Lesson 9

Measuring Volume of Solid Objects

Est. Class Sessions: 2–3
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Mathematical Standards

3.MD.A
Solve problems involving measurement and estimation. (3.MD.A.2)

Standards for Mathematical Practice

MP1.
Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
MP2.
Reason quantitatively.
MP4.
Model with mathematics.
MP5.
Use appropriate tools strategically.
MP6.
Attend to precision.

Working in groups, students estimate the volume of small solid objects based on models they made from centimeter connecting cubes. Then they measure the actual volume of the objects by determining the amount of water displaced in a graduated cylinder when an object is placed in the cylinder. Students record the estimates and the actual volumes in a data table and analyze the data they collected.

Content in this Lesson

  • Estimating volume by counting centimeter connecting cubes [E11].
  • Using graduated cylinders to measure volume by displacement [E10].
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Materials for Students

Daily Practice and Problems Lesson Homework Assessment

Student Books

 Student Guide
Student Activity Book

Teacher Resources

 Teacher Guide - digital

Supplies for Students

centimeter ruler

Supplies for Student Groups

graduated cylinder calibrated no more than 2 cc apart and large enough to hold small objects (250 cc preferred)
eyedropper
beaker or container of water
two handfuls of centimeter connecting cubes
small objects that fit inside a graduated cylinder (e.g., pens, erasers, lumps of clay, dominoes, glue sticks)
paper towels

Materials for the Teacher

Display of Graduated Cylinders Master (Teacher Guide)
Unit 13 Assessment Record
Math Facts Class Record

Materials Preparation

Gather Small Objects. Collect several small objects for students to measure. Students will make models of these objects using centimeter connecting cubes. Avoid objects that allow water to get inside, such as toy cars (unless they are solid), because the volume of their models will not be close to their actual volume measured by displacement. Since wood swells in water, avoid using wooden objects.

Also be careful to select objects that are small enough to fit into (and come out of) the graduated cylinders.

Students will have fewer problems fitting objects into large graduated cylinders (250 cc) than small ones (100 cc) although either size can be used. However, very few objects will fit into a 100 cc cylinder.

Assessment in this Lesson

Assessment Expectation Assessed Math Practices Expectation Assessed

Yolanda Measures Volume by Displacement
Student Activity Book
Pages 553–554
and corresponding Feedback Box
Teacher Guide - digital
E10.
Measure volume to the nearest cubic centimeter using a graduated cylinder (e.g., through displacement, by filling container).
E11.
Estimate volume by counting cubic centimeters.
MPE2.
Find a strategy. I choose good tools and an efficient strategy for solving the problem.
MPE5.
Show my work. I show or tell how I arrived at my answer so someone else can understand my thinking.
MPE6.
Use labels. I use labels to show what numbers mean.

DPP Item EE
Multiplication Facts Inventory Test
Teacher Guide - digital
E16.
Demonstrate fluency with all the multiplication facts.