville
DAN FOREST
Lieutenant Governor :: Raleigh
KEVIN D. HOWELL
Raleigh
MARCE SAVAGE
Waxhaw
JANET COWELL
State Treasurer :: Raleigh
GREG ALCORN
Salisbury
PATRICIA N. WILLOUGHBY
Raleigh
OLIVIA OXENDINE
Lumberton
M0414
the relationship between finite decimals and whole numbers (i.e., a finite
decimal multiplied by an appropriate power of 10 is a whole number), to
understand and explain why the procedures for multiplying and dividing
finite decimals make sense. They compute products and quotients of
decimals to hundredths efficiently and accurately.
3. Developing understanding of volume Students recognize volume as an
attribute of three-dimensional space. They understand that volume can be
quantified by finding the total number of same-size units of volume required
to fill the space without gaps or overlaps. They understand that a 1-unit by
1-unit by 1-unit cube is the standard unit for measuring volume. They select
appropriate units, strategies, and tools for solving problems that involve
estimating and measuring volume. They decompose three-dimensional
shapes and find volumes of right rectangular prisms by viewing them as
decomposed into layers of arrays of cubes. They measure necessary
attributes of shapes in order to solve real world and mathematical problems.
Mathematical Practices
Geometry
Graph points on the coordinate plane to solve real-world and
mathematical problems.
5.G.1 Use a pair of perpendicular number lines, called axes, to define a
coordinate system, with the intersection of the lines (the origin)
arranged to coincide with the 0 on each line and a given point in
the plane located by using an ordered pair of numbers, called its
coordinates. Understand that the first number indicates how far to
travel from the origin in the direction of one axis, and the second
number indicates how far to travel in the direction of the second
axis, with the convention that the names of the two axes and the
coordinates correspond (e.g., x-axis and x-coordinate, y-axis and
y-coordinate).
5.G.2 Represent real world and mathematical problems by graphing points
in the first quadrant of the coordinate plane, and interpret coordinate
values of points in the context of the situation.
Classify two-dimensional figures into categories based on their properties.
5.G.3 Understand that attributes belonging to a category of two-dimensional
figures also belong to all subcategories of that category. For example,
all rectangles have four right angles and squares are rectangles, so all
squares have four right angles.
5.G.4 Classify two-dimensional figures in a hierarchy based on properties.
Table of Contents
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Questions to Pose:
Before:
Which strategy for adding fractions with unlike denominators do you prefer? Why?
During:
Which strategy are you using? Why did you choose that strategy?
Why do you need to use common denominators when adding fractions?
How did you decide which denominator to use?
After:
What did you do when your answer was greater than one? Explain your reasoning.
Which denominators did you use frequently? Why do you think these denominators were
more common?
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Student has trouble finding equivalent fractions
and/or common denominators
Suggestions
Students should work with models such as
pattern blocks, fraction strips, fraction circles,
and number lines to explore equivalent fractions.
For example 1 trapezoid ( 1/2 ) is equivalent to
3 triangles ( 3/6 ). Record many examples and
help the student observe how multiplication is
related to equivalent fractions.
Using a fraction model such as bars, strips, or
circles demonstrate the following:
Therefore +
Ask the student to explain how this model proves
that adding both the numerators and denominators
does not accurately determine the sum.
Special Notes:
To practice subtracting fractions, students should subtract fractions 1 and 2 from the
Recording Sheet. At the end they will still need to add their five differences to receive a
Final Score.
Games should be played multiple times to increase fluency
Discussion with students during and after the game should focus on why it is important to
use common denominators, how common denominators can be quickly determined, and
strategies for efficiently adding fractions, including mixed numbers.
Solutions: NA
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Fraction 2
Fraction 2
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Fraction 2
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FIFTH GRADE
3. Distribute base-ten blocks to each student. Have the students use their blocks to prove that
10 x 10 = 100 and that this array forms a square. Students make need to share materials and
work together.
4. On the board write the following: 10 x 10 = 102
Tell students that 102 is read ten squared. Ask the class to explain how it might have
gotten that name (the array for 10 x 10 is a square).
5. Distribute the Powers of Ten chart to each student. Point out that they have just worked on
the first row.
6. Ask students to use their blocks to build 10 x 10 x 10. Have students share their strategies.
Did they recognize that this could be rewritten as 10 x 100 and could be built as ten
hundreds blocks stacked into a cube?
7. On the board write the following: 10 x 10 x 10 = 103
Tell the class that 103 is read ten cubed. Ask the class to explain how it might have gotten
that name (the base-ten blocks form a cube of 10 flats).
8. Continue the chart by working with 101. Allow students to debate with one another how this
might be written and built. Help the students make connections between the number of tens
being multiplied and the number used in the exponent.
10 x 10 multiplies two tens, so the exponent is a 2
10 x 10 x 10 multiplies three tens so the exponent is a 3
101 has an exponent of one, so it must have only one 10
9. Explain to the students that 101 tells us that we are working with one ten. On the board write
the following: 10 = 101
Students can use a tens block (rod) to show 101
10. Challenge students to try the next row in their chart with a neighbor. Allow the students
ample time to struggle with the work. As you circulate, listen to see if students are making
connections to the exponents that they have already explored.
11. When most have finished invite students to share their thinking about 104. The students are
likely to have a variety of answers. Engage a lively debate by asking students to justify their
thinking and explain their reasoning. Students may question one another. They may use
blocks, observations, patterns, and logic to prove their answer.
12. At a reasonable stopping point, help students see that 104 is written as 10 x 10 x 10 x 10
This might be written in words as ten to the fourth power. A picture is not necessary here.
Write on the board: 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 = 104
13. For the final row of the chart, have students work with their partner. Then engage the class
in another discussion of reasoning.
14. To summarize, ask students to complete the I Discovered That section of the recording
sheet. Ask students, What pattern do you notice? Students should see that each the number
of zeros is changing. Ask students to explain why this pattern makes sense.
FIFTH GRADE
Questions to Pose:
As Students Work
How did you figure out that?
How could you represent that with blocks?
How could you represent that with multiplication?
In Class Discussion
Why might some people think that 104 = 40? Where is the error in their reasoning?
What patterns do you notice in the standard notations?
Why does this pattern make sense?
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Students think of the exponents as factors.
For example:
103 = 10 x 3
101 = 10 x 1
Suggestions
Students should build square arrays and record
them as exponents. For example:
3 x 3 = 32
Return to 10 x 10 = 100. Use the flat base-ten
block to show that 10 x 10 creates a square array.
Explain that mathematicians shortened 10 x 10 to
102. Observe that 102 is not the same as 10 x 2,
but that it represents 10 x 10. Make note of the
location and size of the exponent. Connect these
observations with other exponents.
Special Notes:
Before this lesson, students should conduct an investigation of square numbers using arrays.
See the suggestions in above table.
A follow up lesson should support students as they apply their understanding of powers of
ten to create scientific notations such as 4 x 103 = 4,000
Solutions: Note Students may also use the phrase ten to the power of ____
Multiplication
Exponential
Words and/or Pictures
Expression
Notation
10 x 10 x 10
ten cubed
10
Standard
Notation
103
1,000
101
10
10 x 10 x 10 x 10
104
10,000
10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10
105
100,000
FIFTH GRADE
Building Powers of 10
Multiplication
Expression
10 x 10
ten squared
Exponential
Notation
Standard
Notation
102
100
10 x10 x 10
101
104
105
I Discovered That:
101 = _______
102 = _______
103 = _______
104 = _______
105 = _______
FIFTH GRADE
FIFTH GRADE
6. When everyone in the group has built their decimal, they should take turns sharing their
Decimal Clue card and explaining how their decimal fits the clue on the card. Group
members should discuss whether they agree or disagree.
7. Now the students should put their 3 clues together and try to create one decimal that fits all 3 clues.
8. Once they find a decimal that fits the clues, they should write their decimal on a record sheet
or white board using 3 additional representations. Possible representations include: as a
fraction, in words, as a picture, on a number line, or in expanded form.
9. When the group has finished, the students should raise their hands to indicate that they are
ready to share their work with the teacher. As you examine student work, pose the questions
listed below.
10. When the teacher is finished examining the student work, the group may draw 3 new cards
and repeat the process:
1. Build a number that fits your clue
2. Share with your group
3. As a group build a number that fits all 3 clues
4. Represent the decimal in 3 additional ways
(If it is impossible to build a number that meets all 3 clues, explain why.)
Questions to Pose:
How did you figure out that this decimal fits the clue?
How can you prove that this decimal makes sense?
How could your answer be different if this clue was removed?
Create a clue you could add to the set that would make the decimal impossible.
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Student has difficulty comparing decimals
Suggestions
Student should have ample experience building
decimals with blocks, shading on decimal grids,
and using number lines. Use one of these models
to represent two decimals. Now the student can
make a visual comparison.
Make a list of possible representations on the
board for the students to refer to during the task
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NC DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
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Directions Cards
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Directions:
Note: If your students have had a lot of experience comparing and ordering decimals, you may choose
to skip steps 1 and 2 below. Do so only if you are comfortable with your students understanding of
comparing and ordering decimals.
1. Pose the following question and write it on the board or show it on a document camera: Mr.
Bowmans fifth grade class was growing sunflowers, which grow to be quite tall. They
measured the heights of the plants weekly. Last week the heights of five of their plants in
meters were: 1.25, 1.64, 1.052, 1.064, and 1.6. Which of the plants is tallest? Which is
shortest? Put the plant heights in order from shortest to tallest. Give the children a partner to
work with. Ask them to make their decisions about the order of the heights and to use a model
of their choice to defend their decision.
Note: It will be very important that students have had previous experience using various
models to represent decimal numbers: base-10 blocks, 10x10 and 100x10 grids, meter sticks,
number lines.
Allow plenty of time for students to make their decisions and prepare their models. Monitor
their activity. As pairs finish, have them share with another pair who used a different model to
compare their solutions and models. As the students work, choose particular solutions and
models to share in the follow-up whole group discussion.
2. As students share their solutions and models, allow other students to ask questions to clarify
any misunderstandings or differences in solutions. Guide the conversation so that students
have the opportunity to learn different strategies from each other.
3. Pose a new question: When Mr. Bowmans students measured the sunflowers this week, they
were asked to record their measurements to the nearest hundredth of a meter. The tallest plant
measured 1.827m. How would they record this measurement to the nearest hundredth of a
meter? Have pairs of children discuss their ideas, find a solution, and use a model to prove the
correctness of their solution, as they did in the previous problem.
Note: You are asking the children to solve a problem for which they have not been taught a
method for solving (at least not by you!) Allow them to grapple with the problem. The followup discussion will provide an opportunity for students to learn methods from each other, and
follow-up problems will provide an opportunity for students to try out different methods.
4. When students have completed their work, have a few pairs share their ideas. Be sure these
points are emphasized:
The height will be rounded to either 1.82m or 1.83m. The hundredths place in the
given measurement is 2 hundredths; the 7 thousandths means that the height is more
than 1.82, but less than 1.83.
In this instance, 5 thousandths would be half way between 1.82 and 1.83. Since 7
thousandths is more than 5 thousandths, the height will be over half way between
1.82m and 1.83m, so it will be closer to 1.83m.
Be sure that a variety of models are shared. If no students used one or more useful models, ask
the students how they might have used a number line or whatever model was not highlighted.
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Examples of models
Meter Stick: Using a meter stick, students may see 1.827 meters as 1 meter, 827 millimeters.
827 mm could be shown on the meter stick to be between 82cm (or .82m) and 83cm (or .83m).
The extra 7 millimeters would then be closer to 1.83 m than to 1.82 m.
Number Line: Students might model 1.827 on a number line as in the figure below, and reason in a
similar way to that described for using the meter stick (which is also a type of number line model.)
1.82
1.83
1.827
Continue Discussion:
After several student pairs have shared their ideas/models, ask this question: One of the
sunflowers was 1.715 meters high. How would you round that measurement to the nearest
hundredth of a meter? Give the students a minute or so to think about this question
individually, then have them talk with their partner about what they think. Then have some
students share their thinking. The important thing to be sure that students understand after this
discussion is that the convention is to always round up when the digit to the right of the place
to which the number is to be rounded is 5 or more, but this is not a hard and fast rule. In
reality, there are occasions when the number should be rounded down when the digit to the
right is 5, particularly if there are many numbers to be rounded.
5. Tell the students that they are to pretend to be Mr. Bowmans students. They have to round the
remaining heights to the nearest hundredth. Give them the following list with the directions to
1) decide how to record each measurement, 2) choose 3 of the measures for which they will
defend their decision using a model and 3) explain in words why they made that decision.
Sunflower Measures (Round to the nearest hundredth)
1.034, 1.495, 1.13, 1.607, 1.8, 1.503, 1.777, 1.098
Have available blank paper, 100x10 decimal grids, meter sticks, base-10 blocks, and any other
materials your students are likely to choose as models. Allow pairs to work together, but each
student should complete his/her own recording. Monitor as pairs work. Choose a few examples
of models and explanations to share with the whole class. Pay particular attention to solutions
and strategies for rounding 1.495 and 1.098.
Notes:
a) Some students will be confused by the 1.8 measurement. To the nearest hundredth, 1.8m
would actually be 1.80m. Let them grapple with how to deal with this. Likewise, 1.13m is
already named in hundredths, so it should be left as is. Not having to make a change in the
number will be confusing to some students. Do not tell them to leave it as is, but ask
questions to help them figure this out on their own; e.g., Why is that confusing? If you
wrote this number including a thousandths place, what would the thousandths digit be?
(0) If you rounded the number written with the zero in the thousandths place, what would
be the number rounded to the nearest hundredth?
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b) Rounding 1.495 to the nearest hundredth changes the 9 hundredths to 10 hundredths which
is equivalent to one more tenth, so the solution is 1.50 meters. Monitor the students as they
deal with this problem and troubleshoot as necessary, but let the students come up with
their own solutions and share their ideas with each other. Likewise, 1.098 requires that the
9 hundredths be rounded to 10 hundredths or 1 tenth, so the solution is 1.10 meters. Notice
what kind of models the students are using. Which ones are most helpful?
6. Continue to practice this concept with problems that require rounding to the nearest tenth and
nearest whole number as well as the nearest hundredth.
Possible problems:
a) Mr. Bowman had his students measure a number of items in the classroom in meters
and centimeters, then write the measures as meters, with the centimeters written as
hundredths of a meter. They then made a graph showing the measures of the items, but
the graph was designed to show only measures rounded to the nearest tenth of a meter.
Tony and Juan measured the items in the chart. Write the measures in meters and
hundredths of a meter; then round these measures to the nearest tenth of a meter.
Item
Measure in Meters
and Centimeters
Height
of door
Width of
white board
Width of classroom
Height of
student desk
Length
of counter
Measure in Meters
and Hundredths
Measure to Nearest
Tenth of a Meter
2m, 23cm
3m, 75cm
11m, 36cm
0m, 80cm
6m, 97cm
b) Georgia was growing tomatoes for a gardening club contest. She had a scale that
showed weights to thousandths of a kilogram. She had to report the weights to the
nearest hundredth of a kilogram. Below are the weights she recorded for 5 of her
largest tomatoes. Help her by rounding them to the nearest hundredth of a kilogram.
Tomato A:
0.739kg
Tomato B:
0.888kg
Tomato C:
1.007kg
Tomato D:
1.032kg
Tomato E:
0.905kg
c) Bella was making lemonade for the fall carnival. She had ten different sized pitchers to
use. They held these amounts in liters: 2.358, 3.74, 5.916, 1.5, 4.44, 8.08, 3.373,
4.682, 9.903, 12.621. She wanted to estimate the total amount of lemonade these
pitchers would hold, so she could use your help. Round each amount to the nearest
whole number of liters. Then write her a note telling her about how much lemonade
she should make to fill the pitchers and how you figured it out.
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Questions to Pose:
As students work together:
What place are you rounding to?
What are some possible answers?
Why did you decide to use this model?
Is there a different model that might help you?
During class discussion:
How did your model help you?
Did someone else use a model or have a strategy that you think might be more useful than the
one you used?
Was there anything difficult about solving these problems? How did you work through the
difficulty?
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Suggestions
Students are not sure what the For these students you may need to provide some
concept of rounding means
practice rounding whole numbers to various places.
They may need help seeing what two hundredths (or
whatever place is being rounded to) the given number is
exactly between. Monitor these students carefully as they
use models and be sure they are identifying the location
of the given decimal correctly, then identifying the
nearest decimals of the place to be rounded to.
Be sure these students have ample opportunity to hear
the explanations from other students about how they have
thought about these problems and how they used the models.
Students are unsure how to
For a problem involving metric measurements, suggest
use the various tools to model
that students use a meter stick and find the decimal
the decimal number
number on the meter stick. You might ask (if rounding to
hundredths), What two hundredths of a meter is this
measurement between? Then Which of those measures
in hundredths is the actual number closest to?
If students have difficult modeling decimals on a grid, have
them practice building the decimal number with base-10
blocks and then transfer their concrete model to the grid.
If students have difficult knowing how to use a number line,
provide practice drawing number lines (or using prepared
number lines without numbers) to show given decimals.
Students have difficulty
These students may need more work with regrouping
rounding up when the digit
decimal numbers from one place to the next, developing
being rounded to is a 9, for
the understanding that 10 tenths are 1 whole, 10
example, rounding 1.397 to
hundredths make 1 tenth, and 10 thousandths are
the nearest hundredth requires
equivalent to 1 hundredth.
rounding to 10 hundredths or
Be sure students are using models that more easily show
1 tenth.
these relationships.
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Special Notes:
Students should continue to practice rounding decimal numbers during the weeks and months
following this and similar lessons to keep their skills sharp. Practice can be in a problem
context or quick practice rounding a few numbers without a context.
Solutions for Problems Used in This Lesson:
Activity #1: 1.052, 1.064, 1.25, 1.6, 1.64. Models used will vary.
Activity #3: 1.83m
Activity #4: 1.72m (An argument could be made that 1.71m is also an acceptable answer.)
Activity #5: 1.03, 1.50, 1.13, 1.61, 1.8, 1.50, 1.78, 1.10
Models and explanations will differ.
Activity #6a:
Item
Height of door
Width of white
board
Width of classroom
Measure in Meters
and Centimeters
2m, 23cm
Measure in Meters
and Hundredths
2.23m
Measure to Nearest
Tenth of a Meter
2.2m
3m, 75cm
3.75m
3.7m or 3.8m
11m, 36cm
11.36m
11.4m
0m, 80cm
6m, 97cm
0.80m
6.97m
0.8m
7.0m
Height of student
desk
Length of counter
Activity #6b:
Tomato A:
Tomato B:
Tomato C:
Tomato D:
Tomato E:
0.73kg
0.89kg
1.01kg
1.03kg
0.91kg
Activity #6c:
Original amounts in liters: 2.358, 3.74, 5.916, 1.5, 4.44, 8.08, 3.373, 4.682, 9.903, 12.621
Rounded amounts in liters:
Total of rounded amounts:
2,
4,
6,
2,
4,
8,
3,
5,
10,
13
57 liters
Explanations will vary. Look for how students thought about the rounding. Some students may tell her
57 liters. Others may round up to 58 liters since the rounding created approximate amounts rather than
exact amounts. Either solutions is fine as long as the students make a reasonable case for their solution.
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Decimal Grids
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Directions:
1. Begin the lesson with a review of rounding decimal numbers. Ask the students to round
45.837 to the nearest hundredth. Have a few students respond and tell how they thought
about the rounding. (Hopefully the responses are 45.84 because the 7 thousandths is closer
to 45.84 than to 45.83.) Then ask them to round the number (45.837) to the nearest tenth.
Again, solicit responses and explanations. (Solution: 45.8, because the 3 hundredths is
closer to 45.8 than to 45.9). Finally ask them to round the number to the nearest whole
number (46, because 8 tenths is closer to 46 than to 45.)
2. Pose this question to the class: What numbers could be rounded to 4.8? Try to give several
answers. Can you find them all?
Have the children work with a partner to make a list of numbers. This activity gives the
children an opportunity to think about rounding in a different way. It emphasized the
significance of place value. The numbers can include or be bigger than 4.75 but must be less
than 4.85 (using the convention of rounding up when the digit to the right is 5).
Some children may come up with only one number. Encourage them to think of others. Some
children may be able to come up with the whole range of possible numbers (but will not be
able to list them all because there is an infinite number. Between any two decimal numbers,
another decimal number can be identified. For example, between 3.82 and 3.83, you can
identify 3.821, 3.822, etc. Since we are working with decimal numbers up to the thousandths
place, all of the numbers involving hundredths or thousandths could be identified, but
numbers involving place values smaller than thousandths would be too many to count.)
As the students complete the task, have them write an explanation of their process. You
might also have them make a visual representation of their solution. Look for evidence that
students understand the range of possible numbers. These students show they have a
complete understanding of the concept of rounding.
You might choose to have pairs of students who found a lot of possible numbers or figured
out the range of numbers to join a pairs of students who found only a few and discuss how
they came up with their list of numbers.
3. Hold a whole group discussion of the solutions and strategies used. Be sure that students
who found only a few numbers have the opportunity to hear other strategies and solutions
and to ask questions. If any pairs used a number line or other model to help them answer the
question, give them the opportunity to share their strategy. This will help students who could
not see the range of numbers for themselves.
4. Following the discussion, ask pairs to choose from the following problems:
a. What numbers could be rounded to 8.5?
b. What numbers could be rounded to 16.61?
c. What numbers could be rounded to 26.09
d. What numbers could be rounded to 37?
Make as complete a list as you can. Try to find the range of possible numbers.
Students who had a hard time finding several solutions to the previous problem may want to
try problem a. If students find a reasonable list of solutions for the problem they choose, and
particularly if they identify the range of numbers, ask them to try a second question.
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FIFTH GRADE
As the students work, choose a few examples of solutions and strategies that you want to
have shared in the whole class discussion.
5. When all pairs have completed at least one problem, hold a class discussion. Have the pairs
you selected share their solutions and the strategies they used to find those solutions. Be sure
that all children have the opportunity to ask questions to clarify their own thinking.
Extension:
This problem requires similar thinking to those posed in the lesson, but adds practice adding and/or
subtracting decimal numbers in a more challenging problem. You may use this kind or problem
with all students or with students who readily understood the concept of a range of numbers that
could be rounded to a given number while others work with more problems like those in the lesson.
Pose this question: Two numbers, each having four digits, are added and the result is rounded off to 3.8.
What might those numbers be?
Note: The two numbers being added must total in the range 3.750 to 3.849 in order to be rounded
off to 3.8. As students work, observe to see if any children think about this relationship before
trying to find the two numbers?
Questions to Pose:
As students work together:
What is the smallest number that would round to [the given number]?
What is the largest number that would round to [the given number]?
How does this model help you?
Tell me about what you are thinking.
During class discussion:
How did your model help you?
How did you decide on the range of numbers you have chosen?
How did knowing how to round a given number help you decide what numbers might be
rounded to this number [the number identified in the problem]?
Was there anything difficult about solving these problems? How did you work through the difficulty?
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Suggestions
Students are unsure
Ask questions like: What is a decimal number smaller than
about how to start
[the given number] that would round to [the given number]?
thinking about this kind
Given the number 5.7, ask questions like: Would 5.71 round
of problem, which is
to 5.7? Would 5.60 round to 5.7? Would 5.79 round to 5.7?
requiring thinking that
Suggest a model that the student(s) have found helpful in
is opposite to thinking
rounding decimals. Have them find the rounded number in
about rounding a
that model; then consider what numbers smaller than the
given number
rounded number would round to it and what numbers larger
than the rounded number would round to it. (Be careful not to
lead their thinking, but guide them by asking questions as in
the above bullet.)
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Decimal Grids
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Directions:
Part I:
Note: Assess your students proficiency with solving equations involving multiples of 10 and 100.
Begin with equations like 10 x 12 and 100 x 34; followed by equations like 40 x 30; 200 x 8; 90 x
300. Be sure to ask the students to explain how they get their answers. Some (perhaps many)
students will say something like, to multiply by 10, just add a zero on the end. Pay particular
attention to these students. This shortcut rule works for whole number equations, but will not work
when they begin to solve equations like 3.5 x 10. It is important that students understand the process
involved in multiplying with multiples of 10 and 100. The following lesson will help students see
how and why their shortcut works for whole numbers. If your students do not need this review, you
may skip this part.
1. Pose the following problem:
A thirsty camel drinks about 20 gallons of water. How many gallons will 80 thirsty
camels drink?
Ask students how they might model this problem. There may be a variety of ideas. Since the
numbers are larger, making 80 groups of 20 counters or a picture of 80 groups with 20 dots
or xs in each would not be efficient. If anyone suggests an array model, say that an array
can be helpful, but you do not want to draw 20 rows of 80 squares. Tell them that you can
use what we know about using 10s to draw the array in a more efficient way. Then draw
this model on the board or using a document camera.
Tell the students that each row will represent 10 gallons of water and that each section of the
row represents 10 camels. Label the array like this:
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
Ask the students how many gallons are represented by one of the small sections of the array.
They should see that it is 10 gallons drunk by 10 camels, or 0 x 10 = 100 gallons. Ask how
many small sections there are in the array. (16) Ask how they know. Hopefully someone
will suggest that there are 2 rows with 8 sections in each; 2 x 8 = 16 small sections.
Begin to record this information like this:
20 80
(2 10) (8 10)
(2 8) (10 10)
Ask the students what these numbers represent. Then do the multiplication. Record:
16 100
1600
31
FIFTH GRADE
This kind of representation is very important so that children see that shortcuts work for a reason.
If you have students who are not skilled with multiplying with powers of 10, be sure to give
them plenty of practice using models such as this one so they can develop this skill that is so
foundational to understanding and accurately solving multiplication equations with non-zero
numbers with 2 or more digits.
2.
Continue the practice with problems involving multiples of 10 and 100 such as the following:
a) The Girl Scout troop received their delivery of cookies. They had 400 cartons with 20
boxes of cookies in each. How many boxes of cookies did they have to sell?
b) A full grown elephant eats 40 pounds of food each day. How many pounds of food
would be needed to feed the elephant for 30 days?
c) Thirty squirrels each stored 200 acorns in the forest. How many acorns were stored in all?
Part II:
Note: Students will have been exposed to a variety of methods and models for multiplication in
fourth grade. This activity will help you see what kinds of methods the students choose to use.
3. Pose this problem:
The circus came to town with 27 clowns. In the parade, each clown carried 16 balloons.
How many balloons were there altogether?
Tell the students to solve the problem in any way that makes sense to them. Monitor as students
work to see what kinds of strategies they use. Are any looking for smaller products such as
4 x 27, then adding that result 4 times? Are any drawing some kind of array? How are they
labeling it? Did anyone do 30 x 16, then subtract 3 x 16? Did any find partial products and add
them: 10 x 20 = 200, 6 x 20 = 120, 10 x 7 = 70, and 6 x 7 = 42? Is anyone adding up a string of
27s or 16s? Did anyone use the standard algorithm? (If so, do not highlight it as the right
way to solve this problem. You may just include it as another strategy at this point.)
4. Choose a variety of methods to share. Consider how you want to order the sharing of these
methods. Have these selected students share their methods for solving the problem. Discuss
with the class how each represents the situation of 27 groups of 16 balloons. Ask the
students to look for similarities and differences in the different methods. Discuss the
efficiency of the different methods.
5. To close the lesson write the following journal prompt on the board. Before students write in
their journal, ask them to briefly talk with a partner about the two strategies they plan to describe.
Describe two strategies you can use when multiplying two whole numbers. Tell which you
prefer and why.
Questions to Pose:
As students work together:
What equation do you need to solve this problem?
What did you think about first?
Which method works best for you?
Why did you decide to..?
Tell me why you think that is a reasonable answer.
32
FIFTH GRADE
33
FIFTH GRADE
34
FIFTH GRADE
Directions:
Part I:
If your students have shown difficulty in decomposing the numbers being multiplied, the following
activity may be particularly helpful. You may choose to use it with a small group or the whole class
depending on the need.
1. Tell the students that you want them to explore a model of the problem, 28 x 14 with you. Use
either large grid paper that can be posted on the board or grid paper that can be shown on the
document camera (or with a small group gathered around a table, small grid paper will suffice.)
On the grid paper, draw four or more 28 x 14 rectangles. Tell the students that you want them to
help you find different ways to slice the array into pieces, particularly ways that would make
multiplying the numbers easier. Give one example: Show how the array might be cut into a piece
28 x 10 and one 28 x 4. Draw a line in your array to show how you sliced it.
28
14
10
10 x 28
4 x 28
Record your division as (28 x 10) + (28 x 4) or (10 x 28) + (4 x 28). Be sure the students see that
you are decomposing or breaking up the 14 into 10 and 4 and multiplying both parts by 28, which
is using the distributive property. Ask the students to suggest other slices (horizontal or
vertical) into which the rectangle might be cut and demonstrate them on the rectangles you have
drawn. Possibilities include:
1) Slice the 28 into 20 + 8, record the division as (20 x 14) + (8 x 14);
2) Slice the 28 into 10 + 10 + 8, record the division as (10 x 14) + (10 x 14) + (8 x 14);
3) Slice the 14 into 9 + 5, record the division as (9 x 28) + (5 x 28);
4) Someone may suggest slicing the array both horizontally and vertically; for example: Slice
the 28 into 20 + 8 and the 14 into 10 + 4, record as (20 x 10) + (20 x 4) + (8 x 10) + (8 x 4).
Many other divisions are possible. Have only 3-4 people share their ideas at this point if you are
working with the whole class.
2. Give groups of four base-10 blocks for building an array and grid paper to use individually or with
a partner to draw an array. Tell the students that you want them to look for as many different ways
to slice the array for 37 x 25 into two or more pieces. Students may use either model to create
the array, but ask them to show and record the different ways they find on the grid paper, both by
slicing the rectangle on the grid and by recording the numerical expression for the divisions.
Some students may need the concrete model of the Base-10 blocks before transferring the array to
the grid paper. Tell the students to look particularly for divisions that would help make the
multiplication easier. Monitor as the students work. Note any students who need to build with the
blocks first. Watch for students who have trouble finding more than one or two divisions. Which
students are finding efficient slices and which may be making random divisions which would
not be particularly helpful when multiplying the original problem? Are any students slicing both
horizontally and vertically? As you monitor the students, make some choices about which
methods you want to have students share and in what order you want to share them. (If working
with a small group, all students may be able to share, but carefully choose the order of sharing.)
35
FIFTH GRADE
3. When all students have been able to find a few ways to slice the rectangle, bring the class
back together. Have the selected students share their divisions. Discuss which slices are
the most helpful in finding a solution to the problem. Hopefully, students will see that
divisions using multiples of 10 are the most helpful. Ask: Does the total amount change
when it is sliced into different parts? Be sure that students see that the total is not changed
by slicing the rectangle into different sized pieces.
Questions to Pose:
As students work together:
How did you decide how to slice your array?
Which divisions would make the problem easier?
Why did you decide to..?
During class discussion:
Which slices make the problem easier to solve? Why?
Do the different ways to slice the rectangle change the total amount of squares in
the rectangle?
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Suggestions
Students have difficulty
Ask the students for one way to separate one of the
finding a way to slice the
factors into two parts. Remind them of how you
rectangle
separated 28 into 20 and 8. Ask them how they could
separate the other factor into two parts.
Special Notes:
If your students need this work with decomposing numbers in order to multiply, this lesson
should precede lessons that are geared to developing any standard multiplication algorithm.
It is extremely important that students not be exposed to the standard multiplication
algorithm until they have had numerous opportunities to explore a variety of strategies,
models, and methods first.
Adapted from Van de Walle, et.al., Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics, Grades 3-5, 2nd Edition. Pearson, 2014.
36
FIFTH GRADE
37
FIFTH GRADE
Students should have some understanding of the concept of area and how to calculate the
area of a rectangular region.
Students should be familiar with the vocabulary of multiplication: factor, product, partial
product.
Students should be familiar with estimating.
Students should be comfortable struggling with a task and explaining their reasoning.
Directions:
Part I.
In this part students explore the array models which they probably encountered in fourth grade. The array
model is very helpful in developing meaningful recordings of algorithms without the pictorial representation.
1. Tell the students that you want to explore the array model for multiplication as a class. The
students should be familiar with this model from their work in fourth grade. If you have noticed
students using the array model in previous lessons when given their choice of methods, you may
have one of these students help you begin this lesson.
Pose this problem: What is the area in square centimeters of a desktop that is 79 cm by 45 cm?
If possible, ask a student who used the array method to draw and label an array for this problem.
Draw it yourself if no student used this method.
70
9
40
40 70
40 9
5 70
59
Ask the students how this is similar to the slicing they did in multiplication lesson #2, if you
chose to use it. Hopefully they see how you are decomposing both numbers into tens and ones.
Ask the students what to do next. (Find the partial products and then add them.)
Ask the students to find the partial products and check their answers with a friend before adding
them. Their results should be some order of these:
40 70 = 2800
40 9 =
360
5 70 =
350
59=
45
3555
Draw the array again, but label it differently, with the 40 + 5 on top and the 70 + 9 on the side.
Ask the students to help you label the inside of each section. It should look something like this:
40
5
70
70 40
70 5
9 40
95
Ask the students what they notice. Hopefully they notice that the partial products are the same but
in a different order.
38
FIFTH GRADE
2. Do a few more examples with the class involving 1-digit by 2- or 3- or 4-digit numbers and 2digit by 3-digit numbers as well as 2-digit by 2-digit numbers. Examples:
You need to cut a rope into 6 pieces for sailing cord. Each cord must be 538 meters long. How
many meters of rope do you need?
500
30
6 x 500
6 x 30
8
6x8
40
70
70 x 300
70 x 40
70 x 6
9 x 300
9 x 70
9x6
50
300
300 x 600
300 x 50
300 x 7
40
40 x 600
40 x 50
40 x 7
2 x 600
2 x 50
2x7
39
FIFTH GRADE
For the following problems, ask the students to provide the story problem context for the
problem. Students often enjoy creating the problem, and it gives you an opportunity to be sure
they know the meaning of division how it is used in a real life situation.
e. 37 x 48
f. 26 x 374
g. 87 x 63
h. 169 x 52
Part II.
In this part, students build on the array model and the partial products it models to solve multiplication
equations without the pictorial representation the array provides.
4. Write the following equation on the board:
26 x 47 =
Ask a student to provide the story to go with the equation or provide a context yourself.
Then ask the students for their ideas about how to find the partial products without drawing the
array as they were doing in the previous activities. Accept any possibilities that work. Hopefully
the work they have done with the array will lead them to see that they can decompose 26 into 20
and 6, and decompose 47 into 40 and 7. The partial products should then be the results of 20 x 40,
20 x 7, 6 x 40, and 6 x 7. The order of the partial products is not important in this instance. Help
the students see that each part of the 26 (20 and 6) must be multiplied by each part of the 47 (40
and 7), so that the partial products are:
20 x 40 = 800
20 x 7 = 140
6 x 40 = 240
6 x 7 = 42
for a product of:
1222
It may help some students to write the problem in expanded form, like this:
47
=
40 + 7
x 26
=
x 20 + 6
This recording may help them more easily see the decomposed parts of the number that would
have been represented in the array model and which must be multiplied whether using the array
or not.
Do a few more examples with the class, including some 1- by 2-digit equations and 1- by 3-digit
equations as well as 2- by 2-digit equations. Possible examples (answers in parentheses):
86 x 7
264 x 9
38 x 47
567 x 3
92 x 45
(602)
(2376)
(1786)
(1701)
(4140)
Partial products for 264 x 9 would be the following, possibly in a different order:
9 x 200 = 1800
9 x 60 = 540
9 x 4 = 36
for a product of:
2376
40
FIFTH GRADE
After students have had practice finding the partial products without using the array, pose this
equation and have the students help you find the partial products.
85 x 43 =
As they give you the partial products, be sure they tell you which parts of the two factors they are
multiplying to get the partial products. Record the partial products in the order in which the
students give you the partial products, and have them add to find the product. Then rewrite the
problem like this:
85
x 43
15
240
200
3200
3655
Ask the students how this recording is different (if it is) from the order they gave you. In this
recording of partial products, you have started multiplying by the 3 ones (3 x 5 and 3 x 80) before
multiplying by the 4 tens (40 x 5 and 40 x 80). Record the factors for each partial product. (See
below.) Beside this recording of the partial products, write the shorter way of recording the solution
(that we know as the standard algorithm).
2
85
x 43
15
240
200
3200
3655
(3 x 5)
(3 x 80)
(40 x 5)
(40 x 80)
85
x 43
255
3400
3655
Ask the students to consider the two recordings and figure out where the two partial products (255
and 3400) came from. Hopefully they will see that the 255 is 15 + 240 and is the product of 3 x 85,
and that 3400 is 200 + 3200 and is the product of 40 x 85. You might draw the arrows to show
these equivalences after the students see the connection. Then ask what the 1 and the 3 above the 8
in 85 stand for. If no students see that these are the regrouped 1 ten from 15 (3 x 5) and the
regrouped 2 hundreds from 200 (40 x 5), show them yourself how you did this by going through
this problem again or doing another example. This is much like regrouping when adding, which
works here because one meaning of multiplication is repeated addition recorded more efficiently.
Do several more examples with the class. Initially, you may have students solve a few problems by
first writing out the partial products, then solving using the shorter standard form. Have volunteers
come to the board to show their solutions. Monitor as students work to see which students are
having difficulty. Students may work in pairs if that is helpful.
41
FIFTH GRADE
Do at least one example with a zero, so that students have one partial product of zero.
For example:
507
X3
21 (3 x 7)
0 (3 x 0)
1500 (3 x 500)
1521
Any students who understand that you do not need to write the zero since it does not add anything
to the final product should be allowed to leave out the zero when listing the partial products.
Problems to use:
Contextualized Problems (Story Problems):
a. Miguel packages the coffee that grew on his farm. The packages of coffee are put into cases to
ship to market. If he puts 25 bags of coffee into each case, how many bags will fill 45 cases?
b. Joseph had a bumper crop of pears this year. He gave each of his 15 cousins a gift of 3 dozen
pears. How many pears did he give his cousins in all? (Note that this problem has 2 steps and
that students must know how many are in a dozen.)
c. Mr. Stephens fifth grade class helped to stuff envelopes advertising their schools
fund-raising carnival event. If the 23 children in his class each stuffed 69 envelopes, how
many envelopes did they stuff?
d. Malin is reading a book with 357 pages. If she reads 49 pages each day for a whole week,
will she be able to finish the book? (Note: The equation will be 49 x 7 = ? and the product
will be compared to 357.)
e. Seth traveled to Europe with his family last summer. He took lots of pictures, an average of 72
each day. If he did this each day for the 19 days they traveled, how many pictures did he take?
f. Gustav, a friendly giant, was having his apartment carpeted. Find out how many square meters
of carpet he needs for each room:
i. Living Room: 98 meters by 76 meters
ii. Kitchen: 53 meters by 86 meters
iii. Bedroom: 67 meters by 69 meters
iv. Hall: 7 meters by 135 meters
g. Mr. Sethi can drive his car 23 miles on each gallon of gas. How far can he drive when he fills
up his gas tank with 18 gallons of gas?
h. Carlos drives at an average rate of about 57 miles per hour. At this rate, how far would Carlos
drive in 5 hours?
i. If an airplane flies at 645 miles per hour, would it travel 2,000 miles in 3 hours?
Decontextualized Problems:
For the following examples, the students can solve the problems without a context or you can have them
make up a story problem to go with some of the examples. (Answers given in parentheses.)
36 x 7
(252)
48 x 67
(3216)
56 x 8
(448)
29 x 18
(522)
304 x 9
(2736)
56 x 89
(4984)
258 x 4
(1032)
72 x 35
(2520)
42
967 x 5
(4835)
83 x 69
(5727)
FIFTH GRADE
NOTE: This recording of the regrouped digit in the standard algorithm is the source of many errors.
It often gets added in before the subsequent multiplication, or is forgotten altogether. Because the
standard algorithm is part of the Common Core standards, it is important for students to know how
it works and how to use it, but that does not mean that they cannot use other methods to solve
multiplication problems as well. As students work with problems involving multiplication, be sure
they have experience with the standard algorithm as it relates to the array model and recording all
partial products, then allow them to continue recording the partial products if they are more
comfortable with this approach. If students need to continue using the array model to accurately
find solutions, allow this; then continue to work with these students to make the transition from the
array to recording the partial products without the array.
Questions to Pose:
As students work together:
What equation do you need to solve this problem?
What did you think about first?
Which method works best for you?
Why did you decide to..?
Tell me why you think that is a reasonable answer.
During class discussion:
Which strategy worked best for you? Why do you think that is?
How do you decide if your solution is reasonable?
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Suggestions
Students have difficulty
Determine if the difficulty lies in misunderstanding the
calculating the partial
process or in problems with the multiplication facts,
products accurately.
themselves. If the problem is with the facts, allow
students to use a multiplication facts chart to insure
accuracy of solutions; then work individually or in a
small group with these students to develop strategies for
remembering the facts. If the problem lies in
understanding how to find the partial products, work with
individuals or a small group with the array model until
they see where these numbers come from. If necessary,
use base-10 blocks or grid paper to create or draw the
arrays so that these students can see the actual number of
blocks or squares in each part of the array.
If the problem lies in multiplying with multiples of ten, use
the ideas in the lesson Multiplying Multi-Digit Whole
Numbers Using the Standard Algorithm #1: Background
Part 1 to help students understand this process.
In some cases, students may be adding partial products
incorrectly. These students may just need encouragement
to take more care and time in the process, as long as they
understand the underlying procedures.
43
FIFTH GRADE
Have these students write out all the partial products and
compare them to the two in the standard algorithm. Ask
them what the 4 in 45 stands for. (40, not just 4).
Encourage students to estimate the product before
calculating and to compare their final answer to their
estimate. In the example 36 x 45, an estimate would be
either 30 x 40 = 1200 or 40 x 40 = 1600. A product much
outside that range would not be reasonable, so the
student should re-check his/her work.
Special Notes:
It is extremely important that students not be exposed to the standard multiplication
algorithm until they have had numerous opportunities to explore a variety of strategies,
models, and methods first. The area/array model is particularly advantageous in
meaningfully developing the multiplication algorithm.
Research analyzing sixth graders strategies for solving multiplication problems showed that only
20% chose to use the standard algorithm, with less than half of that group solving accurately. The
array or area model was the most frequently selected approach for these students. (Van de Walle,
et.al., Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics, Grades 3-5, 2nd Edition. Pearson, 2014, p. 185)
Solutions for Problems Used in This Lesson:
Note that some solutions are within the text.
Part I. #3
a. 37 x 28 = 1,036
b. 5 x 17 = 85
c. 39 x 63 = 2,457 Yes, the silo will hold that amount.
d. 3,246 x 7 = 22,722
e. 37 x 48 = 1776
f. 26 x 374 = 9724
g. 87 x 63 = 5481
h. 196 x 52 = 8788
Part II. #4 Contextualized Problems
a. 25 x 45 = 1125
b. 15 x 36 = 540
c. 23 x 69 = 1587
d. 49 x 7 = 343
343 < 357
She will not finish the book in a week.
e. 19 x 72 = 1368
f. i. 98 x 76 = 7448 sq m
ii. 53 x 86 = 4558 sq m
iii. 67 x 69 = 4623 sq m
iv. 7 x 135 = 9045 sq m
g. 23 x 18 = 414 miles
h. 57 x 5 = 285
i. 645 x 3 = 1935 1935 < 2000 No
44
FIFTH GRADE
45
FIFTH GRADE
Directions:
Part I.
Making Preliminary Estimations of Products
1. Pose this problem: The owner of a large furniture store wants to buy 290 chairs that cost her 28
dollars each. Will this purchase cost as much as $10,000?
Ask the students:
Do you think the cost will be as high at $10,000? Why do you think that?
(Depending on their answers to that question, continue as follows.)
- What numbers close to the numbers in the problem would be easy to multiply?
(If no one suggests using numbers rounded to a multiple of 10 or 100 closest to the given
numbers, suggest it yourself. The number 28 is close to 30 and the number 290 is close to 300.
So the product for 28 x 290 would be close to 30 x 300 or 9,000).
- Would the exact product be more or less than 30 x 300?
(Since both given numbers are less than the estimates, the exact product should be less.)
Students should conclude that the cost will be less than $10,000. Have the students carry out the
multiplication using a method of their choice and compare the exact answer (8,410) to the estimates.
2. Tell the students that someone wrote the equation 31 x 49 = 3,619. Ask how they can quickly tell
whether the product is correct or not. Hopefully, they will use estimation to see that the answer
should be close to 30 x 50 or 1,500, much smaller than the product of 3,619. Ask whether some
other answers such as 1,539; 1,499; and 1,936, appear to be reasonable answers. They may agree
that the first two are close to the estimate of 1,500 and may be correct, but the 1.936 appears to be
too large. Ask them how estimating like this can help them check their answers when multiplying.
Discuss how estimation can help reject wildly incorrect answers, but does not help detect close but
still incorrect answers. Have them find the correct answer (1,519).
3. Pose another problem: For a class game, each student in our class needs 28 counting chips.
If counting chips come in boxes of 200, how many boxes would I need to have on hand?Ask the
students first to give you the equation needed to solve the problem (28 x the number of children in
the class = ?) and then how they would estimate the answer. Most likely the number of students in
the class would round to 20 or 30, and the 28 would round to 30. Ask: Would 3 boxes be too few?
Are 30 boxes too many? Would 5 boxes be enough? Discuss: Would this be a situation where you
would need an exact number of counters? Would having an estimate give you enough information
to know how many boxes to have?
4. Provide more examples for practice as needed. Note: If a number is halfway between two possible
estimates (for example: 35 is halfway between 30 and 40), let the students use either the higher or
the lower estimate. Do not make or use any automatic round up or round down rule.
Possible examples: Have the students estimate the product of each equation below, record the
estimate, then choose the correct answer from the choices given.
a. 28 x 110 = ?
2,080
3,080
30,800
b. 61 x 420 = ?
246,2000
2,420
25,620
c. 103 x 220 = ?
2,260
260,600
22,660
d. 67 x 6,023 = ?
403,541
360,541
43,541
e. 83 x 21 = ?
1,463
1,743
17,433
f. 890 x 910 = ?
81,080
710,800
809,900
g. 49 x 49 = ?
24,001
2,401
1,681
NC DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
46
FIFTH GRADE
Part II.
Assessment
After your students have had numerous experiences to practice using the different models and methods of
multiplication within these lessons (Multiplying Multi-Digit Whole Numbers Using the Standard
Algorithm #1-4), pose this problem:
Washington, D.C., is 39 miles from Baltimore, Maryland. It is 69 times as far from Baltimore to Los
Angeles. How far is it from Baltimore to Los Angeles?
a. Make an estimate of the solution. Explain how you arrived at your estimate.
b. Solve the problem in two different ways. Show all your work.
c. Explain how your two methods are similar and how they are different. Tell which method you
prefer to use and why.
Questions to Pose:
As students work and during class discussion:
How does estimating help you?
Which strategy worked best for you? Why do you think that is?
Tell me why you think that is a reasonable answer.
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Suggestions
Students have difficulty
Be sure that the students understand the purpose of
rounding numbers to
rounding the numbers in order to estimate a solution.
appropriate numbers for
Help them see that you are rounding 392 to 300 rather
estimating
than 390 because 300 is so much easier to think about
and to use.
Meet with individuals or small groups to explore
rounding numbers to the nearest ten or hundred or
thousand. Be sure they understand that the object is to
make the computation easier.
Students hesitate to estimate
Changing this mindset will take time. As students learn
to find an about answer
that you are interested in their thinking, their strategies,
because they are so used to
their processes, they will become more willing to find an
needing the exact right
approximate answer when that is appropriate.
answer.
Encourage students to see that their estimations help
them evaluate solutions to see if they are reasonable and
therefore more likely to be correct.
Special Notes:
Estimation is an extremely important skill. Be sure students have plenty of opportunity to estimate
solutions to multiplication and other computations. If students begin to estimate solutions
reasonably, they will be able to more accurately judge their solutions as sensible or not.
47
FIFTH GRADE
48
FIFTH GRADE
49
FIFTH GRADE
Directions:
Option: Rather than doing these first three problems separately, you could have individuals or
partners work on all three problems and then discuss them together, with particular emphasis on
how the treatment of the remainder is different in each context.
1. Pose the following problem: All the third, fourth, and fifth grade students at Sunshine
Elementary School were going to attend the ACC womens basketball tournament at the
coliseum. The 228 students will be riding on activity buses which can hold 30 students each.
How many buses will be needed to transport the students to the game?
Ask: What equation do we need to solve this problem? Someone should suggest 228 30 =
Have the students work individually or with a partner to find a way to solve the problem.
They may use a variety of strategies. The students should have some experience with
division from their earlier work in fourth and fifth grades. Do not expect them to necessarily
use the standard algorithm. Monitor as the students work. Look for different strategies, but
also look for which students are considering their quotient and how to use it to answer the
question in the problem. The quotient will be 7 with a remainder of 18. Students must
realize that they will need an extra bus to accommodate the extra 18 students, so the solution
to the problem is 8 buses.
Have selected students share their methods of solving the equation and deciding on the
answer to the question. Be sure students understand why the answer to the question is not 7
r.18, which is the answer to the division problem, not the answer to the question asked in
the problem.
2. Pose a second problem: Shana took 239 photos with her digital camera when she was on
vacation in the mountains last summer. She arranged them into a digital book with 4
pictures on each page. How many pages in the book would have had exactly 4 photos?
Again ask for the equation that will help solve the problem. The division equation is 239 4
=
. It is possible that someone may suggest 4 x
= 239. If so, ask the students if this
equation can represent the situation. (Yes, it is an equivalent equation to the division
equation and actually represents a way to think about the problem: What number times 4 is
equal to or comes close to 239?)
Have the students work individually or with a partner to find a way to solve the problem.
Monitor as they work to see what strategies they are using and whether or not they are
thinking about how to use their solution to answer the question in the problem. Select a few
solution strategies to be shared. The quotient is 59 with a remainder of 3. So the solution to
the problem is 59 pages will be full. In this instance, the remainder of 3 would not make
another full page, so it does not add another page to the 59. Be sure that students understand
how this solution requires different thinking about whether and how to use the remainder to
answer the question stated in the problem. In the bus problem, an extra bus was required to
accommodate the extra students. In this photo case, the extra photos do not add an extra
page since the question is about full pages.
Ask: What if the question had been How many pages would the book need to have if each
page can hold 4 photos? In this case the answer to the question would be 60 pages to
include a page for the remaining 3 photos.
3. Pose a third problem: Rohan had a piece of rope that was 188 inches long. If he cut it into 8
equal lengths, how long would each piece be if he used the entire length of rope?
NC DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
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5. Optional: Challenge all or some of your students to write their own division story problems for
which a decision has to be made about how to deal with the remainder. They should solve their
problems and show the solution. These problems could be shared with the class as extra practice.
Questions to Pose:
As students work together:
What is the problem asking you to find?
What equation will help you solve the problem?
Why did you decide to..?
During class discussion:
Why did you round up your quotient to answer the question? ignore the remainder to
answer the question? change the remainder to a fraction to answer the question?
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Suggestions
Students ignore the remainder Ask students what the problem is asking. For example in
and give the answer to the
#1 above the question is: How many buses? If students
story problem as the quotient
say 7 buses, ask them what does the remainder of 18
without the remainder and
students mean? If they are not sure, ask them if the 18
without reference to the
students are going to the game and how they will get
context of the problem
there. With questioning like this, students should realize
that they will need another bus. (Students often think they
have solved a problem if they have done the requisite
computation, without realizing that they need to consider
what question has been asked in the problem and how
their computation solution relates to that question.)
Students state the solution as
Ask students what the problem is asking. For example in
the quotient with remainder,
#1 above the question is: How many buses? If students
e.g., 8 r.5, with no reference
say 7 r.18, ask them how that answers the question asked
to the context of the problem
in the problem. (See note in italics above.)
or the question being asked
Special Notes:
This lesson should follow other lessons dealing with the process and methods of division.
Students will need continued practice with division problems for which the remainder
affects the solution to the problem.
Solutions for Problems Used in This Lesson:
Section #4
Quotient
Solution to problem
a.
10 r.4
11 cars
b.
31 r.4
31 4/8 or 31 inches
c.
32 r.6
32 6/9 or 32 2/3 inches
d.
109 r.3
109 3/6 or 109 cm
e.
63 r.2
64 pages
f.
47 r.2
48 rows
g.
232 r.4
232 4/12 or 232 1/3 pieces of candy or 232 each with 4 left over
h.
1262 r.3
1262 passes
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5. Repeat this process with problems using nice fractional parts such as 2.5 x 4 and 2 x 3.25
Ask a student to verbalize a word problem for the expression
Conduct a class discussion of student estimates
Students solve the problem independently
Students share their strategies with a partner or small group
Teacher facilitates whole group discussion
6. Distribute decimal grids. Students choose one of the previous multiplication problems to
solve using the decimal grid. Students should working in pairs or small groups
7. Allow students to struggle with this task. Students may not know how to use the grids to
solve the problem. Encourage students to use the grids in a way that makes sense to them.
Possible solutions for 3 x 1.4:
Solution 1
3x1
3 x .4
Solution 2
3x1
3 x .4
8. Invite a few pairs or groups to share their solution with the class. Challenge the students to
defend their reasoning. Why does the method you used work?
9. As students share their solutions, ask students make connections between the different
strategies. How are these strategies alike? How are they different? Do they all make sense?
10. Now have students make connections across problems. Could each of these solutions work
for all three problems?
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FIFTH GRADE
11. To close the lesson write the following journal prompt on the board. Before students write in
their journal, ask them to briefly talk with a partner about the two strategies they plan to describe.
Describe two strategies you can use when multiplying a whole number by a decimal.
Questions to Pose:
As students work together:
What did you think about first?
Why did you decide to..?
What could you do it you did not have enough grids?
During class discussion:
What connections do you see with ways you multiply whole numbers?
How did estimating help your thinking?
Which strategy worked best for you? Why was this one the best?
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Suggestions
Students make unreasonable
Students should use various representations to model
estimates
decimals. They should make generalizations about their
magnitude. For example, I can tell that seven tenths is
more than one half.
Students can practice estimating decimal sums and
differences since addition and subtraction are more familiar.
Students have difficulty
Practice building decimals with base ten blocks and
modeling decimals on a grid
transferring these representations to a grid. Use number
Relating decimals as parts
lines to explore the magnitude of decimals and how they
of a whole
connect to whole numbers.
Connect these models with numerical representations
of decimals.
Special Notes:
This lesson should be used first in a study of multiplication with decimals.
Follow-up lessons should consider multiplying a decimal by another decimal.
Solutions for Problems Used in This Lesson:
3 x 1.4 = 4.2
2.5 x 4 = 10
2 x 3.25 = 6.5
Adapted from Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics, Grades 3-5. Van de Walle and Lovin (2006).
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Decimal Grids
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FIFTH GRADE
Window Time
Common Core Standard:
Perform operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with decimals to hundredths.
5.NBT.7 Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths, using concrete models or
drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship
between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the
reasoning used.
Additional/Supporting Standard:
5.NBT.5 Perform operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with decimals to hundredths.
Standards for Mathematical Practice:
1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively
5. Use appropriate tools strategically
6. Attend to precision
Student Outcomes:
I can use my understanding of decimal operations to solve problems
I can use clear notations to show my solution strategies
Materials:
Window Time task sheet (one per student)
Base-ten blocks, decimal grids, and grid paper
Advance Preparation:
Copy the Window Time sheet
Set aside a place in the classroom for base-ten blocks, decimal grids, and grid paper in case
students want to use them
Consider how you will pair students
Students should be able to add and multiply decimals to the hundredths place
Students should be familiar with area and perimeter
Directions:
1. This task provides practice with adding and multiplying decimal numbers:
Your neighbor, Mrs. Jones, has asked for your help with a project. She wants to put a
new window in her living room. Her new window will be 3.4 feet wide and 4.65 feet tall.
Mrs. Jones needs your help figuring out how many feet of framing she should buy for the
window. She also needs to know how many square feet of glass she should purchase.
2. Distribute the task to students. Read the task together and ensure that students understand
the directions.
3. Dismiss students to work on the task in pairs.
4. Provide any materials that might be helpful including blank decimal grids, base-ten blocks,
and grid paper. Encourage the students to use these materials to support their thinking.
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FIFTH GRADE
5. Circulate as students work. Observe student strategies and pose the questions listed below.
6. Allow students to struggle. Resist the urge to step in and help to quickly.
7. When most students have finished the task, lead a class discussion about the following
questions: What mathematics did you use today? How did you decide what to do?
What strategies worked best for you today? Why were they so helpful?
Questions to Pose:
Before:
How could drawing a picture help you solve this problem?
How might you use the base-ten blocks, grid paper, or decimal grids?
During:
Which part of the problem are you working on? How are you approaching this part?
What challenges are you running into? What are you doing to help you with these
challenges?
How did you decide to use.?
After:
What mathematics did you use today?
How did you decide what to do?
What strategies worked best for you today? Why were they so helpful?
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Students have difficulty applying their
knowledge of area and perimeter
Suggestions
Set up an array to reinforce the concepts of area
and perimeter. Relate these to the window
frame and glass. Allow the student to show how
area and perimeter would be found using the
array. Relate this process to the window task.
Students need ample practice using the four
operations with decimals. Use grid paper,
blocks, and other models to make connections
with meaning and procedure.
Special Notes:
If many students are struggling with the task, you may want to ask the students to pause and
share their strategies with the entire class.
This problem can be extended by asking the students to write letters to Mrs. Jones
explaining their reasoning and mathematics.
Students may also wish to find the cost of multiple windows.
Solutions: Amount of framing needed: 16.1 feet
Amount of glass needed: 15.81 square feet
Extra Challenge: Cost of framing and glass: $27.02
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Window Time
Your neighbor, Mrs. Jones, has asked for your help with a project. She wants to put a
new window in her living room. Her new window will be 3.4 feet wide and 4.65 feet
tall. Mrs. Jones needs your help figuring out how many feet of framing she should
buy for the window. She also needs to know how many square feet of glass she
should purchase.
Extra Challenge: Each foot of framing costs $0.50. Window glass costs $1.20 per
square foot. How much will Mrs. Jones pay for her new window?
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21 3
7
16 8
4. Use student work from these problems to facilitate a whole group discussion about the
meaning of division. When we see a problem like 12 4, today we will think about How
many groups of 4 can be found in 12?
5. Tell students that today they will be applying their knowledge of division to fractions. Share
this task: You are going to a birthday party. From the Sweet Tooth Ice Cream Factory, you
order 6 pints of ice cream. If you serve of a pint of ice cream to each guest, how many
guests can be served?
6. Allow students to struggle with this task since dividing with fractions is brand new to them.
Encourage them to use whatever method makes the most sense to them. Circulate as they
work independently and observe how students approach the problem.
7. Now pair students and instruct them to share their strategies. Encourage them to explain the
mathematics they used and the reasoning behind their approaches. Each pair should agree on
one strategy that they want to display for the class.
8. Each pair should create a poster on blank paper, chart paper, or poster board. Their poster
should clearly show a representation of how they solved the problem. For example:
9. When students finish, display the posters and facilitate a discussion about the strategies
students used. Do all the strategies make sense? How are the strategies similar to one
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another? How are they different? How do these representations connect to dividing with
whole numbers?
10. Finally, ask students why we would write this problem as 6 . Students should see that we
are asking How many groups of can be found in 6? Note that: When we divide with
whole numbers, the answer is smaller. However, when we divide a whole number by a
fraction, the answer is larger. How can this be?
Questions to Pose:
Before:
What do we mean when we say divide?
During:
How did you decide on this strategy?
How did you show the 6 pints of ice cream? How did you show fourths?
What answer did you get? How can you tell if your answer makes sense?
After:
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Students attempt to divide by 4 rather than
Suggestions
Refer to the context. Remind students that each
party guest receives of a pint, rather than 4 pints.
Encourage the student to draw a representation
of the problem. Suggest that the student examine
the visual models used in the division problems
with whole numbers.
Relate 6 to the context, How many
portions are found in 6 pints? Refer to the visual
models to show that each whole has 4 portions.
Special Notes:
This is an introductory lesson to be used when students are unfamiliar with division by
fractions. At no time should students use the invert and multiply method or find the
reciprocal. The focus of this lesson should be on exploring the meaning of division by fractions.
Solutions:
Students will use many different strategies to show that 6 = 24.
Adapted from Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics, Grade 3-5. Van de Walle and Lovin (2006).
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FIFTH GRADE
Measurement Mania
Common Core Standard
Convert like measurement units within a given measurement system.
5.MD.1 Convert among different-sized standard measurement units within a given measurement system
(e.g., convert 5 cm to 0.05 m), and use these conversions in solving multi-step, real world problems.
Additional/Supporting Standard:
5.NBT.1, 5.NBT.2 Understand the place value system
Standards for Mathematical Practice:
6. Attend to precision
7. Look for and make use of structure
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning
Student Outcomes:
I can convert measures within the same system
I can explain why my answers make sense
Materials:
One game board, set of cards, and answer sheet for each group of 3 students
One die for each group of 3 students
Items to use as markers for each group of students
Advance Preparation:
Copy the game board and set of cards. Laminating them on cardstock will help the materials
last longer. Cut out each set of 20 cards and store in a baggie.
Copy an answer sheet for each group
Place markers for each group in the baggie of cards
Consider how you will group students
Students should have ample experience exploring the meanings of cm, m, km, g, kg, ml, L,
oz, lb, in, ft, and yd.
Students should be familiar with strategies for converting measures within the same system.
Directions:
This game provides practice for converting measures. There are two options for game play:
Option 1
3 students play the game with one serving as the Answer Person and the other two solving the
problems. The answer person uses the Measurement Mania Answers sheet and acts as
supervisor. The Answer Person does not roll the die or move a marker.
Option 2
3 students play the game. The students take turns being the Answer Person and using the
Answer Person, switching to a new person on each turn.
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FIFTH GRADE
Questions to Pose:
Before:
What strategies can you use for converting measures?
How are cm, m, and km related? How are oz and lb related?
How can you make sure that your answer makes sense?
During:
What strategy did you use to convert the measures?
How can you tell that your answer makes sense?
What error did you make? How can you prevent this error in the future?
After:
What strategies worked especially well for you? Why were they so effective?
What errors did you make frequently? How can you prevent these errors in the future?
How might it help to visualize the unit in your mind?
How might it help to use a benchmark?
How might it help to think about 10s, 100s, and 1000s?
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Students have difficulty remembering how the
units are related to one another.
Suggestions
Use objects and measuring tools to explore the
base units. For instance, on a meter stick how
many centimeters are equivalent to a meter?
Engage the students in activities to establish
benchmarks. What can they use to remember the
size of a gram?
Through classroom tasks, develop a chart to
explore how measures are related. For instance
2 m = 200 cm and 3 m = 300 cm, therefore
meters are 100 times the size of centimeters.
Special Notes:
This game is intended for practice. Students should not practice the procedures for conversion
until they have had ample opportunities to explore measurement units and relationships.
Solutions:
See Measurement Mania Answers
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FIFTH GRADE
Measurement Mania
START
On Your Turn:
1. Draw a card.
2. Solve the problem
3. Check with the Answer Person in your group
4. If you got it correct, roll the dice and move forward
5. If you got it incorrect, you lose your turn
WIN!
NC DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
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#1.
#2.
1 cm = ____ m
1 kg = _____ g
#3.
#4
1 m = _____ cm
1 L = _____ ml
#5
#6
100 cm = ____ m
1 km = ____ m
#7
#8
1000 m = ____ km
1 lb = ____ oz
#9
#10
3 ft = ____ in
9 yd = ____ ft
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#11
#12
4.2 m = ____ cm
3000 ml = ____ L
#13
#14
32 oz = ____ lb
5 cm = ____ m
#15
#16
200 m = ____ km
500 g = ____ kg
#17
#18
45.6 cm = ____ m
36 in = ____ ft
#19
#20
150 ft = ___ yd
3.2 kg = ____ g
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FIFTH GRADE
1 cm = 0.01 m
1 kg = 1000 g
1 m = 100 cm
1 L = 1000 ml
100 cm = 1 m
1 km = 1000 m
1000 m = 1 km
1 lb = 16 oz
3 ft = 36 in
9 yd = 27 ft
4.2 m = 420 cm
3000 ml = 3 L
32 oz = 2 lb
5 cm = 0.05 m
200 m = 0.2 km
500 g = 0.5 kg
45.6 cm = 0.456 m
36 in = 3 ft
150 ft = 30 yd
3.2 kg = 3200 g
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FIFTH GRADE
Filling Boxes
Common Core Standard:
Geometric measurement: understand concepts of volume and relate volume to
multiplication and to addition.
5.MD.3 Recognize volume as an attribute of solid figures and understand concepts of volume
measurement.
A solid figure which can be packed without gaps or overlaps using n unit cubes is said to
have a volume of n cubic units.
Additional/Supporting Standards:
5.MD.4, 5.MD.5 Geometric measurement: understand concepts of volume and relate volume to
multiplication and to addition.
Standards for Mathematical Practice:
1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
4. Model with mathematics
5. Use appropriate tools strategically
6. Attend to precision
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning
Student Outcomes:
I can develop and implement a strategy for determining volume
I can determine the volume of a figure by using only a small number of cubes
I can make observations about the structure of cubic units
Materials:
A variety of small empty boxes such as shoe boxes and tissue boxes (at least one per pair)
Small same-size cubes (enough for each pair to complete only 1-3 layers of a box)
Advance Preparation:
Gather a collection of small boxes such as shoe boxes and tissue boxes. The boxes should be
a variety of sizes.
Gather small cubes. Unifix or Snap Cubes work best. Each pair of student will need enough
cubes to make 1-3 layers in a box, but not enough to fill the whole thing. Test a few boxes to
determine how many cubes they will need.
Consider how you will pair students
Students should understand the concept of volume, but not the formula l x w x h
Students should have some experience creating solid figures with cubes
Directions:
1. Display your collection of boxes. Ask the students to predict which box has the largest
volume. Ask which has the least. Have students justify their reasoning. Think about the
height, width, and length of each box.
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FIFTH GRADE
2. Tell the students that they will be determining each boxs volume by using cubic blocks.
Their task is to figure out how many cubes will fill each box completely. Note that they will
not be given all the cubes that will fit. For instance, they may only have 30 cubes even
though their box can hold 100. They will need to develop a strategy for finding the total
number of cubes that will completely fill their box.
What is the total number of cubes
that will completely fill your box?
3. Give each pair of students one box and a collection of same-size cubes. This is a great
opportunity to ask students why it is important to use same-size cubes.
4. Circulate as students work. Some students will determine how many cubes fit in one layer of
the box and then determine the number of layers. Others may line up the blocks along the
edges and multiply. Still others will try to physically move the blocks so that they fill in the
space. Be sure to ask questions including those listed below.
5. About half way through the work time ask the students to pause. Invite several groups to
share a strategy that did not work for them. Then invite a few pairs to share a strategy that is
working. This discussion will especially support groups that are struggling with the task.
6. When a group has finished working with one box, they should trade boxes with another
group that has finished and start again. Some groups may finish 2 or 3 boxes, while others
will only complete one.
7. When each pair has completed at least one box bring the group back together to discuss their
strategies and observations.
8. Discuss the following questions: What strategies worked best for your group? What strategies did
not work? What made one strategy more effective than another? What problems did you run into?
9. If students do not point out the potential problems of accidentally leaving gaps or
overlapping the blocks, be sure to bring this topic up in discussion.
10. Ask the students how they might get the most precise
measure of volume for each box. Many students will point
out that you could fill the box completely with cubes. Guide
the students to see that the layers of the box can be seen as
arrays. These arrays are repeated with each layer.
If students make the connection to multiplication, guide their thinking by asking What numbers
would you multiply to find the volume? If students do not make the connection to multiplication,
help them see how we can use multiplication or repeated addition to find the precise volume.
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FIFTH GRADE
11. To summarize the lesson, show students one additional box. Ask the students to describe to
a neighbor the steps they would take to find the volume if they only had 20 blocks.
Questions to Pose:
Before:
Predict which box will have the largest volume? Explain your reasoning.
Predict which box will have the smallest volume? Explain your reasoning.
How could you use the cubes to figure out the volume of your box, even though you will not
have enough to fill up the whole box?
During:
What strategy are you using? Is it working well? How can you tell?
What problems are you running into? How could you adjust your strategy so you have fewer
problems?
What will you do next?
How can you tell if you are leaving any gaps? How can you tell if you are overlapping the cubes?
After:
What strategy worked best for you? Why did it work so well?
What problems did you encounter? How did you address them?
How could thinking about layers help you determine a figures volume?
How could multiplication be related to a figures volume?
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Students have difficulty recognizing that a
strategy is problematic. Their strategy may
overlap the cubes, leave gaps, or be incomplete.
Suggestions
Form a cube with 8 blocks. Guide the student to
recognize that the volume of this cube is 8 cubic
units and that there are no gaps or overlaps.
Reinforce the concept that the current task
requires the student to find out how many cubic
units would completely fill the entire box.
Provide paper for students to record the number
of cubes used. Suggest that student make marks
on their box to keep track of their progress.
Special Notes:
The focus of this lesson is to explore concepts of volume and help students discover
volumes connection to multiplication.
Rather than using pre-made boxes, you might have the students create several boxes from
nets. Be sure to use large nets that will accommodate many cubes. You may want to copy
the nets on cardstock so that they stay together as they are manipulated.
Solutions: NA
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FIFTH GRADE
Candy Boxes
Common Core Standard:
Geometric measurement: understand concepts of volume and relate volume to
multiplication and to addition.
5.MD.4 Measure volumes by counting unit cubes, using cubic cm, cubic in, cubic ft, and
improvised units.
Additional/Supporting Standard(s):
5.MD.3, 5.MD.5 Geometric measurement: understand concepts of volume and relate volume to
multiplication and to addition.
Standards for Mathematical Practice:
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively
4. Model with mathematics
5. Use appropriate tools strategically
6. Attend to precision
Student Outcomes:
I can demonstrate the meaning of volume
I can determine the dimensions of a rectangular prism
I can relate the dimensions of a figure to its volume
Materials:
Unifix cubes, connecting cubes, 1 blocks
Yummy Candy Boxes Recording sheet
Advance Preparation:
Gather 36 cubes per student
Copies of recording sheet per student
Consider partnering students for sharing of strategies
Directions:
1. Teacher presents the task to the class:
The Yummy Candy Company makes fudge cut into pieces that are one cubic inch in volume.
That is, each piece is one inch long, one inch wide, and one inch deep. The company wants
to make a package that holds 36 pieces of fudge. Investigate the different dimensions for
three different boxes the company could use to package the fudge.
2. Using 36 cubes each (fudge pieces), students work to create multiple representations of
organizing the cubes into rectangular prisms box. After completing a representation of a
box, students record the dimensions with a visual, words or numbers on the recording sheet.
3. Students continue to build boxes. Once students have built and recorded 3 boxes, they
share work with a partner justifying their thinking.
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4. Teacher facilitates a whole class discussion. Students share box dimensions. Teacher or
student records their representation for class to see. As students share, bring out vocabulary
such as length, width, and height of their box. What do you notice about how the height, width
and length help you with the volume? If students cannot connect to L x W x H, ask follow up
questions such as: How does the length, width, height relate to addition? Multiplication?
5. Students discuss which box the Yummy Candy Company would choose to package their
fudge pieces. There is not one right answer, but students need to justify their thinking.
6. Students record which box they chose and explain their thinking in their journal.
Questions to Pose:
As students work individually or with a partner:
What is the area of the bottom of your box?
If the area of the bottom of your box is 18, how many layers would you have?
If you have a bottom area of 5, what would your box look like?
What would your box look like if you had 50 cubes?
During class discussion:
What do you notice about how the height, width and length help you with the volume?
Which size box would the Yummy Candy Company choose? Explain your thinking.
What is volume?
How does the length, width, height relate to addition? Multiplication?
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Student has difficulty constructing a box
that is a rectangular prism.
Suggestions
Provide multiple examples of boxes for
student to examine then build with cubes.
Make a connection to rows and columns.
Special Notes:
This is an introductory lesson for exploring the meaning of volume. Students need time to
create their own prisms and explore their properties. Students develop their own way of finding
the volume.
Solutions: Multiple solutions
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FIFTH GRADE
Dimensions
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
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Advance Preparation:
Use the interlocking cubes to assemble these rectangular solids. Each solid should be a
different color.
4x3x5
4x3x1
1x3x6
5x1x6
Directions:
Note: This lesson can be done along with the Representing and Finding Volume lesson, which
develops the basic concept of volume measurement as filling a shape with cubic units (5.MD.5a);
but it also develops the idea of volume as additive (5.MD.5c). It helps students to see how adding
one more layer to any dimension makes a difference to the total volume, illustrating the difference
one or more units in each dimension makes. It may also help students make better estimates of
leftover space if the cubes do not exactly fill up the boxes in the Representing and Finding
Volume lesson. This lesson is a whole group lesson. The class discussion is key to students
understanding the concepts you are presenting.
1. Pose this problem to the class: Juanita measured a boxs dimensions to the nearest whole
number and its dimensions were: 4 centimeters long, 3 centimeters wide, and 5 centimeters
high. What was its volume? Show the 4 x 3 x 5 prism you made with the centimeter (or
other) interlocking cubes. (If you have used some other unit cube rather than centimeter
cubes, change the problem to reflect the units you used.) Have students consider the volume
of the prism in pairs, then report their conclusions. They should figure out that the prism has
60 cubes in it, so Juanitas box would have a volume of 60 cubic centimeters. Ask how they
figured it out. Some students will have multiplied 4 x 3, then multiplied 12 by 5. Others may
have used the associative and commutative properties to multiply 5 x 4 first, then multiply
20 by 3. Here is another good opportunity for children to see that in multiplication, the order
of the factors does not change the result.
When all agree that Juanitas box would hold 60 cubic centimeters, ask How much larger
would the volume be if it were one centimeter higher? Have the children make estimates
of how many more cubic centimeters the box would hold. Then show them the original
prism and the 4 x 3 x 1 prism you made (in a different color) and add it to the top of the
4 x 3 x 5 prism.
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4x3x1
(12 cu cm)
4x3x6
(72 cu cm)
4x3x5
(60 cu cm)
Students should see that adding one centimeter to the height of 5 cm, making the height 6
cm, adds another layer of 4 x 3, or 12 cubic centimeters, making the total volume of the new
prism (box) 72 cubic centimeters.
2. Now ask the children to predict how much larger Juanitas box would be if not only the
height were larger by one centimeter, but the length were also larger by one centimeter.
Make sure they understand that a vertical layer as well as the top layer would be added.
After the children have made predictions (and given some explanations of why they are
making the predictions), show them the new 4 x 3 x 6 prism and the 1 x 3 x 6 prism which
will be added to the length dimension of the prism.
1x3x6
(18 cu cm)
4x3x6
(72 cu cm)
5x3x6
(90 cu cm)
3. Next ask for estimates of how much larger Juanitas box would be if all three dimensions
were one centimeter longer. After the students give estimates and explanations for them,
repeat the demonstration, adding the 5 x 1 x 6 prism to the box.
5x4x6
(120 cu cm)
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The discussion following this demonstration should emphasize that adding just one more unit to
each of the three dimensions can make quite a difference in the volume of a box. In this case,
the volume grew from 60 cu cm to 120 cu cm, doubling the original volume. It is also important
to emphasize that increasing a dimension by one unit means adding another layer of cubes to the
volume, which demonstrates the additive nature of volume (5.MD.5c).
4.
Students may make the conjecture that increasing each dimension by one unit would always
double the volume. Provide pairs or groups a set of cubes and ask them to create a rectangular
prism, find its volume, and then add one unit to each dimension as you did in the demonstration.
Suggest that for each extra unit in one dimension, they use a different color for the cubes as you
did in the demonstration. Have them record their results. Make a class chart and follow up with
a class discussion of the results. They will find that adding one unit to each dimension will not
always (or even often) double the total volume. Be sure they make note of any original
dimensions which do result in a doubling of the total volume when each dimension increases by
one unit. Are there patterns that exist between those prisms?
Questions to Pose:
During class discussion:
How do you use multiplication when finding volume?
How do you use addition when finding volume?
Why does changing the measurement of a dimension by only one unit change the total
volume by more than one?
As students work together on #4:
What did you do to get started?
What do you think the volume of your new shape will be after changing each dimension by
one unit?
Which dimension did you decide to change first?
Why did you decide to..?
Extension:
As students work in other lessons to find the volumes of various boxes or spaces (See lesson:
Finding Volume Using a Formula), have them figure out the volume of some of the boxes or
spaces if each dimension were increased by one unit.
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Suggestions
Students see the volume as
Take the interlocking cubes apart if necessary so that
only the cubes they can see
students see the cubes that are inside the shape.
on the surface of the prism
Special Notes:
This lesson may help students make better estimates of leftover space when placing cubes in
boxes whose dimensions are not whole numbers of the unit being used, but do not expect
this one activity to greatly increase their ability to make appropriate estimates.
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Advance Preparation:
Consider how you will pair or group students.
Prepare a list of rectangular prism shapes in the classroom for use in Part 1 (to be measured
in cubic centimeters or cubic inches) and a list of rectangular prism shapes large enough to
be measured in larger units (cu dm, cu ft., cu m, cu yd.) to be used in Part 2
Students should be familiar with processes of multiplication.
Children should be familiar with the processes of measurement, especially length and area,
and the units used for each.
Students should be comfortable explaining their reasoning.
Students should be familiar with estimating.
Directions:
NOTE: This lesson should follow the lesson Representing and Finding Volume (5.MD.5a). The
activities in this lesson should be done over the course of at least 2-3 days.
Part 1
1. Begin by reminding the students of their work filling boxes with centimeter cubes in the
previous lesson (Representing and Finding Volume). Ask them what they discovered
about finding the volume of the boxes: units needed to be cubes in order to fill the space
with no gaps; knowing the number of cubes that match the length of the box, the width of
the box, and the height of the box allowed one to figure out the volume, the volume could be
found by multiplying the length by the width by the height, represented by the formula
V= l x w x h or V = B x h. Have someone share how these two formulas are alike and how
they are different. Students should recognize that in the second formula, the B stands for the
area of the base, found by multiplying the length by the width (1 x w).
2. Show the students the larger box. Tell them that you do not want to fill this box with
centimeter cubes that you may not have enough cubes even if you wanted to take the time to
fill the box. Ask what you need to know about the box in order to find the volume. Someone
should respond that you need to know the length, width, and height of the box, in other words,
the dimensions of the box. Ask them how you could find the dimensions without filling the
box with cubes. Someone should suggest measuring with a ruler. Ask if there is a unit that
might be more appropriate for the size of the box than the centimeter. Hopefully someone will
suggest using inches. (Someone might suggest decimeters. Acknowledge that this would be
appropriate, but in this case the smaller inches will be more precise.) Have a student help you
do the measurements. Record the measurements of the dimensions; e.g. length = 10 inches,
width = 7 inches, height = 5 inches. Have the students suggest the equation to use to find the
volume of this box. They should give you V = 10 x 7 x 5, computed as either 70 x 5 or 10 x 35
or even 50 x 7 (again using the associative property). The volume of this box would be 350
cubic inches. Emphasize the importance of using the correct unit, in this case cubic units for
volume. Measuring volume is measuring a 3-dimensional attribute, so the unit used must have
3 dimensions. Show them the cubic inch you made from the network for cubic inch. (See
attached sheet.) Or if you have commercial blocks that are a cubic inch in size, you may use
them as a model. Students need to see models of the cubic units in order to be able to visualize
the size of the units they are using.
3. Have the students in pairs find the volumes of a variety of boxes and/or rectangular prism
shapes in the classroom in square inches. They may record on the Finding Volume sheet
from the previous lesson or on other paper. Be sure they identify the object measured, record
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the equation and solution, including the unit. Circulate as pairs work to be sure they are
measuring as accurately as possible, measuring the correct dimensions, recording the equation
correctly, and finding accurate solutions to the equations, including the appropriate unit.
4. As closure for this activity, show the students a box that has not been used in any of the
previous activities. Ask the students to write a description of how to find the volume of the
box. They should include the units they are using as well as the process of measuring.
Part 2
1. Begin the class by suggesting to the students that you would like to find the volume of the
classroom (or other room that is a rectangular prism in shape.) Ask if the cubic centimeter or
cubic inch would be sensible units to use. Hopefully someone will suggest that a bigger unit
would be wiser because the number of units for each dimension would be smaller. If no one
suggests this, do so yourself. Remind the students that one edge of a centimeter cube is one
centimeter in length. Ask for suggestions of a cube with a longer edge that would be useful
in finding the volume of the classroom. Suggestions may (and should) include cubic
decimeters, cubic meters, cubic feet, and cubic yards. List these suggestions on the board,
reminding the students that each of these units is a cube whose edges are the given length.
Tell them that before they figure out the volume of the classroom, you would like them to
have a mental picture of the size of each of these units. The students will construct at least
one example of each. Students could work in groups of from 2-4 students, depending on the
unit being created and the materials available. Have these materials available:
For cubic decimeter: centimeter graph paper, scissors, tape
For cubic meter: string, meter stick, tape (masking or painters tape)
For cubic foot: construction paper (at least 12 inches on each side; e.g., 12x18
inches) or other large paper, poster board, or cardboard; rulers, tape
For cubic yard: string, yardstick, tape (masking or painters tape)
Directions:
Cubic decimeter: Students cut square decimeter (10 x 10 centimeter) panels from
the centimeter graph paper and tape them together to make a cube. (The thousands
cube from Base-10 materials is also an example of a cubic decimeter.) Groups
making the cubic decimeter might also make more examples of the cubic inch from
the network.
Cubic foot: Students cut square feet from construction paper (or other appropriate
material) and tape the panels together to form a cube with edges one foot in length.
Cubic meter or Cubic yard: In a corner of the room, have the students measure and
mark with tape a square meter (or square yard) on the floor. Place the meter stick (or
yardstick at the corner of the square opposite the corner of the room. Tape it so it
will stand up. Then run a string from the top of the stick to the wall so that it is
parallel to the floor and the other wall.
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strings
wall
wall
meter stick or yardstick
floor
2. After the students have made the models of the cubic units, bring them back to the original
question of finding the volume of the classroom. Ask them which unit would be the most
sensible. Hopefully someone will suggest either the cubic meter or cubic yard. Have several
students provide an estimate of the volume of the classroom in cubic meters (or cubic yards)
and share how they came up with the estimate. Record these for comparison with the actual
result. Ask what needs to be done in order to find the volume. Have a few students use meter
or yard sticks or tapes to measure the length, width, and height. (It may be necessary to
estimate the height in some cases.) Have students (perhaps in pairs) write and solve the
equation to find the volume of the space; then have a volunteer share his/her equation and
solution. Be sure to have students with different equations share. Discuss whether or not
both/all give the correct solution. Compare the solution with the estimates. Did a particular
strategy (or strategies) seem to help students make estimates closer to the actual volume?
3. Put the children in groups of 3 or 4. Have appropriate measuring tools available. Post the list of
rectangular prism objects they may choose to measure. Tell them they should choose at least
4 of the objects, one each to be measured in the four larger units (cu dm, cu ft., cu m, cu yd.)
For each task, the group should record the name of the object, an estimate of the object in the
chosen unit, the equation used to find the volume, and the volume labeled with the appropriate
unit. When a group has finished one task, they should choose another object which is not being
measured by another group. Try to provide enough time for each group to be able to find at
least one volume in each of the four larger units. **Have each of the four larger unit models
measured in smaller units by at least three groups to aid in the follow-up discussion, e.g., have
the cubic meter measured in cubic decimeters, or the cubic foot measured in cubic inches.
4. When the groups have had enough time to complete the measurements and calculations, call
them together again to discuss results. Ask groups who measured the same objects to
compare the capacities they found. If there are differences, ask why these occurred
(probably because of differing estimates of heights when these were needed or because of
differences in rounding lengths to the nearest unit).
Ask questions related to the suitability of the new units to certain tasks.
For example:
Would you measure a wastebaskets capacity in cubic meters?
(No; all dimensions are less than one meter.)
Would you measure the volume of the room in cubic decimeters?
(Probably not; the numbers that would result would be quite large.)
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Pay special attention to the measurements of the four larger units in smaller units. The
students do not need to memorize these equivalences, but should understand them.
1 cubic meter = 1,000 cubic decimeters (10 x 10 x 10)
1 cubic decimeter = 1,000 cubic centimeters (10 x 10 x 10)
1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet (3 x 3 x 3)
1 cubic foot = 1,728 cubic inches (12 x 12 x 12)
Questions to Pose:
As students work together:
What did you think about first?
Show me how you are using this tool (ruler, measuring tape, etc.).
Why did you decide to use that unit?
How is finding volume different from finding area? How is it the same?
During class discussion:
Does it matter which dimensions you count as the length, the width, and the height? Would
that change your result?
What strategies did you use for estimating the volumes?
Why is choosing an appropriate unit important when measuring an object?
Extension
When the students have had lots of experience measuring actual objects to find the volume in
various cubic units, provide challenging questions such as the following:
1. The Renews-it Recycling Company filled a back room with cubes of compacted metal.
Harold counted 11 cubes along the side wall and 9 cubes along the back wall. He knew that
the workers had put 1188 cubes in the back room and that it was completely full. How many
layers of cubes did the room hold? (length, width, and volume given; need to find height)
2. Jeneens backpack was 18 inches high, 12 inches wide, and 8 inches deep. She needed to
carry her social studies project to school in the backpack. It was packed in a box with a
volume of 1800 cubic inches that was 12 inches wide and 8 inches deep. Would it fit into
her backpack? Why or why not? (find volume of backpack and compare to volume of box)
3. The carpenters toolbox was 5 decimeters by 9 decimeters by 10 decimeters. He needed to
put in it 225 cu dm of nails, 150 cu dm of screws, 50 cu dm of washers of different sizes,
and 75 cu dm of twine. Does he have enough room for these items? Why or why not?
(find volume of toolbox; add other volumes and compare)
Special Notes
Placing cubes in boxes as the students did in the previous activity is actually measuring capacity,
generally used to refer to the amount that a container will hold. Volume typically refers to the
amount of space that an object takes up. Both volume and capacity are terms for measures of the size
of three-dimensional regions. These are not distinctions to be concerned about. The term volume
can also be used to refer to the capacity of a container, and that is how it is used in these lessons.
(See Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics, Grades 3-5. Van de Walle and Lovin (2006).)
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Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions/Problems
Suggestions
Students confuse linear units or
Having models of the different units available may be
units of area with units of volume
helpful. It will be important to focus on the attribute
or leave out the unit altogether
being measured, i.e., for volume the attribute is how
when recording volume
much space an object takes up, so the unit must take up
space. The discussion during these activities should keep
a focus on the units for volume as cubic units. A chart
posted in the classroom outlining the linear, area, and
volume units for each base unit may be helpful.
Be sure that students always record the unit for any
kind of measurement. Emphasize that the number
alone doesnt tell you anything about the size of the
object. You need to know if 3 means 3 cubic
centimeters, 3 miles, 3 gallons, etc. It is meaningless
as a measurement without the unit.
Students have difficulty
If the measures of the dimensions are larger, students
performing the calculations
could use a calculator to find the volume. (The focus
involving multiplication
of these lessons is on finding volume, not on accurate
computation, although this is a perfect opportunity to
use multiplication skills in context.)
You may need to have some mini-lessons for any
students who continue to show difficulty with
accurate multiplication.
Students have difficulty using
By fifth grade, most students should have had
measuring tools appropriately;
experience using rulers and other measurement tools
e.g., not lining up ruler
for length, but some may need a refresher. Troubleshoot
appropriately beginning at zero
with individuals and small groups as they work on the
units; counting hash marks rather
activities. For example, be sure they recognize whether
than spaces, etc.
or not their tool has a leader before the zero mark. Be
sure they understand that one unit on a ruler is the space
between the hash marks, not the first hash mark which
denotes zero units.
Solutions for Problems Used in This Lesson:
Parts 1-2:
Solutions will vary with the objects being used in the activities.
Extension:
1) 12 layers
2) No; Volume of backpack is only 1728 cubic inches, less than the 1800 cubic
inches needed for the box
3) No; Volume of toolbox is 450 cu dm; he needs 225 + 150 + 50 + 75 = 500 cu dm
Activities adapted from Developing Mathematical Processes, Topic 75, Standard Cubic Units, The Wisconsin Research
and Development Center for Cognitive Learning, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 1974. Most recently published by
Delta Education, Nashua, NH. Currently out of print.
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Advance Preparation:
Gather at least 16 different rectangular boxes, each with a base less than 100 square
centimeters in area and opened so that the largest faces are the top and bottom. (The children
could help bring in boxes.) Label a smallish box, like a paper clip box as box A. Label each
other box with different letters.
Except for Box A, put enough centimeter cubes in each box to make a little more than a
layer at the bottom
Copy Finding Volume recording sheet, one for each student or one for each pair
Consider how you will pair students
Students should be familiar with processes of multiplication
Children should be familiar with the processes of measurement, especially length and area,
and the units used for each
Students should be comfortable explaining their reasoning
Directions:
1. Begin the lesson with this story: The Renews-it Recycling Company recycles cans, auto
parts, machine parts, and other metal products. They store the metal in bins in a warehouse
until they have enough to ship to a factory that makes new products from the recycled metal.
But they have run into a problem: They have run out of space in the warehouse before they
are scheduled to ship the metal to the factory. They have no room to build a new warehouse,
so they have decided to compact the metal.
One person suggested that the metal be compacted into brick shapes; another suggested
compacting the metal into balls. Some other shapes were suggested, too. They have to
decide into what shape they should use to compact the metal. Because their space is limited,
no space should be wasted.
Then ask: What shape should they choose? Which shape will fill the space with no gaps?
What do you think? Why?
Hopefully, the students will suggest cubes or rectangular box shapes (like bricks). If this
idea is not forthcoming or some children seem unsure about it, do the following:
Show them Box A and the marbles. Have a child begin to fill the box with the marbles.
If you have a document camera, show this process so the whole class can get a good
view. Ask the class what they are noticing. They should notice that the marbles cant fill
the whole space because of their round shape. Show them the centimeter cubes and ask
if they would fill the space better? They should realize that the cubes can fit together
with no gaps.
Have another child fill the box with centimeter cubes. At this point, the students should
realize that the metal compacted into cubes would be an efficient way to store the
recycled metal without wasted space.
Ask the class how to find out how many cubes were needed to fill the box. Some may
suggest counting them. Ask if they want you to dump the cubes out and count them one at a
time or if there might be a more efficient way. Listen to whatever suggestions are made.
Hopefully someone will suggest that you could find out how many are in one layer and then
count the number of layers. Ask if there is an efficient way to find out how many are in one
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layer. Students should recognize that the cubes are arranged in an array so that they could
multiply the length by the width to find out the number in one layer. Be sure they recognize
this as the area of the base of the box. Ask students if you need to completely fill in the rest
of the layers in order to know how many layers are needed to fill the box. Hopefully
someone will suggest stacking a column of cubes in one corner of the box and counting to
see how many layers will fit. They may have other suggestions. Be sure that stacking cubes
in one corner is one of the suggestions and that students recognize this as the most efficient
strategy when using the actual cubes.
2. Ask the students to suggest an equation to describe the situation. For a box with length of 8
cm, width of 6 cm, and height of 5 cm, they might suggest 8 x 6 x 5 or 48 x 5. Ask students
what these numbers describe. The first example describes the length x the width x the height
in centimeters. The second describes the area of the base (in square centimeters) times the
height in centimeters. Be sure they understand that the 48 is the result of multiplying the
length (8cm) by the width (6cm). Ask what unit is being used to measure the volume of the
box. Be sure that students understand the unit as cubic centimeters, differentiated from
square centimeters or linear centimeters.
3. Tell the children they will use centimeter cubes to find the volumes of various boxes. Show
them the 16 (or more) small boxes. Tell them they will use the cubes inside each to find the
volume, but there are not enough cubes for each to completely fill the box. Tell them to use
a strategy that would not require completely filling the box. Suggest that they look for a way
to use the fewest possible cubes.
NOTE: The centimeter cubes will most likely not fit exactly into each of the boxes. Tell the
students to use as many of the cubes as possible and ignore the extra space for the purposes
of this lesson. Their answers will then be approximate volumes. They can give whole
number answers in this situation, but you may want to have students use about language
as they discuss their solutions; e.g., The volume of this box is about 45 cubic centimeters.
(Measurements are by nature approximations because the units we use to measure can
always be made more precise. Each smaller unit or subdivision of a unit produces a greater
degree of precision, but since there is mathematically no smallest unit, any measurement
will include some error in precision. It is important to develop the idea that all
measurements include some degree of error.)
4. Put the children in pairs and give each pair a copy of the Finding Volume by Finding
Capacity record sheet. Give each pair a box with cubes. They record the letter of the box,
use the cubes to find the volume, either by filling the bottom layer, then stacking cubes in a
corner, OR by filling one row and one column along the bottom and stacking cubes in a
corner to show length, width, and height. They then record the equation that represents how
they found the volume. After students have had time to work with at least 2 boxes, call the
class back together. If any pairs have used the more efficient strategy of filling only one row
and one column of the bottom layer and the stack in the corner, have them share their
strategy with the class. If no one has used that strategy, ask how they could use less cubes
than needed to fill the entire bottom layer. Discuss how knowing one row and one column of
the array that forms the bottom layer is enough to find the number of cubes in the bottom
layer, which also represents the area of the base of the box.
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5. Circulate as students work, asking how they are finding the volumes, what their numbers
mean, and how they came up with the equations. Troubleshoot as needed. Allow time for
each pair to find the volume of at least six boxes if possible.
6. Call the class back together. Have one pair share how they found the volume of one of the boxes.
Focus particularly on the equation they wrote. For example: Say Box E had a length of 9 cm, a
width of 3 cm, and a height of 4 cm. The equation might be 9 x 3 x 4 = 108 cu cm. Ask what these
numbers represent. Students should recognize that they are multiplying the length of the box by the
width of the box by the height of the box. Write this as the formula V = l x w x h. If they wrote the
equation as 27 x 4 = 108, ask where they got the 27 (9 x 3) and what it represents (the area of the
base). Turn the box on its smaller end. Ask what the base is with the box turned in this direction (3
cm x 4 cm). The equation would then be V = 3 x 4 x 9. Ask if this would change the volume (the
solution). Students should recognize that it is the same box with the same dimensions and that the
same number of centimeter cubes would fit, so that changing the order of the dimensions in the
equation does not change the result. (Note that this is an example of the associative property of
multiplication.) Likewise, in this case, the area of the base would be 3 x 4 = 12 cu cm, so we could
say V = 12 x 9 = 108 cu cm. The formula in this case would be V = B x h, or Base x height. Capital
letters are used to designate variables that are the result of another computation, so B in this
formula represents the Area of the Base, found by multiplying the length of the base by the width
of the base. Have this kind of discussion for at least a couple more examples of the students work.
Questions to Pose:
As students work together:
How did you decide to find the number of cubes when you didnt have enough to fill the box?
Do you think the volume of this box will be larger or smaller than the one you just measured
(or compared to one you hold for comparisons)?
During class discussion:
Does it matter which dimensions you count as the length, the width, and the height? Would
that change your result?
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions/Problems Suggestions
Students record solutions
Be sure that students always record the unit for any
without unit labels
kind of measurement. Emphasize that the number
alone doesnt tell you anything about the size of the
object. You need to know if 3 means 3 cubic
centimeters, 3 miles, 3 gallons, etc. It is meaningless
as a measurement without the unit.
Students have difficulty
If the measures of the dimensions are larger, students
performing the calculations
could use a calculator to find the volume. (The focus
involving multiplication
of these lessons is on finding volume, not on accurate
computation, although this is a perfect opportunity to
use multiplication skills in context.)
You may need to have some mini-lessons for any
students who continue to show difficulty with
accurate multiplication.
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Special Notes:
When the children are placing cubes in the boxes in Part 1, they are actually measuring capacity,
which is generally used to refer to the amount that a container will hold. Volume typically refers to
the amount of space that an object takes up. Both volume and capacity are terms for measures of the
size of three-dimensional regions. These are not distinctions to be concerned about. The term
volume can also be used to refer to the capacity of a container, and that is how it is used in these
lessons. (See Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics, Grades 3-5. Van de Walle and Lovin (2006).)
Solutions for Problems Used in This Lesson:
Solutions will vary with the objects being used in the activities.
Adapted from Developing Mathematical Processes, Topic 75, Standard Cubic Units, The Wisconsin Research and
Development Center for Cognitive Learning, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 1974. Most recently published by Delta
Education, Nashua, NH. Currently out of print.
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Equation
Describe your process. Why does this process help you find the volume of the box?
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Volume as Additive
Common Core Standard:
Geometric measurement: Understand concepts of volume and relate volume to
multiplication and to addition.
5. MD.5 Relate volume to the operations of multiplication and addition and solve real world and
mathematical problems involving volume.
5. MD.5c Recognize volume as additive. Find volumes of solid figures composed of two nonoverlapping right rectangular prisms by adding the volumes of the non-overlapping parts, applying
this technique to solve real world problems.
Additional/Supporting Standard:
5. MD.3 Recognize volume as an attribute of solid figures and understand concepts of
volume measurement.
a. A cube with side length 1 unit, called a unit cube, is said to have one cubic unit
of volume, and can be used to measure volume.
b. A solid figure which can be packed without gaps or overlaps using n unit cubes is
said to have a volume of n cubic units.
5. MD.4 Measure volumes by counting unit cubes, using cubic cm, cubic in, cubic ft, and
improvised units.
5. MD.5a Find the volume of a right rectangular prism with whole number side lengths by packing it
with unit cubes, and show that the volume is the same as would be found by multiplying the edge
lengths, equivalently by multiplying the height by the area of the base. Represent threefold wholenumber products as volumes, e.g., to represent the associative property of multiplication.
5. MD.5b Apply the formulas V=l x w x h and V = B x h for rectangular prisms to find volumes of
right rectangular prisms with whole-number edge lengths in the contest of solving real world and
mathematical problems.
Standards for Mathematical Practice:
1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
4. Model with mathematics.
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
7. Look for and make use of structure.
Student Outcomes:
I can use addition and/or multiplication to find volume.
I can describe how to find the volume of a right rectangular prism.
I can use a formula to find the volume of a right rectangular prism.
I can find the volume of a figure made from two right rectangular prisms.
Materials:
Paper or journals for student responses; and/or chart paper for group responses
Measuring tools: rulers, measuring tapes (Be sure both standard and metric unit tools are available)
Boxes of various sizes (not larger than about 1 foot by 1 foot), tape (masking, painters, or packaging)
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Advance Preparation:
Gather boxes - see Materials above. Tape pairs of boxes together to create new figures
composed of two rectangular prisms.
For example:
If possible, make enough for pairs or small groups of children to each have a shape to work
with simultaneously. Label each with a letter, A, B,
Consider how you will pair or group students.
Students should be familiar with processes of multiplication.
Children should be familiar with the processes of measurement, especially length and area,
and the units used for each.
Students should be familiar with the process and formula for finding volume of rectangular prisms.
Students should be comfortable explaining their reasoning.
Directions:
NOTE: This lesson should follow the lessons Representing and Finding Volume (5.MD.5a) and
Finding Volume Using a Formula (5.MD.5b).
1. Ask the students to tell you what they have learned so far about finding the volume of a box
shaped figure (rectangular prism). When appropriate descriptions of the process have been
given, show them one of the figures you made composed of two rectangular prisms. Tell
them that you want them to work with a partner to find the volumes of some of these shapes.
Do not tell them how to do it.
2. Assign partners or small groups and give each pair or group one of the prepared shapes. Tell
them to find a way to figure out the volume of the shape, to record all their work, and to then
explain the process they used. Each child should record their own work and their own
explanation. (Or groups could create a common recording on chart paper. Be sure that
everyone in the group is contributing to the final product.) The pairs or groups could work
with a second figure if there is time.
3. Monitor the pairs/groups as they work, noting different strategies. Most may measure the
two prisms separately, figure the volume of each, and then add the two (which mirrors the
standard 5.MD.5c). Some might visualize the figure with the cut-out part included, find
the volume of the larger figure, then subtract the cut-out part.
Choose 2 or 3 groups to share their process and solution. If
more than one group finds the volume of the same figure and
does it in different ways or finds different solutions, be sure to
include those in the discussion. If mistakes are made, give the
class an opportunity to discover what the mistake is, how it was made and how it can be
corrected - in the safe environment of a learning community where all students (and the
teacher) are learning together.
FIFTH GRADE
4. If students have not completed the explanations of their work, allow time for them to finish.
If students worked as a group, have each student work individually to respond to the prompt:
What strategies did you use to find the volume of your shape? Describe your process.
Questions to Pose:
As students work together:
What did you think about first?
What unit of measurement makes sense for you to use with this shape?
Why did you decide to..?
Make an estimate of the volume of your shape. Was your estimate a reasonable one
compared to the actual volume?
During class discussion:
What strategies did you use to find the volume of your shape?
How did our previous work with volume help you find the volume of your shape?
How did you decide which unit of measurement to use?
Extension:
Have the students suggest spaces in the school building that are made up of two (or more) rectangular
prisms. Perhaps your classroom is not a single rectangular prism. An L-shaped hallway would be
another example. Have the class discuss how they might find the volume of one or more of these spaces,
including appropriate units of measure to use. You might have pairs or groups find the volume of some
of these spaces. Have them make estimates first. Record these to compare to the results. Be sure to have
the pairs/groups record their work including an explanation of their process and their result.
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Suggestions
Students have trouble seeing
Ask the students if they see any part of the shape is like the
that their shape is made of
boxes whose volumes they have been finding in previous
two rectangular prisms whose
classes. Hopefully they will see that the new shape is
volume they already know
composed of two of these box shapes. Then ask, How can
how to find
you use that information to find the volume of this new
shape? Continue to ask such questions until they see that
they can find the separate volumes of the two parts of the
new shape and add them to find the total volume.
Students do not record the
Ask students what they are measuring when they are
unit for volume or record an
finding volume. They should answer that they are
incorrect unit, e.g., square
finding the amount of 3-D space the shape takes up. Ask
inches or inches rather than
them if the square unit or linear unit measures 3-D
cubic inches
space. They should recognize that they need a unit that
is also 3-dimensional.
Be sure that students always record the unit for any kind
of measurement. Emphasize that the number alone
doesnt tell you anything about the size of the object.
You need to know if 3 means 3 cubic centimeters, 3
miles, 3 gallons, etc. The number alone is meaningless
as a measurement without the unit.
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Special Notes:
This lesson should follow previous work with understanding the concept of volume and
discovering the formula for volume.
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FIFTH GRADE
Growing Sumandas
Common Core Standard:
Graph points on the coordinate plane to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
5.G.2 Represent real world and mathematical problems by graphing points in the first quadrant
of the coordinate plane, and interpret coordinate values of points in the context of the situation.
Additional/Supporting Standards:
5.G.1 Graph points on the coordinate plane to solve real-world and mathematical problems
5.OA.3 Analyze patterns and relationships
Standards for Mathematical Practice:
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively
4. Model with mathematics
5. Use appropriate tools strategically
7. Look for and make use of structure
Student Outcomes:
I can model and extend a pattern
I can represent a pattern using models, drawings, words, tables, and graphs
I can make connections between a pattern and a graph
Materials:
Pattern blocks (at least 15 squares and 5 triangles per student or pair of students)
Growing Sumandas sheet (1 for each student)
Advance Preparation:
Gather pattern blocks
Copy the Growing Sumandas sheet
Consider whether students will work in pairs or as a class for this task
If students are working in pairs, they should have some experience with patterns, including
working with tables
If students are working pairs they should have experience using a table to plot points on
a coordinate grid.
Directions:
1. Distribute pattern blocks.
2. Present the following scenario to the students:
During your scientific exploration to a newly discovered rainforest you encounter a new
creature called a sumanda.
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FIFTH GRADE
3. Invite students to build the sumanda with their blocks. Tell them that this is the sumanda
at 1 year old.
4. Tell students that they will observe the sumandas growth. Demonstrate and have students
build years 2, 3, and 4 beneath year one:
2 years old
3 years old
4 years old
5. Use the Growing Sumandas sheet to guide your instruction. Ask students to complete one
section at a time, then elicit student answers and model the component. However: If students
have experience with this process, have them work in pairs with much less teacher guidance.
6. To close, extend student thinking by asking the questions below.
Questions to Pose:
As students work in pairs:
How did you decide to draw your table? How does your table relate to the blocks?
What surprised you about the graph? Why was it surprising?
What challenges are you running into? What are you doing to help you face them?
After:
What do you notice about the shape of the graph? Why does this shape make sense?
How does the graph help you describe the sumandas growth?
How can the graph help you predict the sumandas future growth?
What does this point on the graph tell you about the sumanda?
Possible Misconceptions/Suggestions:
Possible Misconceptions
Students have difficulty placing the attribute on
the axis (number of years on the x-axis and
number of blocks on the y-axis).
Suggestions
Have the students examine a collection of simple
line graphs. Ask them to draw conclusions about
the type of data listed on each axis. Note that the
x-axis shows the data you are changing. The yaxis should show the data being measured.
Special Notes:
A follow up task should follow this process with 2 patterns. The patterns should be graphed on
the same coordinate grid and analyzed (5.OA.3).
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Solutions:
Extend the Pattern:
5 years old
6 years old
Words: Student words will vary. One example is - Each year, the sumanda grows one square on
each side.
Table: Function tables may be set up horizontally or vertically. One example is
Years old (n)
1
2
3
4
5
Number of
4
6
8
10
12
blocks
Number of blocks at the 10th stage: 22
Pattern Rule: Student answers may vary. Some examples are
There are twice as many squares as the age of the sumanda. There are always 2 triangles.
Add 2 blocks to the previous year
Multiply the age by 2 then add 2 more
Number of blocks = 2 n + 2
Number of blocks = (2 x n) + 2
Coordinate points: (1,4) (2,6) (3,8) (4,10) (5,12) (6,14)
Adapted from Partners for Mathematics Learning, 2008
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6
14
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Plot the coordinate points on the graph below. Should these points be connected to
form a line graph? How do you know?
Title ______________________________
______________________________
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