Math lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 45 minutes
Volume of cuboids (rectangular prisms)
Geometry
CCSS 5.MD.C.3CCSS 5.MD.C.4CCSS 5.MD.C.5England: Y5 MeasurementEngland: Y6 Measurement
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Volume of cuboids (rectangular prisms).
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Area of rectangles; Multiply by a one-digit number
Leads to: Convert area and volume units; Surface area using nets; Volume of prisms
Materials: Rulers and protractors, Squared or dotted paper, Shape cut-outs, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Area of rectangles; Multiply by a one-digit number). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 17 × 4 = ? → 68Prompt: Split 17 into tens and ones: 10 + 7.
- 35 × 3 = ? → 105Prompt: Split 35 into tens and ones: 30 + 5.
- 95 × 6 = ? → 570Prompt: Split 95 into tens and ones: 90 + 5.
Hook · 5 min
- Show a photo of a building, a tile pattern or a road sign and ask what shapes and angles students can spot.
- Share the objective: Volume of cuboids (rectangular prisms). Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: A box is 6 ft long, 5 ft wide and 3 ft high. What is its volume, in ft³?
- Step 1: 6 × 5 = 30
- Step 2: 30 × 3 = 90 ft³
- Answer: 90
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- A box is 9 ft long, 6 ft wide and 8 ft high. What is its volume, in ft³? → 432Prompt: Volume = length × width × height.
- A fish tank has a volume of 50 cubic units and a base of 5 by 5 units. How many units high is it? → 2Prompt: Volume = base area × height.
You do: independent practice · 10 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- A fish tank has a volume of 60 cubic units and a base of 5 by 2 units. How many units high is it? → 6Prompt: Volume = base area × height.
- A box is 2 ft long, 3 ft wide and 6 ft high. What is its volume, in ft³? → 36Prompt: Volume = length × width × height.
Watch out for
- Thinking a square turned on its corner is no longer a square.
- Reading the wrong scale on a protractor.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Area of rectangles.
- Use concrete materials: rulers and protractors.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Convert area and volume units; Surface area using nets; Volume of prisms.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-5.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder