Year 3 - Maths
Understanding capacity and volume
Measures: mass and capacity
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will use weighing scales up to 1kg and measuring tools for volume and capacity up to 1 litre. They will measure mass from 0 to above 1kg using whole kg and grams and measure volume from 0 to above 1 litre using whole litres and ml.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to understand and use capacity and volume.
Key Notes
- Different containers have different capacities - they hold a different amount of liquid.
- We can use the scale on the measuring container to tell us the volume of liquid in the container.
- The volume of liquids in different containers can be compared using the scale.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Capacity: Capacity is a measure of the maximum amount of liquid a container can hold when full. Capacity can be measured in millilitres.
- Volume: Volume is the amount of space that an object takes up. In this case, the specific amount of liquid in a container.
- Milliliitre: The millilitre is a metric measure of capacity or volume. A millilitre is a very small amount of liquid. The abbreviation is ml.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Confusion between the terms capacity and volume.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Solve this in steps: explain the method from this lesson and why each step matters.
Different containers have different capacities - they hold a different amount of liquid. We can use the scale on the measuring container to tell us the volume of liquid in the container.
2. Use this key word in a maths sentence and explain it clearly. 'Capacity'
Capacity is a measure of the maximum amount of liquid a container can hold when full. Capacity can be measured in millilitres. Use this word when showing your method, then check your final answer is reasonable.
3. Spot and fix this common maths mistake.
Mistake: Confusion between the terms capacity and volume. Correction: Capacity is the whole amount of liquid that a container can hold. Volume is the actual amount of liquid in the container.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Become familiar with scales with different intervals when measuring in grams Study Guide
- Comparing and estimating mass and volume Study Guide
- Estimate then measure mass and volume and record in a table Study Guide
- Measure mass in whole kilograms and grams Study Guide
- Measure the mass of objects using grams Study Guide
- Measure volume in whole litres and millilitres Study Guide
- Measuring the volume of liquids using millilitres. Study Guide
- Solve problems involving mass Study Guide
- Solve problems involving volume Study Guide
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