Volume of a Rectangular Prism – 5th Grade Math Activities

Your 5th-grade students probably have experience finding the perimeter and area of 2D figures and are now ready for a different challenge. When working with 3D shapes, students will be asked to figure out how much space is taken up inside the shape. The concept, known as finding volume, is typically introduced with different rectangular prisms. 

Teach Starter has created an interactive activity with 8 different levels for students to practice vocabulary matching, classifying statements as true and false, comparing volumes, and much more!

Through this activity, students will apply the formula V = l × w × h for rectangular prisms to find volumes of right rectangular prisms with whole-number edge lengths in the context of solving real-world and mathematical problems.

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this resource to support your lessons on volume.

In addition to individual student work time, use this activity to enhance learning through guided math groups, whole class lessons, or remote learning assignments. 

If you have a mixture of above and below-level learners, we have a few suggestions for keeping students on track with these concepts: 

🆘 Support Struggling Students

For students who need additional support, allow the use of a calculator. Provide students with notes and completed examples. Additionally, numbers can be modified, or the number of slides can be reduced. Students can also work in a small group, one-on-one, or with a peer tutor.

➕ Challenge Fast Finishers

This resource has extensions built in as students progress through the challenges up to level 8 if they are successful with previous levels. If successful with all 8 levels, challenge students to build rectangular prisms of various sizes using index cards and tape, measure and calculate the volume of prisms in the classroom, or create a tutorial video about volume.

🧑‍🏫 Group Learning

Project the slides onto a screen and work through them as a class by having students record their answers in their notebooks or mini whiteboards. 

Looking for more activities to help your students with volume? Check out some of our other digital and printable volume resources!

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the Download button to access this resource’s interactive Google Slides version.An answer key is also provided for easy grading! 

Assign this interactive activity in Google Classroom. Please be sure to open in Edit mode, not presentation mode. Students will drag and drop, extend lines, type in responses, etc., to complete the activities.

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This resource was created by Lorin Davies, a teacher in Texas and a Teach Starter Collaborator.

While you’re here, check out more activities and teaching resources that fill your lesson plans and students’ brains: