Explain how to calculate the volume of a cuboid and a cube

I can explain how to calculate the volume of a cuboid and a cube.

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Explain how to calculate the volume of a cuboid and a cube

I can explain how to calculate the volume of a cuboid and a cube.

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Key learning points

A cube is a special cuboid where the faces are all square and all the edges are the same length.

Keywords

Cubic centimetre - A cubic centimetre is volume that is made by a cube that is 1 centimetre on each edge.
Cubic metre - A cubic metre is volume that is made by a cube that is 1 metre on each edge.
Cube number - A cube number is the product of three repeated whole numbers.

Common misconception

Pupils find the incorrect volume of a cuboid or cube by only counting what they can see. This may be the faces or whole cubes that are forward facing.

Encourage pupils to create the cuboids or cubes for themselves as well as show pupils how the cuboids or cubes are constructed as layers of rows and columns.

It is vital that pupils spend time developing their 'sense' of volume. Providing time for pupils to construct shapes with standard units will further develop this, allowing them to better abstract their understanding of cuboids drawn in 2D.

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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).