Grade 5 Math: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 5 math in the Ontario Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- B1 Number Sense: Demonstrate an understanding of numbers and make connections to the way numbers are used in everyday life
- B2 Operations: Use knowledge of numbers and operations to solve mathematical problems encountered in everyday life
- C1 Patterns and Relationships: Identify, describe, extend, create, and make predictions about a variety of patterns, including those found in real-life contexts
- C2 Equations and Inequalities: Demonstrate an understanding of variables, expressions, equalities, and inequalities, and apply this understanding in various contexts
- C3 Coding: Solve problems and create computational representations of mathematical situations using coding concepts and skills
- C4 Mathematical Modelling: Apply the process of mathematical modelling to represent, analyse, make predictions, and provide insight into real-life situations This overall expectation has no specific expectations. Mathematical modelling is an iterative and interconnected process that is applied to various contexts, allowing students to bring in learning from other strands. Students’ demonstration of the process of mathematical modelling, as they apply concepts and skills learned in other strands, is assessed and evaluated. Read more about the mathematical modelling process.
- D1 Data Literacy: Manage, analyse, and use data to make convincing arguments and informed decisions, in various contexts drawn from real life
- D2 Probability: Describe the likelihood that events will happen, and use that information to make predictions
- E1 Geometric and Spatial Reasoning: Describe and represent shape, location, and movement by applying geometric properties and spatial relationships in order to navigate the world around them
- E2 Measurement: Compare, estimate, and determine measurements in various contexts
- F1 Money and Finances: Demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to make informed financial decisions
Easy ways to practise math at home
- Look for fractions, decimals and percentages in sale signs, sports statistics and recipes.
- Ask your child to explain a problem to you as if you were the student.
- Estimate first (the bill, the trip time), then check with a calculator.
- Keep a tricky-problems list and revisit it every few days instead of re-doing everything.
What each unit covers
Big Numbers
Place value to 100 000, comparing and ordering big numbers, expanded form, and multiplying by 0.1 and 0.01 as a way to divide by 10 and 100.
Multiply, Divide & Ratios
Facts to 12 × 12, multiplying two two-digit numbers, dividing three-digit numbers by two-digit numbers, and using equivalent ratios and rates.
Fractions
Equivalent fractions up to twelfths, improper fractions and mixed numbers, comparing fractions, adding and subtracting with the same denominator, and multiplying a whole number by a unit fraction.
Decimals & Percents
Reading, comparing and rounding decimals to hundredths, linking fractions, decimals and percents, estimating, and adding and subtracting decimals.
Patterns & Equations
Describing growing and shrinking patterns with rules and expressions like 3n + 1, using input–output tables, and solving one-step equations such as n + 37 = 92 or 6 × n = 54.
Expressions & Equations
Writing expressions like n + 5 for “5 more than a number”, evaluating them, solving equations to 100, and finding numbers that make an inequality true.
Data & Samples
Choosing a fair sample, using percents to compare groups, reading stacked-bar graphs, finding mean, median and mode, and spotting misleading graphs.
Probability
Writing probability as a fraction, placing events on a probability line from 0 to 1, and comparing what should happen with what happens in an experiment.
Triangles & Moves
Sorting triangles by sides and angles, knowing when a triangle can be made, seeing 3D objects from different views, and sliding, flipping and turning shapes on a grid.
Measure It
Converting larger metric units to smaller ones, estimating and classifying angles, finding the area of parallelograms and triangles, and seeing that shapes with the same area can have different perimeters.
Money & Taxes
Ways money moves, working out a price with 13% HST, planning a budget, understanding interest and debt, finding the best value with unit rates, and what taxes pay for.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Level 1
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Level 2
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Level 3
- Has it! Level 3 is the provincial standard. Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Level 4
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Ontario report card guide.
Common questions
How can I help my Grade 5 child with math?
Look for fractions, decimals and percentages in sale signs, sports statistics and recipes. Ask your child to explain a problem to you as if you were the student. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
What does my child learn in Grade 5 math in Ontario?
The Ontario Curriculum Grade 5 math units include big numbers, multiply, divide & ratios, fractions, decimals & percents, patterns & equations, expressions & equations.
Free printable Grade 5 math practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.