Volume Math Centers

Math centers can help teach students about volume.

Every summer I go through the process of canning jams and various vegetables from our garden. This year, as I am preparing the jars I need for each recipe, I am reminded that I may have the opportunity to teach students about units of measuring liquids. I get excited when I think of several hands on activities that would help them grasp this concept.

As teachers, we need to cater to different learning styles. One way this can be accomplished is through math centers. Math centers get students out of their desk and moving around. Each student is responsible to perform at each station.  For third graders learning about measuring liquids, three stations in particular would help students grasp the concept.

At one station, students will cut out and construct a gallon man. Fellow teacher Angela Owens has created a free template in which students will cut out cups, pints, quarts and gallons. The gallon man template is free—who doesn't love free. Students at this math center will color, cut, and construct gallon man. I like this visual because gallon man shows that each unit of measurement can be equal to another unit of measurement.

At another station, students will listen to the Capacity song by NUMBERROCK. The song is about three minutes long. Student will listen to the song, trying to get the words down as well as come up with dance moves to go along with the song. This would be a group effort that the group will eventually perform for the class. 

At the last station, students will solve real life story problems using tools such as measuring cups, pint and quart jars, and a gallon jug. Oh yes, this station will get messy because students will actually be measuring water through these various units. For example, if I need to divide one gallon of punch into one cup glasses, how many glasses of water will I have. I can picture students working together trying to pour the water precisely into the cups, then counting up how many cups they have.

Though it takes a bit of work to design math centers, students really learn the concepts better by doing. One second grade teacher has set up a blog in which she talks about her math centers.  Amy Lemons's blog Step Into Second Grade talks about various math centers and gives some great ideas. Another blog--The Math Maniac--has several freebies that can be used in math centers.  Lucy Ravitch's blog Kid's Math Teacher has several videos on fun math projects for kids.  Ravitch also sells books in which kids can play and practice math without even knowing it!  These three blogs are just a few of the many resources out there.