Everyday Mathematics Grade 5, Unit 1: Area and Volume
In this unit, your child starts fifth grade by exploring volume, the amount of space inside a solid. They fill boxes with unit cubes, count them in layers, and discover that length × width × height gives the same answer faster. Area comes back too, as the base of each box. Next, the class turns to place value and whole-number operations.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
What is my child learning in Unit 1?
- Describing volume as the space inside a solid, measured by how many unit cubes fill it with no gaps or overlaps. Learn more: Volume: how much space is inside a solid
- Counting cubes in layers to find volume, and naming the result in cubic units such as cubic centimeters or cubic inches. Learn more: Finding volume by counting cubes
- Multiplying length × width × height, or the area of the base × height, to find the volume of a rectangular prism. Learn more: Finding the volume of a box
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
Hana stacks 12 unit cubes into a tall tower. Then she takes it apart and uses all 12 cubes to build a long, low wall. How does the volume of the wall compare with the volume of the tower?
- They have the same volume
- The tower has more volume
- The wall has more volume
How you can help
- Pack a shoebox or a small gift box with building blocks or dice of the same size. Count the cubes in the bottom layer, then the number of layers, and multiply to check the total together.
- Compare a tall, narrow cereal box with a short, wide one at the store or in the kitchen. Guess which holds more, then talk about how length, width, and height all matter.
- Measure a tissue box or a drawer with a ruler, rounding to whole inches. Multiply length × width × height together to estimate its volume in cubic inches.
Where kids can get stuck
- Counting the squares on one face of a box, which gives an area, instead of the cubes that fill the whole box.
- Counting only the cubes they can see in a drawing, so the hidden cubes in the middle and back get left out.
- Adding length, width, and height instead of multiplying, so a 4 by 3 by 2 box gets 9 instead of 24.
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
- volume
- The amount of space inside a solid shape, measured in cubic units.
- unit cube
- A cube that is 1 unit long, 1 unit wide, and 1 unit tall.
- cubic unit
- The unit for measuring volume: the space one unit cube fills.
- rectangular prism
- A solid shape with six rectangle faces, like a box.
- layer
- One flat level of cubes in a stack.
- base
- The bottom face of a solid; its area times the height gives the volume.
- area
- The number of square units that cover a flat shape.
- formula
- A rule written with letters and symbols, like V = l × w × h.
Ready to build your child’s confidence with area and volume?
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.
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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 Everyday Mathematics Grade 5 Unit 1 cover?
Everyday Mathematics Grade 5 Unit 1 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.