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⏰ 5th grade math · Measure, Time & Money

Volume of a box

A unit cube has a volume of 1 cubic unit. Count the cubes in one layer, then multiply by the number of layers.

Worked example

A box is filled with unit cubes. How many cubes fill the box?
Answer: 24 cubes
Count one layer first: 4 × 3 = 12 cubes. There are 2 layers, so 12 × 2 = 24 cubes. Answer: 24 cubes.

For grown-ups: Volume of a rectangular prism (unit cubes; V = l×w×h). Below: three problems to try with the worked answers, and a free printable sheet. Children can practise the same skill as a game, with no sign-up and no ads.

  • CCSS 5.MD.C.3–5
What this practises, for teachers

Practices volume of a rectangular prism (unit cubes; V = l×w×h) (5.MD.C.3–5). A printable sheet with its answer key, worked answers on the page, no accounts.

▶ Practise it

For your class

🖨️ Printable sheet and key

Try three

  1. A box is filled with unit cubes. How many cubes fill the box?
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: 18 cubes
    Count one layer first: 3 × 3 = 9 cubes. There are 2 layers, so 9 × 2 = 18 cubes. Answer: 18 cubes.
  2. A box is filled with unit cubes in layers. How many cubes are in one layer?
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: 9 cubes
    A layer is 3 cubes long and 3 cubes wide: 3 × 3 = 9 cubes. Answer: 9 cubes.
  3. A box is filled in layers. Each layer has 24 unit cubes and there are 3 layers. How many cubes fill the box?
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: 72 cubes
    3 layers of 24 cubes: 24 × 3 = 72 cubes. (The volume is the area of the base times the height.) Answer: 72 cubes.

Before and after

Learn first: Convert units, more steps (5th)

Comes next: Area of triangles and nets (6th)

Name: ____________________Date: ____________Score: ____ / 12

Volume of a box (5th grade)

  1. A box is filled with unit cubes. How many cubes fill the box?
  2. A box is filled with unit cubes. How many cubes fill the box?
  3. A box is filled with unit cubes. How many cubes fill the box?
  4. A box is filled with unit cubes. How many cubes fill the box?
  5. A box is filled with unit cubes. How many cubes fill the box?
  6. A box is filled with unit cubes in layers. How many cubes are in one layer?
  7. A box is filled with unit cubes in layers. How many cubes are in one layer?
  8. A box is filled with unit cubes in layers. How many cubes are in one layer?
  9. A box is filled in layers. Each layer has 20 unit cubes and there are 3 layers. How many cubes fill the box?
  10. A box is filled in layers. Each layer has 20 unit cubes and there are 4 layers. How many cubes fill the box?
  11. A box is filled in layers. Each layer has 16 unit cubes and there are 4 layers. How many cubes fill the box?
  12. A box is filled in layers. Each layer has 42 unit cubes and there are 4 layers. How many cubes fill the box?

Answer key

  1. 8 cubes
  2. 24 cubes
  3. 24 cubes
  4. 36 cubes
  5. 18 cubes
  6. 15 cubes
  7. 25 cubes
  8. 18 cubes
  9. 60 cubes
  10. 80 cubes
  11. 64 cubes
  12. 168 cubes

More 5th grade skills: all 5th grade math skills, or every grade at math skills.