What the lesson is about

These activities will help pupils acquire the know-how and language to describe volume and measure it. To start with, pupils may use non-standard units so they can explore capacity - for example, by using small yogurt pots to fill a jug - before moving on to measure in litres and millilitres, and learning to read scales.

How to use it

For describing non-standard volume, there are a number of activities that will get pupils used to making comparisons. Indigo987 has uploaded a worksheet where pupils arrange different vessels in order according to their capacity, and also describe whether they are full, nearly empty, empty and the like.

JGoodall has uploaded a similar exercise, this time in PowerPoint, where pupils have the added task of drawing a line where they think the level should be. Louise Bruzon’s worksheet is a cut-and-stick exercise where pupils must put vessels in order from the one that holds the most to the least.

When it comes to reading scales, there are several resources where children can either record the measurement they see on the side of a jug or write on a given volume. For a fun twist on measurements, mrdhenshaw has supplied a “magic potion recipe”, where pupils need to put together different volumes of mystical concoctions to come up with a special potion. Teachers can fill up jugs with diluted orange, blackcurrant, lime, and water, as substitutes for the disgusting ingredients.

Finally, there are a number of TESiboard activities that relate to capacity - in one, pupils have to choose how they would fill, for example, a watering can, by choosing the most appropriate vessel.

Where to find it

www.tes.co.ukcapacity.