5th Grade Math

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a teacher's guide

Teaching 5th Grade Math

5th grade is where fractions and decimals really take off. Students multiply and divide multi-digit numbers, add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators, work with powers of 10 and find volume. Here's how I break the year into units, the standards each one covers, what helps students most, and the resources I use to teach it.

Mrs. Williams · math teacher for 20+ years, middle and high school · TpT Top Seller

The five 5th grade domains

5.OAOperations & Algebraic Thinking
5.NBTNumber & Operations in Base Ten
5.NFNumber & Operations – Fractions
5.MDMeasurement & Data
5.GGeometry
use these all year

Full-year resources

Browse all 5th grade resources on TpT →
5th grade spiral review page with one question from each domain. Opens a printable sample. Click to print a free sample

5th Grade Spiral Review

Daily or weekly warm-ups with 20 weeks of review on every 5th grade standard, so every skill stays fresh all year. 100% editable.

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Converting customary measures word problem graphic organizer. Opens a printable sample. Click to print a free sample

5th Grade Problem-Solving Graphic Organizers Bundle

Real-world word problems with a graphic organizer built in, so students read, solve, justify and explain every answer.

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5.NF.1 standards-based assessment page. Opens a printable sample. Click to print a free sample

5th Grade Standards-Based Assessments

A short assessment for every 5th grade standard, with a class tracking sheet, so you know exactly who needs reteaching.

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Spring math packet Operations and Algebraic Thinking page. Opens a printable sample. Click to print a free sample

5th Grade No-Prep Math Packets

Review packets for every standard, ready for winter break, February, spring testing and summer.

Multiply decimals maze page. Opens a printable sample.
Self-checking practice

5th Grade Mazes, Riddles & Coloring Pages Bundle

A maze, riddle and coloring page for every 5th grade skill. Students know right away if they're on track, which makes these perfect for review days, early finishers and sub plans.

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unit by unit

The 5th grade year

Unit 15.OA.A.1 – 5.OA.A.2

Numerical Expressions

  • Use parentheses, brackets and braces in numerical expressions
  • Evaluate expressions using the order of operations
  • Write simple expressions from words, like "add 8 and 7, then multiply by 2"
  • Interpret expressions without solving them, like seeing that 3 × (18 + 9) is three times as large as 18 + 9
Key vocabulary:numerical expressionparenthesesbracketsbracesorder of operationsevaluate
teaching tip

Have students read an expression out loud as a sentence before they solve it. "Three times the sum of eighteen and nine" makes the grouping obvious, and they stop working straight left to right.

how I use it
  1. Introduce writing expressions from words with the Write Numerical Expressions maze.
  2. Practice evaluating with the Evaluate Numerical Expressions maze, riddle and coloring page.
  3. Apply to word problems with the problem-solving graphic organizers.
  4. Check with the Numerical Expressions Error Analysis.

Watch for: Working left to right and ignoring the grouping symbols, or adding before multiplying.

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Numerical expressions maze page. Opens a printable sample.
Peek inside: Numerical Expressions MazeClick to print a free sample
Unit 25.NBT.A.1 – 5.NBT.A.4

Place Value & Powers of 10

  • Understand that each place is 10 times the place to its right
  • Use whole-number exponents to write powers of 10
  • Multiply and divide whole numbers and decimals by powers of 10
  • Read, write, compare and round decimals to the thousandths
Key vocabulary:place valuepower of 10exponentbasethousandthsexpanded form
teaching tip

Use a place-value chart where the decimal point stays put and the digits slide. Multiplying by 10 moves every digit one place to the left, which is why "just add a zero" stops working with decimals.

how I use it
  1. Introduce exponents with the Exponents & Powers of 10 maze, riddle and coloring page.
  2. Practice multiplying whole numbers by powers of 10 with the maze.
  3. Extend the pattern to decimals with the Multiply a Decimal by a Power of 10 maze.
  4. Check with the 5.NBT standards-based assessments.

Watch for: "Adding a zero" to a decimal, like writing 3.4 × 10 = 3.40 instead of 34.

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Evaluate powers of ten maze page. Opens a printable sample.
Peek inside: Exponents & Powers of 10 MazeClick to print a free sample
Unit 35.NBT.B.5 – 5.NBT.B.6

Multiply & Divide Whole Numbers

  • Multiply multi-digit whole numbers with the standard algorithm
  • Divide four-digit dividends by two-digit divisors
  • Use area models and place value to explain the steps
  • Estimate to check answers and interpret remainders in word problems
Key vocabulary:factorproductdividenddivisorquotientremainder
teaching tip

Have students estimate with friendly numbers before they compute. If 4,872 ÷ 24 comes out to 23, the estimate of 5,000 ÷ 25 = 200 tells them right away to look for the missing zero.

how I use it
  1. Introduce multiplying by 2-digit numbers with the problem-solving graphic organizers.
  2. Practice with the Multiply by 2-Digit Numbers maze, riddle and coloring page.
  3. Apply division to word problems with the Divide by 2-Digit Divisors graphic organizers.
  4. Review with the Divide by 2-Digit Divisors maze.

Watch for: Forgetting the placeholder zero in the second row when multiplying by a 2-digit number.

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Multiply by 2-digit numbers word problem graphic organizer. Opens a printable sample.
Peek inside: Multiply by 2-Digit Numbers Graphic OrganizersClick to print a free sample
Unit 45.NBT.B.7

Decimal Operations

  • Add and subtract decimals to the hundredths
  • Multiply decimals and place the decimal point correctly
  • Divide decimals by whole numbers and by decimals
  • Solve real-world money and measurement problems
Key vocabulary:decimal pointtenthshundredthsestimateproductquotient
teaching tip

Estimate first to place the decimal point. 2.4 × 3.1 is about 2 × 3 = 6, so 7.44 makes sense and 74.4 does not. Graph paper helps students line up decimal points when adding.

how I use it
  1. Practice adding and subtracting with the Add & Subtract Decimals maze, riddle and coloring page.
  2. Apply to word problems with the Add & Subtract Decimals graphic organizers.
  3. Extend to multiplying and dividing with the Multiply & Divide Decimals graphic organizers.
  4. Check with the Multiply & Divide Decimals Error Analysis.

Watch for: Lining up the last digits instead of the decimal points, like adding 4.5 + 2.37 as if both had two decimal places.

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Decimal operations error analysis page. Opens a printable sample.
Peek inside: Decimal Operations Error AnalysisClick to print a free sample
Unit 55.NF.A.1 – 5.NF.A.2

Add & Subtract Fractions

  • Find common denominators using equivalent fractions
  • Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators
  • Add and subtract mixed numbers
  • Use benchmark fractions to check if an answer is reasonable
Key vocabulary:common denominatorequivalent fractionsleast common multiplemixed numberimproper fractionbenchmark fraction
teaching tip

Before solving, ask "Is the answer more or less than 1?" Students who think 1/2 + 1/3 = 2/5 quickly see that 2/5 is less than 1/2, so it can't be right.

how I use it
  1. Introduce unlike denominators with the problem-solving graphic organizers.
  2. Practice with the Add & Subtract Fractions maze, riddle and coloring page.
  3. Extend to mixed numbers with the Add Mixed Numbers maze.
  4. Check with the Add & Subtract Fractions Error Analysis.

Watch for: Adding the numerators and the denominators, like writing 1/2 + 1/3 = 2/5.

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Add and subtract fractions word problem graphic organizer. Opens a printable sample.
Peek inside: Add & Subtract Fractions Graphic OrganizersClick to print a free sample
Unit 65.NF.B.3 – 5.NF.B.7

Multiply & Divide Fractions

  • Interpret a fraction as division, like 3/4 = 3 ÷ 4
  • Multiply fractions and whole numbers, and fractions by fractions
  • Find the area of rectangles with fractional side lengths
  • Divide unit fractions by whole numbers and whole numbers by unit fractions
Key vocabulary:unit fractionproductquotientscalingarea modelmixed number
teaching tip

Ask "How many 1/4s fit in 3?" and let students draw it before you show any rule. When they see 12 pieces, dividing by a unit fraction finally makes sense.

how I use it
  1. Introduce multiplying fractions with the problem-solving graphic organizers.
  2. Practice with task cards posted around the room.
  3. Review with the Multiply & Divide Fractions maze, riddle and coloring page.
  4. Check with the Error Analysis.

Watch for: Expecting multiplication to always make a number bigger. 1/2 × 8 = 4, which is smaller than 8.

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Multiply a fraction by a fraction practice worksheet. Opens a printable sample.
Peek inside: Multiply & Divide Fractions Practice WorksheetsClick to print a free sample
Unit 75.MD.A.1

Convert Units & Elapsed Time

  • Convert customary units of length, weight and capacity
  • Convert metric units using powers of 10
  • Solve multi-step word problems with conversions
  • Find elapsed time and start or end times
Key vocabulary:customarymetricconversioncapacityelapsed timeunit
teaching tip

Remind students: going to a smaller unit means you need more of them, so multiply. 3 feet becomes 36 inches, not 1. A metric "staircase" anchor chart makes the powers of 10 visual.

how I use it
  1. Introduce customary conversions with the problem-solving graphic organizers.
  2. Practice with the Convert Customary Units task cards.
  3. Extend to metric units with the Convert Metric Units maze, riddle and coloring page.
  4. Apply time with the Elapsed Time maze.

Watch for: Dividing when converting to a smaller unit, like writing 3 feet = 1 inch instead of 36 inches.

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Find the end time elapsed time maze page. Opens a printable sample.
Peek inside: Elapsed Time MazeClick to print a free sample
Unit 85.MD.C.3 – 5.MD.C.5

Volume

  • Understand volume as the number of unit cubes that fill a shape
  • Find volume with V = l × w × h and V = B × h
  • Find the volume of composite figures by adding volumes
  • Solve real-world volume problems
Key vocabulary:volumeunit cubecubic unitbaserectangular prismcomposite figure
teaching tip

Let students build prisms with linking cubes and count one layer, then the number of layers. They discover V = B × h on their own.

how I use it
  1. Introduce volume with the problem-solving graphic organizers.
  2. Practice with the Volume of Rectangular Prisms maze, riddle and coloring page.
  3. Check understanding with the Volume Error Analysis.
  4. Assess with the 5.MD standards-based assessments.

Watch for: Labeling volume in square units instead of cubic units.

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Volume of rectangular prisms error analysis page. Opens a printable sample.
Peek inside: Volume of Rectangular Prisms Error AnalysisClick to print a free sample

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