Free 2nd Grade Capacity Lesson Plan (Math)

Topic: Capacity

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to compare and order containers based on their capacity.

Materials

• Three containers with different capacities (e.g. jar, cup, bottle)
• Sand
• Water
• Measuring cups

Warm-up

• Ask students to provide examples of containers they are familiar with. Write their ideas on the board.
• Ask students to share how they know which container is bigger or smaller. Ask them to justify their answers.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the concept of capacity, and explain that it is the amount of space inside a container.
• Show students two different containers, and ask them to predict which one will hold more.
• Pour the contents of both containers into a measuring cup, and compare the results.
• Repeat this process for several different containers, and discuss the results as a class.
• Explain that the container with the highest capacity will hold the most liquid or objects.

Guided Practice

• Provide students with several different containers, and ask them to compare the capacities.
• Have them record their findings on chart paper, and discuss as a class.

Independent Practice

• Provide students with materials needed to create their own containers (e.g. empty cans, plastic containers, -bottles, etc.).
• Ask them to create containers with different capacities, and test the capacities by filling each container with water.
• Have them record their findings on chart paper, and draw a picture to show how they compared the capacities.

Closure

• Ask the students to share their drawings and explain how they compared the capacities of their containers.
• Review the concept of capacity and the different ways to compare it, using the examples from the lesson.

Assessment

• Observe the students during the sorting and ordering activity to assess their understanding of capacity.
• Collect and review the students' drawings to assess their ability to compare and order containers with different capacities.