3rd graders continue to develop their understanding of measurement by learning about liquid volume.
Liquid volume is the amount of liquid contained in a measuring tool like a beaker or measuring cup.
It is also the capacity of a beaker or measuring cup. A 2-cup measuring cup has a capacity of 2 cups of liquid.
MA.3.M.1.1 & MA.3.M.1.2 – Select and use appropriate tools to measure liquid volume. Solve real-world problems involving any of the four operations with whole-number liquid volumes.
Since 3rd grade is the first time children encounter measuring volume, the expectations are very reasonable. Students should know that, like measuring length, there are metric and customary units for measuring volume.
They should learn how to use measuring tools for liquid volume and develop some internal benchmarks about the relative sizes of measurement units like liters, cups, and gallons.
Measuring Liquid Volume in Customary Units
American customary units of measurement are what students will likely encounter in their everyday lives. Unlike the metric system, customary units don’t have a base-10 relationship between the unit sizes, so mathematically they are more challenging to learn.
3rd grade is great opportunity to use fun, hands-on projects that use real measurement tools and liquid to develop an understanding of how to use measuring cups and spoons, how to read measurements, and what the measurement units are called.
Mental estimates should be used to help students think in terms of logical measurement statements versus ones made in the wrong unit.
For example, it is totally reasonable for a person to drink 2 cups of water, but they probably couldn’t drink 2 gallons of water even over a whole day.
Measuring Liquid Volume in Metric Units
Even though we use customary measurement units in the US, students are also exposed to metric units for a few reasons. First, metric measurement is used in most countries around the world besides the US. Having a basic understanding of the metric system will help students achieve a shared knowledge about measurement with those who may be from other countries.
Second, there are many 3rd graders who come from families who moved to the US from countries that do use the metric system, and they may be used in their homes still.
Many measuring tools and even store-bought products are labeled with both units these days, so understanding both is a great opportunity for comparing and contrasting.
Finally, the metric system is modeled on a base-10 number system, like our number system. Units in the metric system are organized with relationships that are 10 times, 100 times, and 1,000 times bigger or smaller than each other.
While 3rd graders aren’t working with these concepts yet with milliliters and liters, they are getting prepared to do so in the coming years.
Problem Solving with Liquid Volume in 3rd Grade
Working with measurements like liquid volume is a great opportunity for students to practice grade level problem-solving skills. This incorporates the concept that measurement units are repeated units that are the same size.
Quantities measured in the same units can be added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided. It is also an opportunity to have students practice with vertical and horizontal number lines, paying attention to small interval markings on measurement tools.
We interact with measures of liquid volume in real life every day!
3rd grade is the year students begin to be able to accurately sort and understand measurements of liquid volume, length, mass, and weight.
Standards
Florida’s B.E.S.T. standards specify that 3rd graders will measure length, liquid volume, and temperature. The problem solving standard (3.M.1.2) also involves mass and weight, as well as 1 and 2-step problems using the four operations.
The Common Core standards are written with a focus more on metric measurement units and 1-step problem solving, which will not be as comprehensive educationally.
The Texas Essential Knowledge Standards (TEKs) focus on both metric and customary units, know how to measure using tools, and when to use the different measurement units for length, liquid volume, mass, and weight.
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