Class: Primary 4
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 9
Age: 9 years
Duration: 40 minutes
Subject: Basic Science And Technology
Curriculum Theme: Basic Science
Previous Lesson: Measuring Volume Of Liquids (Primary 4)
Topic: MEASURING VOLUME OF IRREGULAR SOLIDS
Content/Learning Area: Measuring volume of irregular shaped solid.
Performance Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
- Cognitive Domain:
- Define volume and explain what irregular solids are
- Describe the water displacement method for measuring the volume of irregular solids
- Calculate the volume of irregular solids using appropriate units
- Affective Domain:
- Appreciate the importance of measuring volume in everyday life
- Show curiosity in determining volumes of different objects
- Value the precision needed when measuring volume
- Psychomotor Domain:
- Demonstrate how to measure volume of irregular solids using water displacement method
- Improvise measuring cylinders with estimated scales
- Handle measuring equipment with care and accuracy
- Social Domain:
- Collaborate effectively when working in groups to measure volumes
- Communicate findings clearly to peers
- Compare and discuss volume measurements with classmates
Reference Materials:
The following resources was used in planning this lesson:
- 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
- Abuja Educational Resource Centre Scheme of work
- NAPPS National Unified Scheme of Work
- Online Information from: Science Photo Library – Measuring the volume of an irregular object.
- Relevant Textbooks
Instructional Materials:
The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:
- Measuring cylinders (plastic)
- Variety of irregular solid objects (stones, toy figures, keys)
- Large transparent container/trough for water
- Graduated beakers
- Plastic bottles for improvised measuring cylinders
- Marker pens
- Chart showing volume units
- Sample soft drink bottles with volume measurements (35cl Coke bottle)
- Overflow can (if available)
- Rulers
- Manila cards for recording measurements
Rationale for the Lesson:
Understanding how to measure irregular solids helps pupils apply scientific methods to everyday objects and builds foundational knowledge for advanced studies in physics, engineering and practical applications like cooking, construction and medicine.
Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge:
Pupils should already understand the concept of regular solids, basic measurements using rulers, and basic mathematical operations like subtraction. They should be familiar with units of volume such as milliliters and cubic centimeters.
Lesson Content:
What is Volume and Irregular Solids
Volume is the amount of space occupied by an object or substance. Regular solids like cubes and spheres have standard formulas to calculate their volumes. However, irregular solids don’t have a fixed mathematical formula because they have uneven shapes. Examples of irregular solids include stones, fruits, toys, and many everyday objects.
Methods for Measuring Volume of Irregular Solids
The volume of irregular solids can be measured using the water displacement method. This method is based on Archimedes’ principle. When an object is submerged in water, it displaces (pushes aside) a volume of water equal to its own volume.
The Water Displacement Method
To measure the volume of an irregular solid:
- Fill a measuring cylinder with water and note the initial volume reading
- Carefully place the irregular object into the water
- Observe the new water level in the measuring cylinder
- Calculate the difference between the final and initial water levels
- This difference gives the volume of the irregular solid
For example, if the initial water level is 50ml and after placing a stone in the water, the level rises to 63ml, then the volume of the stone is 63ml – 50ml = 13ml.
Units of Volume Measurement
When measuring volume, we use units such as:
- Milliliters (ml)
- Cubic centimeters (cm³)
- Liters (L)
1 milliliter (ml) equals 1 cubic centimeter (cm³). This is important to remember when recording volume measurements.
Practical Applications of Volume Measurement
Understanding volume measurement helps us in many daily activities:
- Cooking – following recipes that require specific volumes of ingredients
- Medicine – determining correct medicine dosages
- Manufacturing – ensuring product standards
- Construction – calculating materials needed
Soft drinks and juice containers display their volumes (e.g., a bottle of Coke might be labeled 35cl or 350ml). Understanding volume helps us compare quantities when shopping.
Improvising Measuring Tools
When standard measuring cylinders aren’t available, we can make our own using:
- Clear plastic bottles
- Rulers and marker pens
- Water
By marking equal distances on the side of a clear bottle and filling it with known quantities of water, we can create our own measuring tool.
Teaching Methods:
to deliver this lesson,the teacher will adopt the following methods: Demonstration, Discussion, Practical Activities, Guided Discovery, Collaborative Learning, Visual Representation, Question and Answer, Hands-on Experiments
Instructional Procedures:
To deliver this lesson, the teacher will adopt the following steps:
| Content Development | Time | Teaching Skills | Teacher’s Activity | Pupils’ Activity | Learning Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1: Introduction | 3 mins | Set Induction | Teacher shows pupils two objects – one regular (cube) and one irregular (stone) and asks: “How can we find out which one takes up more space?” | Pupils observe and suggest possible ways to compare the objects | Creating interest in volume measurement |
| Step 2: Understanding Volume | 5 mins | Explanation | Explains the concept of volume and what makes a solid irregular using visual aids | Listen attentively and ask questions about volume | Volume is the amount of space an object occupies |
| Step 3: Water Displacement Method | 8 mins | Demonstration | Demonstrates how to measure volume of an irregular object using water displacement method with a measuring cylinder | Observe carefully and note down the steps of water displacement method | Irregular objects displace their own volume of water |
| Step 4: Practical Measurement | 10 mins | Guided Practice | Guides groups of pupils to measure volumes of different irregular objects using water displacement | In groups, practice measuring volumes of different objects and record findings | Practical application of water displacement method |
| Step 5: Improvising Measuring Tools | 5 mins | Demonstration | Shows how to make improvised measuring cylinders using plastic bottles and markers | Observe and suggest improvements to the improvisation process | We can create simple tools for volume measurement |
| Step 6: Note Taking | 4 mins | Explanation | Writes key points on the board and guides pupils in organizing their notes | Copy notes into their books and draw simple diagrams | Summarizing key concepts of volume measurement |
| Step 7: Evaluation | 3 mins | Assessment | Asks evaluation questions and gives simple tasks to check understanding | Respond to questions and perform simple tasks to demonstrate understanding | Assessing understanding of volume measurement |
| Step 8: Conclusion | 2 mins | Cognitive Closure | Summarizes the main points about measuring volume of irregular solids and highlights its importance in daily life | Listen and contribute to summary by mentioning one thing they learned | Reinforcing key concepts of the lesson |
Lesson Evaluation:
To evaluate the learning, the teacher asks pupils to:
- Define what an irregular solid is and give three examples
- Explain step by step how to measure the volume of a stone using water displacement
- Calculate the volume of an object if the initial water level was 45ml and the final level was 58ml
- List two everyday situations where measuring the volume of irregular objects is important
- Explain why we use water displacement instead of formulas to measure irregular solids
- Demonstrate how to improvise a measuring cylinder with a plastic bottle
Differentiation:
For advanced learners, provide more complex irregular objects and challenge them to measure volumes of multiple objects combined. For struggling learners, provide step-by-step visual guides and offer more guided practice with simpler objects. Allow peer teaching to reinforce concepts.
Note for teachers using this lesson plan:
Prepare all materials beforehand and test the water displacement method to ensure accurate results. Use towels to manage water spills during practical activities. Consider having pupils record their findings in a table for better comparison. For classes without equipment, focus more on the improvisation activity using plastic bottles.