Math by the Book: Fifth Grade supports strategically teaching grade 5 mathematics skills and concepts through children's literature. Packaged with Tía Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina—and highlighting 20 different children's books—this resource will support teaching and learning throughout the year.
Through stories, math comes to life
Stories create a space where students can explore their mathematical thinking and understanding in unique ways. Children’s literature offers memorable opportunities to discuss mathematical ideas and connect those ideas to meaningful contexts.
Math by the Book is a K–5 resource dedicated to teaching mathematics strategically through literature. Math is found in all kinds of stories, but how do we connect the reading of a story to significant math learning? Real learning comes from authentically and purposefully linking a story to important mathematical concepts and then, through the story context, exploring those concepts more deeply.
In Math by the Book: Fifth Grade, you’ll find:
- a curated list of 20 children’s books linked with fifth-grade math skills and concepts
- classroom-tested lessons and activities aligned with each suggested children’s book
- additional discussion prompts and project ideas for extending student thinking
- supporting online resources to simplify lesson planning and prep
- tips for selecting other books to integrate into math instruction
- guidance for designing original math tasks that link books to math concepts.
A good story brings math to life. It enhances our teaching, spurs discovery, and supports problem solving. Math by the Book helps students understand the structure and purpose of math in new ways through literature.
Math by the Book: Fifth Grade is packaged with Tía Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina. Enhanced educator guidance is provided for this featured book, including video coaching from Sue O’Connell.
Math by the Book is a K-5 series offering different books at each grade level. To see all six books, please click here to visit the Math by the Book series page.
