5th Grade · Measurement & Data
5.MD.C.4: Find the volume of a shape by counting cubes
5.MD.C.4 is a 5th grade Common Core math standard in Measurement & Data. Here’s what it really covers, and how you can help your students learn it.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
The standard
Measure volumes by counting unit cubes, using cubic cm, cubic in, cubic ft, and improvised units.
In plain words
Find the volume of a shape by counting cubes.
Sample questions from student practice
These questions from Bobby's Math Club are the kinds of questions your students will see. You can try answering them to see what a student might see.
Question 1 of 3
Nia builds a wall for her play fort from foam cubes that are 1 foot on each side. The wall is one cube thick. What is the volume of the wall?
- 23 cubic feet
- 15 cubic feet
- 9 cubic feet
Where students can get stuck
- Counting only the cubes they can see, so a 3 by 4 by 2 stack is counted as 20 or fewer, not 24.
- Writing square inches instead of cubic inches, mixing up the unit for flat surfaces with the unit for solid space.
- Counting each outside face separately and adding, so corner and edge cubes get counted two or three times.
Effective teaching strategies
- Have students build a 3 by 4 by 2 prism from cubes, count the cubes in one layer, and then count the layers to find 24 cubes in all.
- Ask students to say whether they are counting squares on a flat surface or cubes in a solid, and write cubic inches or square inches to match.
- Color each layer of a prism drawing a different color with students, so every cube, including the hidden ones, is counted once.
Units that teach this standard
Find where 5.MD.C.4 lands in the program you teach. Each unit has a guide written for families. Unit names and order vary between editions and districts, so your school’s own materials have the exact sequence.
Bridges in Mathematics
enVision Mathematics
Eureka Math²
Everyday Mathematics
i-Ready Classroom Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics
Math Expressions
Reveal Math
Don’t see your curriculum? Contact Bobby and we’ll see if we can help!
Share it with families
Families can read Finding volume by counting cubes for a plain-language look at this skill, with three questions to try together and ideas for helping at home.
Help every student practice measurement and data at home
In Bobby's Math Club, students practice 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 for every family.
See how it works for teachers
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.