Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 English
Choose exam board for KS4 French
Choose exam board for KS4 Geography
Choose exam board for KS4 German
Choose exam board for KS4 History
Choose tier for KS4 Maths
Choose exam board for KS4 Music
Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

      Solve problems involving volume

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can solve problems involving volume.

      Key learning points

      1. Visualising and representing problems as bar models (by identifying the parts and whole) helps us to solve problems..
      2. The bar model helps us to understand the structure of the maths and to form a calculation to help solve the problem.
      3. If parts are unequal, we can use additive relationships; if parts are equal, we can use multiplicative relationships.
      4. Number facts can be used when solving problems involving mass.

      Keywords

      • Bar model - A bar model is a pictorial representation of a problem where bars are used to represent the known and unknown quantities.

      • Whole - The whole is all of something. It is complete.

      • Part - A part is some but not all of something. It is an amount or section which, when combined with others, makes up the whole.

      • Volume - Volume is the amount of space that an object takes up. In this case, the specific amount of liquid in a container. It can be measured in ml.

      Common misconception

      Children may misidentify the parts or wholes in a problem.

      Children should be encouraged to visualise the problem to help them identify the parts and whole.

      Teacher tip

      Ensure that children are encouraged to visualise the maths and be given the opportunity to talk about how they see the problem. Resources should be available for children to use such as a number line.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

      Loading...

      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Look at the picture. Which jug contains a greater volume of water?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct answer: A
      B

      Q2.
      Look at this bar model. What does the 1 L 500 ml represent?

      An image in a quiz
      The 1 L 500 ml represents the whole.
      Correct answer: The 1 L 500 ml represents a part of the whole.

      Q3.
      Match the calculations with their answers.

      Correct Answer:180 + 40 =,220

      220

      Correct Answer:190 + 20 =,210

      210

      Correct Answer:60 + 170 =,230

      230

      Correct Answer:50 + 260 = ,310

      310

      Q4.
      Find the total of 2 L 300 ml and 1 L 400 ml.

      Correct Answer: 3 L 700 ml, 3700 ml, 3L700ml, 3700ml, 3 l 700 ml

      Q5.
      Match the calculations with their answers.

      Correct Answer:90 - 30 = ,60

      60

      Correct Answer:110 - 40 =,70

      70

      Correct Answer:120 - 40 =,80

      80

      Correct Answer:120 - 30 = ,90

      90

      Q6.
      What volume of water is in this jug?

      An image in a quiz
      300 ml
      Correct answer: 600 ml
      750 ml

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Look at the problem and bar models. Which bar model is an accurate representation of the problem?

      An image in a quiz
      A
      Correct answer: B

      Q2.
      Look at the bar model. Sophia has 230 ml of water in her jug and Jacob has 50 ml water in his cup. What volume of water do they have altogether?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 280 ml, 280ml, 280

      Q3.
      10 identical cups have an equal volume of water in them. The total amount of water in the cups is 680 ml. What is the volume of water in each cup?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 68 ml, 68ml, 68

      Q4.
      Look at the bar model. The volume of water in the bottle is half the volume of water in the ten cups. What is the volume of water in the bottle?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 340 ml, 340ml, 340

      Q5.
      Look at the bar model. How much greater is the volume of water in the bottle (340 ml) when compared to the volume of water in the cup (68 ml)?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct answer: 272 ml
      282 ml
      408 ml

      Q6.
      A jug holds 10 times more water than a cup. The volume of the water in the jug is 890 ml. What is the volume of water in the cup?

      Correct answer: 89 ml
      880 ml
      900 ml
      8900 ml

      To help you plan your 3 maths lesson on: Solve problems involving volume, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...