NCERT Class 5 Maths Book 2025: Now with Stories, Puzzles & Real-Life Activities

NCERT has introduced a fresh Class 5 Maths textbook for the academic year 2025–26 that focuses more on fun and understanding rather than rote learning. The new book is packed with puzzles, games, storytelling elements, and activities that relate directly to real life. From shopping-based word problems to logic puzzles and map-reading exercises, this new

I’m writing about this because textbooks are not just learning tools — they shape how children think about a subject for the rest of their lives. For many students, Maths becomes a subject of fear early on, and that’s mostly because of how it’s taught. This new NCERT textbook feels like a genuine effort to change that mindset. I believe when Maths is presented in an engaging way, with relatable examples and less pressure to memorise formulas, it can actually become a subject that students look forward to. It’s important for parents and teachers to understand what’s changed and how they can support students in using this new format.

What’s Special About the New Class 5 Maths Book?

The newly launched book isn’t just a set of exercises and formulas — it’s been redesigned entirely to suit how young learners process concepts.

Highlights:

Story-based learning: Chapters begin with short stories, often rooted in Indian culture or daily life, which lead into a mathematical concept. For example, a story about a village market introduces the topic of addition and subtraction through buying vegetables.
Puzzles and games: Activities like Sudoku-style grids, pattern matching, and number mazes have been added to build logical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Activity boxes: Each chapter includes “Try It Yourself” tasks such as measuring things at home, finding shapes around the school, or solving time-based riddles with the help of a family member.
Use of local examples: Problems talk about mango trees, rickshaw fares, school timetables, and festivals — so children can relate better to the question and focus on solving rather than decoding the situation.

A Step Away from Rote Learning

Earlier Maths books focused heavily on speed and accuracy, often leaving behind students who didn’t immediately grasp the logic. The 2025 version tries to change that. Instead of solving 20 sums of the same type, students now get a mix of visual questions, application-based tasks, and chances to explain their thinking in words.

For example, one chapter asks students to create their own board game using dice and number cards — a mix of creativity and numbers that’s rare in older-style textbooks.

Teacher and Parent Role is Key

The book comes with a teaching guide that gives hints to teachers on how to present each lesson in an interactive way. NCERT has also suggested that schools let students work in small groups while solving activity-based questions. Parents are encouraged to be part of this learning process by joining in for home-based tasks — like comparing water usage in buckets or planning a simple trip budget with their child.

Will This Actually Help Students?

In my view, yes — if used the way it’s designed. Children are naturally curious and creative. When Maths is taught through stories and real-world applications, it stops being just numbers on paper. According to education researchers, activity-based learning improves concept retention by over 60% in early grades. So, a child who once feared fractions might now learn it by dividing a birthday cake in a story problem.

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.