Weight and volume - Introducing capacity and volume 2 - Planning

In the Year 1 Spring curriculum, young learners are introduced to the concepts of volume and capacity during the first week of their studies. The lesson aims to provide a practical understanding of how to measure and compare the volume within different containers. To facilitate this, a variety of resources are employed, including differentiated worksheets, teaching slides, and an assortment of containers paired with either water or sand. The key vocabulary for the lesson includes terms such as 'capacity', 'containers', 'full', 'nearly full', 'empty', 'nearly empty', 'more', and 'less'. Through hands-on activities, children are encouraged to describe and compare the capacity of containers, using the provided vocabulary to articulate their observations and findings.

The lesson plan is structured to ensure that children actively engage with the material. They start by recapping previous learning, followed by partner work that promotes discussion and the use of complete sentences to explain their reasoning. A series of practical activities guide the children to explore the capacity of different containers, compare volumes using comparative language, and understand the distinction between capacity and volume. The lesson progresses to more complex tasks where children match statements to describe the volume of liquid in each container. Challenges are presented to address common misconceptions, such as the assumption that taller containers hold more liquid. The lesson concludes with reflective questions that help consolidate learning, ensuring that students not only grasp the practical aspects of volume and capacity but also the vocabulary and concepts necessary to discuss them effectively.