Sheila Brune

Milliliter versus the Liter

Topic

: Measurement

Concept

: Estimating metric capacity using liter or milliliter

Grade level

: Fourth

Materials

: various food items labeled in ml or L, eyedropper,
and liter container

Introduction

: As you look around the house you can find
many containers marked with an L or ml. These are metric units
of measurement. An eye dropper holds 1ml of liquid and 1 Liter
of liquid is equal to 1,000ml.

Activity

:

1. Give each student or pairs of students a food item with the
   label covered up. Explain the capacity of the eyedropper and
   then show them the liter container. The students should know
   that 1,000 ml = 1 Liter.
2. Then the students will estimate the capacity of each food
   item using the knowledge they know about the eyedropper.
3. They will then arrange the items in order from least to greatest.
4. Before uncovering the results, the students can get into bigger
   groups and compare their results. They will have to agree on one
   solution.
5. The labels will then be uncovered and the group that is the
   closest wins the game.

Extension activity

:

This same activity can be done using ounces and pounds.

Source

:

Haubner, M.A., Rathmell, E., and Super, D. (1992).
Boston, MA.

Houghton Mifflin Co,.