Ep73 – Teaching Students to Measure Volumes Using this 25-Year-Old Activity

Handouts are available below.

Big Idea

Teaching students how to measure volume using a graduated cylinder also requires students to learn how to estimate. Here, I share an activity that helps students practice both – estimating and measuring volumes – and has stood the test of time. Shout out to fellow science teacher Dennis Lam for introducing me to this activity, which comes from the BC Science Probe 8 textbook published in 1995. 

Episode Notes

Here is the lab procedure. Download the handouts below for both the lab procedure, data table, and reflection question.

  1. Before the lab, get various bottles and fill with water and different food coloring. Label each bottle A, B, C…etc. Also, bring out 3 types of graduated cylinders for students to use: 10ml, 25ml, and 100 ml graduated cylinders.
  2. Have each group grab one labeled bottle and all three types of graduated cylinders back to their lab bench.
  3. On their data table (see lab handout below), students need to write down the letter of their bottle. Then, students will estimate how much liquid they think is in the bottle. Then, they will record this estimate on their data table.
  4. Using their estimate, students will choose the correct graduated cylinder to use. Students need to choose the smallest graduated cylinder that will hold all the liquid they have estimated that is contained in the bottle.
  5. Students will pour the liquid from the bottle into the correct graduated cylinder and measure. Then, they’ll record the measurement on their data table.
  6. Students will transfer the liquid from the graduated cylinder back into the bottle, close the bottle, return the bottle and grab another. Then, students will repeat steps 2-5 for the next bottle and all other bottles that the teacher has put out.

 

Resources

Handout(s): Ep73 Handouts – How I Teach Measuring Volumes Using This 25-Year-Old Activity

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Posted on October 3, 2023 in Videos

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About the Author

I've been happily teaching high school science for over 13 years. This website serves as a way for me to reflect on my practice, give back to the science educators' community, help other science teachers who may need a place to start, and build a strong community of science learners and educators.

Copyright Kent Lui, REAL Science Challenge 2017

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