Understanding capacity and volume
I can understand and use capacity and volume.
Understanding capacity and volume
I can understand and use capacity and volume.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Different containers have different capacities - they hold a different amount of liquid.
- We can use the scale on the measuring container to tell us the volume of liquid in the container.
- The volume of liquids in different containers can be compared using the scale.
Keywords
Capacity - Capacity is a measure of the maximum amount of liquid a container can hold when full. Capacity can be measured in millilitres.
Volume - Volume is the amount of space that an object takes up. In this case, the specific amount of liquid in a container.
Milliliitre - The millilitre is a metric measure of capacity or volume. A millilitre is a very small amount of liquid. The abbreviation is ml.
Common misconception
Confusion between the terms capacity and volume.
Capacity is the whole amount of liquid that a container can hold. Volume is the actual amount of liquid in the container.
To help you plan your year 3 maths lesson on: Understanding capacity and volume, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 maths lesson on: Understanding capacity and volume, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 maths lessons from the Measures: mass and capacity unit, dive into the full primary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Look at the containers. Which container would hold more liquid?
Q2.Look at the containers. Container A would hold container B.
Q3.Look at the number line. Identify the missing number.
Q4.Look at this sequence of numbers. Which number will come next?
Q5.Match the calculation to its answer.
200
400
600
700
300
Q6.Look at these containers. Tick the statements that are correct.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which jug has the greatest capacity?
Q2.Starting with the smallest, put these jugs in order of their capacity.
Q3.Look at this container. Match the sentence stem to the appropriate measure.
1000 ml
600 ml
Q4.Starting with the container with the smallest volume of liquid, put these jugs in order.
Q5.Look at these jugs. They are both filled to their capacity. The liquid from these jugs is poured into a third jug. What would be the total volume of liquid in that jug?
Q6.Look at these containers and the given volume of liquid that they contain. How much greater is the volume of liquid in the kettle than the cup?
