YEAR 3 MATHS FOCUS

MEASUREMENT AND GEOMETRY

Volume & Capacity

Learning Experiences

Volume & Capacity

Learning Experiences

OPENING TIMES!

NORMAL TIMES OF OPERATION

WEEKDAYS

OFFICE OPENING TIMES
08:30AM – 4:00PM

SCHOOL DAY TIMES
09:00AM – 3:15PM

PHONE

(02) 5632 1218

MAIL

office@living.school

ADDRESS

63-67 Conway Street,
Lismore, NSW 2480
Australia

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TEACHING POINTS	Volume and capacity relate to the measurement of three-dimensional space, in the same way that area relates to the measurement of two-dimensional space and length relates to the measurement of one dimension. The attribute of volume is the amount of space occupied by an object or substance and is usually measured in cubic units, eg cubic centimetres (cm3) and cubic metres (m3).
	Capacity refers to the amount a container can hold and is measured in units such as millilitres (mL), litres (L) and kilolitres (kL). Capacity is only used in relation to containers and generally refers to liquid measurement. The capacity of a closed container will be slightly less than its volume – capacity is based on the inside dimensions, while volume is determined by the outside dimensions of the container. It is not necessary to refer to these definitions with students (capacity is not taught as a concept separate from volume until Stage 4).
	In Stage 2, students should appreciate that formal units allow for easier and more accurate communication of measures. Students should be introduced to the litre, millilitre and cubic centimetre.
	Measurement experiences should enable students to develop an understanding of the size of a unit, to estimate and measure using the unit, and to select the appropriate unit and measuring device.
	Liquids are commonly measured in litres and millilitres. The capacities of containers used to hold liquids are therefore usually measured in litres and millilitres, eg a litre of milk will fill a container that has a capacity of one litre.
	The cubic centimetre can be related to the centimetre as a unit to measure length and the square centimetre as a unit to measure area.

Measure, order and compare objects using familiar metric units of capacity (ACMMG061)	recognise the need for formal units to measure volume and capacity
	– explain the need for formal units to measure volume and capacity (Communicating, Reasoning, Critical and creative thinking)
	use the litre as a unit to measure volumes and capacities to the nearest litre
	– relate the litre to familiar everyday containers, eg milk cartons (Reasoning)
	– recognise that one-litre containers can be a variety of shapes (Reasoning)
	record volumes and capacities using the abbreviation for litres (L)
	compare and order two or more containers by capacity measured in litres
	estimate the capacity of a container in litres and check by measuring
	– estimate the number of cups needed to fill a container with a capacity of one litre (Reasoning)

Compare objects using familiar metric units of volume (ACMMG290)	recognise the advantages of using a cube as a unit when packing and stacking
	use the cubic centimetre as a unit to measure volumes
	– pack small containers with cubic-centimetre blocks and describe packing in terms of layers, eg 2 layers of 10 cubic-centimetre blocks (Problem Solving)
	construct three-dimensional objects using cubic-centimetre blocks and count the blocks to determine the volumes of the objects
	– devise and explain strategies for counting blocks (Communicating, Problem Solving, Critical and creative thinking)
	record volumes using the abbreviation for cubic centimetres (cm^3)
	compare the volumes of two or more objects made from cubic-centimetre blocks by counting blocks
	distinguish between mass and volume, eg ‘This stone is heavier than the ball but it takes up less space’ (Critical and creative thinking)