CCSS.Math.Content.5.MD.C.3a
The standard
A cube with side length 1 unit, called a "unit cube," is said to have "one cubic unit" of volume, and can be used to measure volume.
Common Core State Standards for Mathematics
What this standard means
Students need to understand volume as the amount of space inside a solid figure. They should know that a 1 by 1 by 1 cube is one cubic unit, and that volume can be found by counting how many of these cubes fill a shape with no gaps or overlaps.
Mastery looks like students building or looking at a rectangular prism and explaining its volume in cubic units. They often get stuck by counting visible cubes only, mixing up area and volume, or forgetting to name units as cubic units.
Ways to teach it
- Have students build small rectangular prisms with centimeter cubes, then count and label the total volume in cubic centimeters.
- Ask students to explain why square units measure a flat surface but cubic units measure space inside a solid.
- Show a cube-built prism and ask students to write its volume with the correct cubic unit label on an exit ticket.
- Bring in a cereal box and ask how unit cubes could be used to measure the space inside it.
Plan a lesson for CCSS.Math.Content.5.MD.C.3a
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related standards
- CCSS.Math.Content.5.MD.C.4
Measure volumes by counting unit cubes, using cubic cm, cubic in, cubic ft, and improvised units.
- CCSS.Math.Content.5.MD.C.5a
Find the volume of a right rectangular prism with whole-number side lengths by packing it with unit cubes, and show that the volume is the same as would be foun...
- CCSS.Math.Content.5.MD.C.3b
A solid figure which can be packed without gaps or overlaps using n unit cubes is said to have a volume of n cubic units.
- CCSS.Math.Content.3.MD.C.5a
A square with side length 1 unit, called "a unit square," is said to have "one square unit" of area, and can be used to measure area.