Math Curriculum

Grade 5

Mathematics in grade 5 continues the Investigations in Number, Data, and Space curriculum which began in kindergarten. There are four units which all 5th grade students in our district must complete, Mathematical Thinking (Introduction Landmarks in the Number System), Picturing Polygons (2-D Geometry), Building on Numbers You Know (Computation and Estimation Strategies), and Name that Portion (Fractions, Percents, and Decimals). Students also may complete one or more of the following units: Containers and Cubes (3-D Geometry), Patterns of Change (Tables and Graphs), and Between Never and Always (Probability).
In addition, extensive practice and instruction is given to addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and percents. Previously learned skills are reviewed, and new skills are introduced.
The overview of each of the Investigations units are as follows:

Mathematical Thinking--Using an understanding of factors and multiples
of 100,1000, and 10,000, students develop strategies for solving
problems for which there is no single procedure and begin
forming conjectures about mathematical ideas based on
evidence that they gather themselves.

Picturing Polygons-- Students analyze the properties of various
polygons.

Building on Numbers You Know--Students explore a wide range of
strategies for computation and estimation, especially with
multiplication and division.

Name That Portion--Students use a variety of models as they find
fraction, percent, and decimal equivalencies and solve
computation problems that involve amounts less than 1.

Containers and Cubes--Students explore the concept of volume of
rectangular prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones.

Patterns of Change--Students experiment with forms of geometric growth
that express number patterns.

Between Never and Always--Students investigate probability of various
events occurring.

This program of study follows our district’s math curriculum and is aligned with Vermont’s Grade Level Expectations for mathematics.

Math Curriculum