Eureka Math Grade 1, Module 5: Identifying Composing and Partitioning Shapes
In this unit, first graders identify shapes by their attributes, or features, build new shapes from smaller ones, and split circles and rectangles into halves and fourths. Those halves lead into telling time to the hour and half hour, since half an hour is half of the way around a clock. After place value to 40 in the last unit, next they add and subtract to 100.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
What is my child learning in Module 5?
- Telling squares, rectangles, triangles, and other shapes apart by counting their sides and corners, whatever their size or color. Learn more: What makes a triangle a triangle
- Joining flat shapes into new ones and stacking solids like cubes and cones to build bigger figures. Learn more: Building bigger shapes from smaller ones
- Splitting circles and rectangles into halves and fourths and noticing that each of four equal shares is smaller than each of two. Learn more: Halves and quarters of circles and rectangles
- Telling time to the hour and half hour, connecting half past to half of the circle on a clock. Learn more: Telling time to the hour and half hour
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
What must be true for a shape to be a triangle?
- It must have 3 straight sides.
- It must be blue.
- It must be big.
How you can help
- Gather boxes, cans, and balls from around the house and build a tower together. Name the solid shapes as you stack them and ask which ones roll.
- Fold a paper circle in half and then in half again, and ask your child to name the shares. Compare a half and a fourth side by side.
- Point out at the half hour that the minute hand has gone halfway around the clock. Ask your child to read the time aloud.
Where kids can get stuck
- Calling a square turned on its corner a diamond, not a square.
- Cutting a rectangle into four unequal pieces and still calling each one a fourth.
- Reading 6:00 as 12:30 by taking the long hand for the hour hand.
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
- attribute
- A feature of a shape, like how many sides or corners it has.
- vertex
- A corner, where two sides of a shape meet.
- cube
- A solid shape with 6 square faces, like a block.
- cone
- A solid shape with a circle at one end and a point at the other.
- cylinder
- A solid shape with two circle ends, like a can.
- half
- One of two equal parts of a whole.
- fourth
- One of four equal parts of a whole, also called a quarter.
- half past
- Thirty minutes after the hour, like 3:30.
- hour hand
- The short hand on a clock; it shows the hour.
Ready to build your child’s confidence with shapes and time?
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 Eureka Math Grade 1 Module 5 cover?
Eureka Math Grade 1 Module 5 covers these math standards. Each one links to what it means, sample questions, and teaching strategies.
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.