Bridges in Mathematics Grade 5, Unit 6: Graphing Geometry & Volume
In this unit, your child plots points on a coordinate grid, using the first number to go across and the second to go up, and graphs real situations. They also sort shapes into families, seeing why a square is a rectangle, and return to volume with shapes built from two boxes. Next comes a unit mixing decimal division, data, and fractions.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
What is my child learning in Unit 6?
- Finding the volume of a solid made of two boxes by multiplying each box's length × width × height and adding. Learn more: Finding the volume of a box
- Plotting ordered pairs like (6, 3) by starting at the origin, moving 6 across, then 3 up. Learn more: Finding points on a grid, like (6, 3)
- Graphing real data, like a plant's height each week, and explaining what each point means. Learn more: Plotting real-life points on a grid
- Explaining that a square has every property of a rectangle, because every square is a rectangle. Learn more: Why a square is also a rectangle
- Sorting quadrilaterals into a family tree of parallelograms, rectangles, rhombuses, and squares by their sides and angles. Learn more: Sorting four-sided shapes into a family tree
Sample questions to try together
These are real questions from our practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
Pablo knows the area of the bottom of his toy chest. What else does he need to know to find the volume of the chest?
- Nothing more, because the area is the volume
- Its height
- The distance around its bottom
How you can help
- Draw a grid on paper and hide a “treasure” at a point like (4, 7). Give your child clues as ordered pairs, then let them hide one and give you the coordinates.
- Spot shapes on a walk or ride: windows, signs, and tiles. Ask your child to name each one in as many ways as they can, such as square, rectangle, rhombus, and parallelogram.
- Set two boxes side by side in an L shape on the floor. Ask your child to find each box's volume with length × width × height, then add them for the total.
Where kids can get stuck
- Going up first and then across, so the point (6, 3) lands where (3, 6) belongs.
- Insisting a square is not a rectangle because rectangles need two long sides and two short sides.
- Counting the overlap twice when splitting an L-shaped solid into two boxes, so the volume comes out too big.
Practice makes perfect
Bobby's Math Club has practice problems that adapt to your child’s level, each with a detailed explanation and an easy-to-follow video, so your child can build confidence in these skills one step at a time.
Words your child will hear
- coordinate plane
- A grid made by two number lines that cross at 0, used to locate points.
- origin
- The point (0, 0), where the two axes of a grid meet.
- ordered pair
- Two numbers in parentheses, like (3, 5), that name one point on a grid.
- x-coordinate
- The first number in an ordered pair, telling how far across to go.
- y-coordinate
- The second number in an ordered pair, telling how far up to go.
- quadrilateral
- Any flat shape with four straight sides.
- parallelogram
- A four-sided shape with two pairs of parallel sides.
- rhombus
- A four-sided shape with all four sides the same length.
- volume
- How much space a 3-D shape takes up or holds.
Want to help your child master graphing and shapes?
In Bobby's Math Club, your child practices these skills at just the right level, with a hint when they need one, a clear explanation after every question, and kid-friendly videos. Unlimited practice is free.
Join the club
Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
Which math standards does Bridges in Mathematics Grade 5 Unit 6 cover?
Bridges in Mathematics Grade 5 Unit 6 covers these math standards. Each one links to what it means, sample questions, and teaching strategies.
- 5.MD.C.5: Find the volume of a box by multiplying its length, width, and height.
- 5.G.A.1: Find and plot points on a coordinate grid, like (6, 3).
- 5.G.A.2: Graph points on a coordinate grid to solve real-life problems.
- 5.G.B.3: Know that a square has everything a rectangle has, because it is one.
- 5.G.B.4: Sort shapes into families by their sides and angles.
For teachers: Unit names and order vary between editions and districts, so your school’s own materials have the exact sequence. Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow.