Tutoring

CAPACITY, VOLUME AND MASS

1. For this activity, you will need 3-4 containers of different sizes (e.g., a small jar, a margarine container, a small glass bottle, a milk container, etc). Hint: don’t choose a container that is really big or really small because it will make the counting and guessing in this activity harder! You will also need 2-3 different kinds of counters - pennies, marbles, beans, dried macaroni, etc. You will need enough to be able to fill the containers.

Fill one of the containers with macaroni (or whatever you choose to use as counters) while your child is not looking. Give your child one counter to look at and handle. Let them look at and hold the container (kids do better when they can touch and hold things). Then, ask them to guess how many counters there are inside. Make sure that you guess too! Ask your child to write down the guesses. Then, pour all the counters out of the container. Show how you can count the counters by 2’s. (this will re-enforce this skill as well). At this point, teach them that capacity means “measuring how much is inside.” You might to ask, “What is the capacity of this container?” (They might answer, “The capacity of this container is 34 pieces of macaroni.”)

Ask your child to look at the different containers that you chose. Ask them to put the containers in order from smallest to largest capacity (Suggestion: on the bottom of the container with the smallest capacity, write a number 1, on the next smallest, write a number 2 and so forth). Over time, when you have actually measured the capacity of the containers, see if your guesses were right.

Do this activity with your child each night with different containers and materials (remember – only a few minutes). Remember to ask, “What is the capacity of this container?” Over time, you will see that their guesses are becoming more accurate and that they are gaining confidence.

Note: many children are very reluctant to make guesses. Too often, they are afraid that they are going to get “in trouble” if they are wrong. Let them know that guessing is important. Make sure that you guess too. If you do it, your child will follow you. Some children will feel disappointed when they discover that their guess isn’t the “right” answer. Make sure you tell them that that is okay.

2. Review with your child how to measure the capacity of a container using counters such as beans. Then, with your child, pick 4-5 different containers around the house. To make the activity more challenging and interesting, choose containers that have different shapes (e.g., a very tall narrow vase; a wide shallow bowl). Put them in order from smallest to largest. Find the capacity of each. How close were your guesses?

Practice If you have another son or daughter at home (preferably in Kindergarten up to Grade 3), ask your child to do this activity with him/her. Children (and adults) learn better when they

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