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      Describe the units used to measure volume

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can describe the units used to measure volume.

      Key learning points

      1. Volume is 3D and is measured in 3D units.
      2. Volume is measured in the cubes of common length measures.

      Keywords

      • Volume - The amount of 3-dimensional space something takes up is called its volume.

      • 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.

      Common misconception

      Pupils may record different volumes for objects if they measure with inconsistent units (for example: different sized cubes).

      Encourage pupils to compare the volume of the same object measured with two different units. Discuss what you notice and draw out the importance for a consistent unit of measure.

      Teacher tip

      Base 10 blocks are a useful representation to help pupils visualise the dimensions of cubic centimetres and metres.

      Licence

      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).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      How many faces does a cuboid have?

      Correct Answer: 6, six

      Q2.
      What is the name of the 3D shape with 6 square faces?

      Correct Answer: cube

      Q3.
      Which of these is a standard unit of measure?

      Correct answer: centimetres
      hands
      Correct answer: kilograms
      cubes

      Q4.
      True or false: objects with different masses always have different volume.

      True
      Correct answer: False

      Q5.
      What is 16 × 5 =

      Correct Answer: 80, eighty

      Q6.
      What is 38 × 9 =

      Correct Answer: 342

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of these images show a cubic centimetre?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz

      Q2.
      Each cube in the image above is one cubic centimetre. What is the correct way to write the volume of this shape?

      An image in a quiz
      6 cubes
      6 cm
      6 cm
      6 cm$$^2$$
      Correct answer: 6 cm$$^3$$

      Q3.
      Each cube in the image above is one cubic centimetre. What is the volume of this shape? cm$$^3$$

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 36, thirty six

      Q4.
      Each cube in the image above is one cubic centimetre. What is the volume of this shape? cm$$^3$$

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 28, twenty eight

      Q5.
      What might you measure in cubic metres?

      Correct answer: The volume of the corridor in school.
      The volume of your school tray.
      Correct answer: The volume of a lorry.
      The volume of a lunch box.

      Q6.
      How many cubic centimetres are equivalent to one cubic metre?

      Correct Answer: 1,000,000, 1000000, 1 000 000, one million, a million

      To help you plan your 5 maths lesson on: Describe the units used to measure volume, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...