Set sail on a real-world math adventure with this engaging 5th-grade multiplication and division project. Students will design their own cruise ship, apply key math skills to make important decisions, and write a travel blog. From planning meals in the buffet to calculating entertainment schedules, students will solve real-world problems using multiplication and division strategies such as area model, partial products, partial quotients, and the standard algorithm. This resource is great for 5th-grade teachers who want to engage early finishers, challenge gifted students independently, or complete a whole-class project at the end of a math unit.
 
What’s Included in This Math Enrichment Project?
✏️ PDF & Google Slides Link
Part 1: Introduction to Multiplication & Division
Part 2: Area Model/Partial Product Multiplication
Part 3: Standard Algorithm for Multiplication
Part 4: Area Model Division
Part 5: Partial Quotient Division
Answer Keys + Examples
 
Each section includes:
✅ Practice Pages – Reinforce skills through scaffolded instruction. Students can review the example strategy at the top of the page and solve increasingly difficult problems.
✅ Apply Pages – Solve real-world cruise ship scenarios using multiplication and division strategies.
✅ Create Pages – Students design their own cruise ship with different decks, layouts, excursions, destinations, and food! Then, they solve math problems using their unique set of numbers.
 
Extras
Reading Passages - Consider sharing before beginning the math project to provide context for students who are less familiar with the cruise industry.
Extension: Cruise Entertainment Scheduling
Creative Project: Write a Travel Blog
 
This Independent Math Project is Perfect for:
✔️ Whole-class instruction (assign at the end of your multiplication and division unit).
✔️ Small groups or intervention (reinforce multiplication and division).
✔️ Gifted students or early finishers (let them complete the full project at their own pace!).
 
✨Hear about this 5th Grade Project-Based Learning Resource from Educators Like You:✨
⭐️ “My students were so engaged in this project! They loved the real-world connections and having the freedom to design their own cruise ship while practicing multiplication and division.”
⭐️ “This resource is designed with students in mind. The examples help them practice skills before applying them to their own cruise ship design. It’s a fabulous format!
⭐️ “The digital slides are beautifully designed and easy to use. I didn't have to print a single page. Students completed this project over the course of a month whenever they finished math work early."
⭐️ “I used this as an end-of-unit enrichment activity, and it was a hit! The scaffolded practice helped build confidence, and the ‘Create’ pages allowed for student choice.”
⭐️ “This was the perfect challenge for my gifted students! They worked through each part independently and had so much fun applying math in a meaningful way.”
 
This engaging math project blends real-world problem-solving, student choice, and creativity—making multiplication and division more meaningful than ever!
 
Find answers to your questions about this Design a Cruise Ship Project:
✋ What materials will students need?
Students will use a pencil and coloring materials. Alternatively, they can complete the project on Google Slides. If they want to research specific ports online, they will need access to the internet. Otherwise, they can use the included pages and make choices from the given tables.
✋ How long will it take to complete this project?
This project will likely last multiple days. There are 5 separate math sections as well as 3 extension activities.
✋ Which grade will benefit the most from using this resource?
5th Grade - This project focuses on the following standards: CCSS.5.NBT.B.5 & 6