🔢 MathLevel 1Lesson 24
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Comparing Weights and Volumes
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Learning Objectives
- 1Decide which object is heavier or lighter by thinking about a balance scale
- 2Decide which container holds more or holds less liquid
- 3Use the words heavier, lighter, holds more, and holds less correctly
- 4Know the everyday weight units (ounces, pounds, grams, kilograms) and volume units (cups, quarts, gallons, milliliters, liters)
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Mini Lesson
Some things are heavy and some things are light. Some containers hold a lot of water and some hold only a little. We can compare and use special words to describe what we find!
Comparing weight
- When one object pushes down harder, it is heavier.
- When one object pushes down less, it is lighter.
- A balance scale tips down on the heavier side.
- Example: A rock is heavier than a feather. A feather is lighter than a rock.
Weight units we use every day
- US customary (used in the United States): ounces (oz) for very light things, and pounds (lb) for heavier things. 16 oz = 1 lb.
- Metric (used in most other countries and in science): grams (g) for very light things, and kilograms (kg) for heavier things. 1000 g = 1 kg.
- A feather: about 1 oz (about 30 g). An apple: about 5 oz (about 150 g). A full backpack: about 5 lb (about 2 kg).
Comparing volume
- Volume means how much a container can hold.
- A big bucket holds more water than a small cup.
- A small cup holds less water than a big bucket.
- Look at the size of the opening and the height — bigger usually holds more.
Volume units we use every day
- US customary: cups, quarts (qt), and gallons (gal). 4 cups = 1 quart. 4 quarts = 1 gallon.
- Metric: milliliters (mL) and liters (L). 1000 mL = 1 L.
- A drinking glass: about 1 cup (about 240 mL). A carton of milk: about 1 quart (about 1 L). A bathtub: about 40 gallons (about 150 L).
Helpful words to use
- Weight: heavier than, lighter than, the same weight as
- Volume: holds more, holds less, holds the same amount
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Ask yourself: "Which one pushes down more on a balance scale? Which container has more space inside?"
Vocabulary
Weight
How heavy or light something ise.g. A book has more weight than a feather.
Heavier
Pushes down with more weight than another objecte.g. A rock is heavier than a leaf.
Lighter
Pushes down with less weight than another objecte.g. A feather is lighter than a brick.
Volume
How much space a container can hold insidee.g. The bucket has a big volume.
Balance scale
A tool that tips down on the heavier sidee.g. The balance scale showed the rock is heavier.
Pound (lb)
A US unit of weight, 16 ouncese.g. A loaf of bread weighs about 1 pound.
Ounce (oz)
A small US unit of weighte.g. A slice of cheese weighs about 1 ounce.
Kilogram (kg)
A metric unit of weight, 1000 gramse.g. A bag of sugar weighs about 1 kilogram.
Cup
A US unit of volume for liquidse.g. A small drinking glass holds about 1 cup.
Gallon (gal)
A large US unit of volume, 4 quartse.g. A milk jug holds 1 gallon.
Liter (L)
A metric unit of volume, 1000 milliliterse.g. A water bottle often holds 1 liter.
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