Volume of Composite Solids

5th Grade MathMeasurement and Data4 pages

About this worksheet

One 5th grade math worksheet spanning the full Common Core Measurement and Data strand. Unit conversions open it in both systems, from 3.5 gallons to quarts through 450 milliliters to liters, plus a runner covering 8 laps of a 400-meter track. Volume follows: an 8 by 5 by 6 inch storage box, then a composite figure whose two prisms add to 200 cubic centimeters. The last section reads a completed line plot of 10 rain gauges measured in eighths of a cup, totals the water at 2 5/8 cups, and redistributes it equally at 21/80 cup per gauge.

Page 1 of 4

When this preview is focused, use the left and right arrow keys to move between pages.

Curriculum objectives covered

5.MD.1

Convert among different-sized standard measurement units within a given measurement system (e.g., convert 5 cm to 0.05 m), and use these conversions in solving multi-step, real world problems.

Questions 1 to 3 convert within both systems, ending with the multi-step 8 × 400 m = 3,200 m = 3.2 km.

5.MD.2

Make a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions of a unit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8). Use operations on fractions for this grade to solve problems involving information presented in line plots. For example, given different measurements of liquid in identical beakers, find the amount of liquid each beaker would contain if the total amount in all the beakers were redistributed equally.

Questions 6 and 7 use the rain-gauge line plot, including the standard's own redistribute-equally move at 21/80 cup per gauge.

5.MD.3.a

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.

No question here defines or counts single unit cubes; the volume work assumes that idea and goes straight to formulas in questions 4 and 5.

5.MD.3.b

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.

The packing definition is background rather than a question on this sheet; the composite figure in question 5 relies on it implicitly.

5.MD.4

Measure volumes by counting unit cubes, using cubic cm, cubic in, cubic ft, and improvised units.

Cube-counting is not asked directly; volumes in questions 4 and 5 come from labeled dimensions instead.

5.MD.5.a

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 found by multiplying the edge lengths, equivalently by multiplying the height by the area of the base. Represent threefold whole-number products as volumes, e.g., to represent the associative property of multiplication.

Question 4 states the formula Volume = length × width × height and has students apply it to the 8 × 5 × 6 box.

5.MD.5.b

Apply the formulas V = l × w × h and V = b × 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.

Questions 4 and 5 both apply V = l × w × h with whole-number edges, in inches and centimeters.

5.MD.5.c

Recognize volume as additive. Find volumes of solid figures composed of two non-overlapping right rectangular prisms by adding the volumes of the non-overlapping parts, applying this technique to solve real world problems.

Question 5 is the additive-volume question: two non-overlapping prisms of 120 cm³ and 80 cm³ combine to 200 cm³.

What's inside this worksheet

Part 1: Converting Measurement Units

Six quick conversions split across customary (4 feet to inches, 3.5 gallons to quarts, 48 ounces to pounds) and metric (6.2 meters, 450 milliliters, 3,200 grams), then question 3 turns 8 laps of a 400-meter track into 3.2 kilometers.

Part 2: Exploring Volume

Students apply V = l × w × h to an 8 by 5 by 6 inch box for 240 cubic inches, then work a labeled composite figure in three steps: bottom prism 120 cm³, top prism 80 cm³, total 200 cm³.

Part 3: Line Plots and Fractional Data

Ten rain-gauge readings in eighths, quarters and halves of a cup sit above a completed X-mark line plot. Students add the fractions over a denominator of 8 to reach 21/8 = 2 5/8 cups, then divide by 10 gauges for 21/80 cup each.

Answer key

Worked answers include the conversion arithmetic, both prism volumes, and the fraction chain (4 × 1/8) + (3 × 2/8) + (1 × 3/8) + (2 × 4/8).

How teachers use it

Strand review before testing

This is the one sheet to set if you want a read on the whole Measurement and Data strand in a single session. Score each part separately to see which cluster needs a review day.

Composite-volume modeling

Question 5's three labeled steps are a ready-made board example. Work Step 1 yourself, hand Step 2 to a student, and let the class chorus the addition in Step 3.

Fraction connection

Part 3 quietly revisits the fractions unit. If 21/8 stalls your class, the gap is fraction addition rather than data reading, which changes what you reteach.

Get started today

Create your own lesson plans, worksheets, and classroom activities in minutes using our AI-powered tools.

Try Chalkie for free