Teaching Comparison of volume

Hi ! everyone, In my blog, I would like to share with you about the misconception on capacity which may arise among the students while teaching Volume of liquid especially when comparing capacity of two containers that can hold more.  Primary students often believe that the amount of liquid changes when a set amount is poured from one container to another in different sizes. They believe that there is more liquid in the one that has the highest level.  This problem can be solved when students experience the process of filling and emptying containers with liquid in similar shape but different capacity containers. Thus, we can provide them with some containers such as transparent bottles or glasses. 

A and D filled with same amount of water, ask the students to compare between the volume between A and D. The students may still give the answer A has more water than C. To prove the truth, ask the students to pour water from A into B, D into C. When the students see the same level of water in B and C, they will then visualize and understand the actual volume of water is not depend on the height of a container.

Teaching Basic Concept of Volume

Internalize basic concept of volume is fundamental and essential for our students to face their daily life problems. Once our youngsters had already mastered this concept, it is much more easy to move on to the other challenging learning skills. First of all, teachers have to clarify the confusion between liquid volume and capacity to our students. Manipulating picture cards and some concrete and tangible objects in our lessons will bring a lot of fun and motivate our students learning interest. In addition, a wide range of activities like competitions can easily help our students to enhance the concept of volume and measuring of volume of liquid later.

Measuring and Comparing Volume of liquid

Measuring and comparing volume of liquid among the non-standard containers is a difficult task for the youngsters to grasp. Generally, there misconceptions arise in the topic such as :

                                 i.            Mathematical language such as confusion between liquid volume and capacity.

                                ii.            Reading scale at the incorrect level

                              iii.            Comparing volume of two non-standard unit containers that can hold more. Students often make the comparison on height rather that its volume.

As a teacher, we need to help the students to solve these problems. The concrete, tangible objects or audio-visual aids will enable students to experience and visualize the actual amount of liquid. I would like to share this video with you.