Measuring Capacity Teaching Resources
Teach your students to measure capacity (aka liquid volume) with printable worksheets and digital liquid measurement activities designed by teachers, for teachers!
From word problems to worksheets that help students understand capacity units of measurement, each printable and digital option in this in-depth collection of teaching resources has been created by a teacher to help students meet TEKS, Common Core and other state-level standards.
Each resource has also undergone a rigorous review by the teachers on the Teach Starter team to ensure they’re student-ready — so you can cut your lesson planning time in half.
New to teaching this part of the math curriculum? Our teacher team knows what it’s like to suddenly teach a brand-new concept, so we’ve put together a time-saving refresher!
What Is Capacity? A Kid-Friendly Definition
If you're introducing capacity for the first time, having a definition that is kid-friendly can come in handy. Here's one from our teacher team:
Capacity is how much a container can hold. For example, if you wanted to know how much water you could put in your water bottle, you would need to find its capacity.
Capacity is sometimes called the liquid volume or "volume of a liquid," but when we're measuring capacity, you may be dealing with other states of matter too, including solids and gases.
For example, finding the capacity of a scuba diver's oxygen tank tells us how much of the gas can be stored inside the tank!
Capacity vs. Volume — What's the Difference?
You've noticed that we have used the terms "volume of a liquid" and "capacity" together, but capacity and volume aren't the same thing. In fact, this is a common point of confusion for many math students!
So, let's look at the difference between volume and capacity!
Capacity
- Capacity refers to the amount a container can hold.
- Capacity describes the potential amount an object can hold — the object does not have to actually contain anything!
- Only hollow objects have capacity.
Volume
- Volume refers to how much space an object takes up.
- Volume describes the actual amount of space the object takes up, not the potential.
- Volume can be used when we are measuring both solid and hollow objects.
What Units Are Used to Measure Capacity?
Here in the United States, capacity is typically measured in any of the following units of measurement:
- Gallons
- Half gallons
- Quarts
- Pints
- Cups
- Fluid ounces
Liquid volume can also be measured in some units of measurement from the metric system, such as liters or milliliters.
How Do You Find the Volume of a Liquid?
The easiest way to measure the volume of a liquid is to fill a container —such as a graduated cylinder or beaker. Your students should learn how to read the intervals on each instrument to determine the liquid volume.
When studying this topic, students may practice reading measurement tools with single-unit intervals or those that progress by 10, 20 or 50.
Measuring Liquid Volume/Capacity in the Classroom
Are you looking for some ways to help your students calculate and estimate the capacity of objects?
Perhaps you want to give your students real-life applications of when they may use capacity concepts. Along with the fun worksheets and activities in this collection of resources, the teachers at Teach Starter have a few ideas to share to get your students focused on finding the capacity of objects!
- Set up different stations that require students to measure a variety of liquids with beakers and graduated cylinders. Encourage students to read each instrument and record the amount of liquid in each.
- Work with your students to create a "Gallon Man." This is a fun math craft where students create a man whose legs, arms, and fingers represent capacity units. Your students will then have a visual representation to show that there are 4 quarts in a gallon, 2 pints in a quart, and so on.
- Set up a game with your students where they create equivalent units. For this measurement game, give each student a strip of paper with a different unit of capacity written on it (gallon, quart, pint, cup). On the teacher's cue, students must find other classmates and group together in equivalent pairs. For example, a student holding a "quart" piece of paper could match up with 4 students holding a "cup" piece of paper.
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Know Your Measurement Conversions Interactive Game
Practice measurement conversions involving time, length, capacity, and volume with an exciting Know Your Measurement! Trivia Game!
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Liquid Volume Math Investigation - Bath Time at the Farm!
A mathematics investigation involving liquid volume, embedded in a real-world context.
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Measurement Worksheets - 3rd & 4th Grade
Practice measuring length, volume, capacity, time, and more with a printable pack of 3rd grade measurement worksheets.
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Connecting Volume and Capacity in the Metric System - Posters
A set of posters connecting volume and capacity in the metric system.
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Capacity Vocabulary Poster
A poster that explains the concept of capacity and lists associated vocabulary.
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Capacity Math Investigation - Filling the Fish Tank
A mathematics investigation involving capacity, embedded in a real-world context.
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Volume and Capacity Worksheets
A set of 6 worksheets aimed at improving students' basic understanding of volume and capacity.
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How Much Does It Measure? Match-Up Activity (Length, Mass, and Capacity)
Identify the correct unit of measurement to measure length, mass, and capacity with an engaging sorting activity.
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Kindergarten Measurement Worksheets - Comparing Length, Mass, & Capacity
Practice comparing units of mass, capacity, and length with a printable pack of kindergarten measurement worksheets.
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Selecting Units of Capacity – Measurement Game
Estimate the units needed to measure capacity with an Interactive Measurement Game!
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Capacity vs. Volume - Poster
A poster explaining the difference between capacity and volume.
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Gallon Man Template
Build a Gallon Man to help your students visualize the units of capacity and use when converting between units.
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Which Holds More? – Mini-Book
Compare the capacity of various containers with this 8-page mini-book.
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Which Holds More? – Interactive PowerPoint
An interactive PowerPoint quiz that asks students to compare the capacity of various containers.
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Converting Units of Capacity in the Metric System – Worksheet
A worksheet that focuses on converting units of capacity in the metric system.
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Which Objects Have Capacity? - Worksheet
A worksheet to use when exploring the concept of capacity.
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Measuring, Comparing, and Ordering Capacity – Worksheet
A worksheet that explores the concept of capacity using informal units of measurement.
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Volume and Capacity Sorting Activity
A sorting activity to practice comparing the capacity of different objects.
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Liquid Volume Worksheet
A worksheet to use when exploring the concept of liquid volume.
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Measuring Capacity with Informal Units
This mathematics unit addresses the concept of measuring, comparing, and ordering capacity using informal units.
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Assessment - Measuring Capacity with Informal Units
A 30 minute assessment in which students will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of capacity.
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Review of Capacity
A 60 minute lesson in which students will review the concept of capacity.
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Capacity Investigation - Filling the Fish Tank
A 60 minute lesson in which students will apply their knowledge and understanding of capacity to a real-world situation.
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Measuring, Comparing, and Ordering Capacities
A 60 minute lesson in which students will estimate and measure the capacity of containers using informal units.
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Comparing Capacities
A 60 minute lesson in which students will explore and compare the capacity of containers.
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Introduction to Capacity
A 60 minute lesson in which students will be introduced to and explore the concept of capacity.
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