Volume - Estimate capacity - Worksheet

In Lesson 4 of a mathematics curriculum focused on estimating capacity, primary school children are introduced to the concept of volume and capacity through hands-on activities. Using practical resources such as water, rice, and a variety of containers, students learn to estimate and measure how much a container can hold. They explore the idea that different shapes of containers may have the same capacity and that the term 'capacity' is often used in reference to liquids. The key vocabulary for this lesson includes 'container', 'shape', 'capacity', 'volume', 'full', and 'litres'. The lesson aims to help students understand and use all four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) to solve problems involving measurements of volume and capacity.

During the lesson, children are engaged in tasks where they fill containers to certain levels (e.g., one quarter, half, three quarters full) and estimate the capacity, using rice or water to measure. They are encouraged to think critically about the size and capacity of different containers, using terms such as 'more' and 'less' to compare them. Key questions prompt students to consider how full a container is, the volume of liquid it holds, and the relationship between millilitres and litres. By the end of the lesson, students will have practised filling containers according to descriptions, estimating their capacity, and understanding the correspondence between the size of containers and their capacity. This practical approach to learning measurement helps to solidify their understanding of volume and capacity in a tangible and engaging way.