Math Activity About Volume for Kids
Volume is a measure of the space that an object occupies. Learning to calculate volume is a basic skill that students will apply in the study of physics, geometry, engineering and chemistry. You can teach children how to calculate the volume of objects using different techniques and experiments with common household items.
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Measurement Method
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The most direct way to calculate volume of an object is to measure its dimensions, and then multiply its height by its length and by its width. Give your child a shoebox and have him measure its sides with a ruler, and then use a crayon or marker to write the results on the corresponding sides of the box. Tell him to multiply the sides together to calculate the box's volume in cubic inches.
Displacement Method
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Have your child fill a scientific graduated cylinder half full of colored water, and then measure the amount of liquid. Tell your child to write the measurement on a piece of paper. Have her drop a small object such as a penny, marble or small stone into the colored water and measure the new water line in the graduated cylinder. Have her subtract the starting measurement from the new measurement to calculate the cubic centimeter volume of the submerged object.
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Overflow Method
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Place a cup inside of a bowl and fill the cup to the brim with water. Have your child carefully drop an object into the cup so that it causes water to flow over the top of the cup and into the bowl. Carefully pour the water that is caught in the bowl into a graduated cylinder to measure the displaced liquid. The overflow water is equal to the volume of the object placed in the cup.
Building Block Method
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Have your child build a shape out of one-inch square wooden blocks, and then tell him to count the number of blocks that it took to construct the shape. This activity is ideal for teaching younger children about the concept of volume because it helps them relate an abstract concept with a familiar toy.
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References
- Photo Credit cylinder image by Hubert from Fotolia.com
