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Year 5

Explain what volume is in a range of contexts

I can explain what volume is in a range of contexts.

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Year 5

Explain what volume is in a range of contexts

I can explain what volume is in a range of contexts.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Volume is the amount of space that an object takes up.
  2. Objects with the same volume do not always have the same mass.

Keywords

  • Volume - The amount of 3-dimensional space something takes up is called its volume.

  • Space - The place in which objects exist is known as its space.

  • Mass - The measure of how much matter is in an object is known as its mass.

Common misconception

Pupils may think that the taller the object, the greater its volume.

Use 3D objects as much as possible to compare, so pupils can develop their appreciation for multiple dimensions that contribute to the object's volume.


To help you plan your year 5 maths lesson on: Explain what volume is in a range of contexts, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Pupils will benefit from physical real-life experiences such as comparison of the mass and volume of different balls or boxes. Experiences that are practical will enhance understanding of volume and mass.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is a cuboid?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q2.
Which of these is a unit that could be used to measure mass?
metres
kilometres
Correct answer: grams
litres
Q3.
What is the approximate mass of an apple?
8.5 g
Correct answer: 85 g
85 kg
Q4.
How many edges does a cube have?
Correct Answer: 12, twelve
Q5.
What is the product of 12 and 9?
Correct Answer: 108, hundred and eight, one hundred and eight
Q6.
56 ÷ 7 =
Correct Answer: 8, eight

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In Jacob's bedroom shown here, which has the larger volume?
An image in a quiz
Jacob's bed
Correct answer: Jacob's wardrobe
Q2.
Use the picture of Jacob's bedroom to select the correct statements below.
An image in a quiz
The bed has a smaller volume than the flower pot.
Correct answer: The bed has a larger volume than the flower pot.
Correct answer: The flower pot has a smaller volume than the stool.
The flower pot has a larger volume than the stool.
Q3.
Starting with the largest, order the pieces of fruit pictured by volume.
An image in a quiz
1 - pineapple
2 - pear
3 - strawberry
Q4.
True or false: objects with the same volume have the same mass.
True
Correct answer: False
Q5.
Imagine an apple. Which of these objects are likely to have both a greater mass and a greater volume than an apple?
An inflated balloon.
Correct answer: A watermelon.
A golf ball.
Q6.
The image shows an astronaut toy and a golf ball on a balance scale. Which of these statements are correct?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: The astronaut toy and the golf ball have the same mass but a different volume.
The astronaut toy and the golf ball have a different mass but the same volume.
The astronaut toy and the golf ball have the same mass and the same volume.