Measurement of Volume
Lessons in this chapter
About Measurement of Volume
Measurement of Volume is the capacity chapter grown up, with estimation, compound units and problem solving added to the units 2nd grade introduced.
Measure Volume in Liters and Measure Volume in Milliliters take each unit in turn, with 1000 milliliters to a liter as the conversion. The word volume is used here rather than capacity, and both describe how much a container holds at this level.
Measure and Estimate Volume in Compound Units brings in measurements like 1 l 250 ml and the habit of predicting before measuring. Volume is the quantity kids estimate worst, because container shape is so misleading, so the predicting is worth more here than elsewhere.
Compare and Order Volume needs conversion to a common unit first, exactly as mass did. Solve Word Problems on Measurement of Volume then uses the year's arithmetic, including the two-step problems from earlier in the year.
Measure Volume in Liters, Measure and Estimate Volume in Compound Units and Solve Word Problems on Measurement of Volume each open as a worksheet in the page, scored as you go. Compound units are the step that catches kids out, because 1 liter 200 milliliters is not a decimal and cannot be read as one. Five lessons, free to practice online.
Frequently asked questions
Measuring liquid volume in liters, then in milliliters, then measuring and estimating in compound units, comparing and ordering volumes, and finally word problems. It mirrors the mass chapter so the method carries across. It sits in Measurement and Data (3.MD), the same domain as mass.
Milliliters and liters, with 1000 milliliters in a liter, including compound measurements like 1 l 250 ml.
At this level they are used for the same thing: how much a container holds. The distinction between the space inside and the amount of liquid becomes relevant much later.
Because container shape is misleading. A tall thin bottle and a short wide one can hold the same amount, so estimating from appearance fails more here than for length or mass.
A teaspoon is about 5 ml, a can of drink about 330 ml, a large bottle about 1 liter or more. Anchors like these make estimates usable.
Convert both to the same unit first. 1 l 250 ml becomes 1,250 ml, which can then be compared directly with any other measurement in milliliters.