Math Projects for the 5th Grade

Fifth graders love to work together on projects and many love math.

By the end of fifth grade, students will be able to use the four basic arithmetic operations, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, as well as fractions, decimals, percents and negative numbers. Students should be able to use standard measurements to find length, area and the volume of simple geometric shapes. They'll also master graphs, charts and tables, working with student-generated data. Teachers have many opportunities to create projects that engage them in math concepts.

Graphs

Unite math with social studies with a double-bar graph.

Bar graphs unite social studies and math in this double-bar graph activity. Send students home with a map of the U.S. as homework. Have them ask their parents to mark the states they've visited with an 'X,' and have the students mark the states they've visited with a check. The next day, take inventory of the states visited by both parents and students, producing a tally sheet of parent- and student-visited states.

Hang an eight by four piece of butcher paper on the wall. Draw the x-axis to list the 50 states, and the y-axis for the scale, which will represent the number of people who've visited that state. Divide the states between the students; in a class of 25, each student will have two states. Students will write the names of their states on small pieces of paper and glue them on the graph. Have prepared strips of paper that are the same length as one scale interval on the y-axis, so the students can then glue one strip of paper for every parent who's visited their states.

The students repeat the procedure on the same graph, with a different colored strip, to represent the students who've visited each state. Give the graph a title and key, and check for accuracy. Discuss the effectiveness of the double-bar graph, the 100 and zero percentage states, and the states where many more parents have visited than students.

Data Landmarks

Jump for math data in fifth grade.

Mean, median, mode and range are all important data landmarks for fifth grade students that you can teach by combining math and physical fitness. Students will find the landmarks through a long-jump challenge. Outside, mark the starting line with a piece of tape. If the weather's bad, clear the desks and complete the activity inside. Each student jumps from a standing position. A classmate marks the spot where the back of his foot landed, measures to the nearest one-half centimeter, and records the data on a teacher-generated collection table.

Project the data on the document camera, and ask students to find its mean, median, mode and range. To provide more competition, give the students whose jump lengths represent the closest to the designated landmarks a prize, "Meanest Jumper in Fifth Grade, " or "Most Like the Mode Winner."

Area and Dream Bedroom

Designing a dream bedroom makes math fun.

Give students a piece of grid paper. Instruct them to build a dream bedroom with an area of 144 square feet, with each grid on the grid paper representing one-half foot. They're to include color scheme, at least three pieces of furniture, and at least one door and window. Prepare furniture cutouts from colored paper that are scaled correctly for this bedroom. The students will accomplish area and a simple scale conversion while dreaming big.

Budget

Students plan a party budget and learn math, too.

To get students to understand how to add decimals and gain consumer awareness, have them make a budget for a swimming birthday party. They need to include food, decorations and party favors for 10 people. Gather party supply books and grocery store advertisements prior to the activity. In groups of three, the students decide what they want to include in their party. They find the prices in the advertisements or look them up on a computer with Internet access. Students will then list all the prices and add them up to make sure they're within their budget, determining how much under or over they are.

References

• California Department of Education: Mathematics Content Standards for California Public Schools Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve; June, 2009
• Delta State University: Math-Bar Graph; Shekia Meon Ewing
• School of Bob: Mean, Median, Mode, Range, And Whisker Plot; Ray Weier, December, 2005
• Learn NC: Interior design: Designing My Dream Room; Paula Hightower
• Kid-Party-Ideas: Party budget Planning Printable