Liquid Measurement
Learning target: Relationship between gallon, half gallon, quart, pint, cup and
ounce (1/8 cup) measures
Supplies: gallon, two 1/2 gallon bottles (different shapes), quart, pint, cup and
1/8 cup measures
Instructions for facilitator:
Today the children will be investigating the relationships between ounces, cups, pints, quarts, half gallons,
and gallons.
1. I showed the kids various units of liquid measure and asked them what the names of each unit was and
how many of the other units they thought would fill that unit.
2. We then went to a faucet and actually measured out each unit into the next size up to see how many
actual smaller units fit into the bigger units. The kids were convinced the two half gallon jugs were different
sizes until we measured the water into them and talked about how shape can be deceiving.
3. Back in the room we reviewed the name of each unit and then made a chart showing how many pints or
cups fit into a quart, how many different units will make a 1/2 gallon and finally a gallon. (Example below
illustrates different measures to make a quart.)
quart
pint
cup
1
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
4
0
1
2
4. Applications – when do we use liquid measure? Cooking, buying gas for a car, figuring out how much
water we would use if we had $1 and a shower head that sprayed 2 gallons/minute at a cost of 10 cents per
gallon, chemical reactions, and how much water a concrete truck needs so the concrete has a 3" slump.
Notes: Having the containers on hand helped them figure out how many smaller units, especially when units
were mixed, made up a bigger unit. I would have liked more time to discuss practical applications.
Extensions: Compare cost per unit of the same item in different size containers.
Submitted by: Carol Eldon