Curriculum Principles of Fifth Grade Math

The Common Core State Standards set curriculum principles of fifth-grade math.

The basic curriculum principles of fifth-grade math include a variety of topics, according to The Common Core State Standards Initiative, a multi-state collaborative organization led by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, or NGA Center, and the Council of Chief State School Officers, or CCSSO. Although the fifth-grade curriculum covers six separate mathematical areas, the countrywide principles dictate a focus on three main components: fractions, decimals and volume.

Fractions

The principle focusing on fractions includes teaching students how to use fractions in real-life situations.

Fifth-grade curriculum principles involving fractions include addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Students learn to calculate equations containing fractions with uncommon denominators, both in number and word form. After learning how to determine area and size using fractions, students continue to learn fractions by applying the principles to real-life situations. For example, if a box of cereal contains 10 cups and a serving size is one-half a cup, how many servings will two people sharing the box receive?

Decimals

Students develop place-value skills during the fifth-grade school year.

In addition to fractions, fifth-grade math principles include the decimal system. Students gain an understanding of place value and eventually use the information to add, subtract, multiply and divide to the thousandths place value. This principle also includes comparing decimal numbers using greater-than, less-than and equal-to mathematical symbols, as well as rounding.

Volume

Volume formulas are part of the fifth-grade curriculum.

Although the fifth-grade math curriculum includes several measurement and data concepts, the Common Core Standards note the importance of focusing on volume. Students learn how to measure volume using cubic units such as cubic inches and cubic feet. Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing volume units comprise a portion of the principle. Using the formula for determining volume in real-life situations allows students to gain practical knowledge of the concept. For example, the length of a box multiplied by its width and height determines how much cubic space is inside.

Additional Principles

Basic graph skills make up just one of the additional math principles learned in the fifth grade.

In addition to the main three principles of fifth-grade curriculum, the Common Core Standards offers other concepts for learning. Using parentheses, brackets or braces in problem solving and identifying numerical patterns are two other principles learned in fifth-grade math. This particular school year also covers basic geometry skills such as graphing and understanding coordinates.

Mathematical Practices

Successfully problem-solving demonstrates student understanding of fifth-grade curriculum principles.

The NGA and CCSO offer general mathematical practices alongside the main principles of the fifth-grade math curriculum. These practices include specific skills that fifth-grade students should be able to demonstrate during the school year. For example, the ability to make sense of problems and successfully solve them, and an attention to precision demonstrated in all areas of the math curriculum.

References

• Common Core State Standards Initiative; 2010
• Common Core State Standards Initiative; Number & Operations - Fractions; 2010
• Common Core State Standards Initiative; Number & Operations in Base Ten; 2010
• Common Core State Standards Initiative; Measurement & Data; 2010