Grade 3 Unit 6 The Wonder of Measurement: Mass & Capacity
In this unit, children explore how to measure mass (weight) and capacity (volume) using standard units. They learn that measurement is more than numbers on a scale or markings on a cup—it’s a way to make sense of the physical world, from the food we eat to the materials we use.
They will:
- Learn to measure and compare weight and volume using grams, kilograms, millilitres, and litres (as well as customary units).
- Develop skills to estimate before measuring, and to record measurements accurately.
- Solve practical problems that involve adding, subtracting, or comparing mass and capacity.
- Use measurement in meaningful contexts like cooking, experimenting, and nature exploration.
- Discover how people across history measured mass and volume—from balancing goods on scales in ancient markets to creating standardized containers—and why measuring has always been vital for trade, fairness, and daily life.
Children will see that measuring weight and volume is about more than precision—it’s about connection, fairness, and understanding our physical world. By uncovering its history, they’ll appreciate how mass and capacity have shaped human life across cultures and time.
This purchase includes one digital curriculum unit with 15 days of lesson plans and 5 days of flexible projects. This unit will inspire you with beautiful images, clear instructions and exciting project ideas.
And that's not all. You will also gain access to the Wonder Hub, which includes supporting documents, videos, resources, and community.
The Wonder of Mass & Capacity
Learning Standards
Concept 1: The development of computational fluency in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers requires flexible decomposing and composing.
Connection: Your child will spend the weeks of the unit practicing measurement and computation, including estimation.
Concept 2: Regular increases and decreases in patterns can be identified and used to make generalizations.
Connection: Your child will hear about the Imperial and the Metric systems and use these to make generalizations.
Concept 3: Standard units are used to describe, measure, and compare attributes of objects' shapes.
Connection: Your child will learn about the Imperial and Metric measurement systems for mass and capacity.
Language Arts:
Concept: Stories and other texts help us learn about ourselves, our families, and our communities.
Connection: Stories about measurement will get your child thinking about their own life and the things around them. Old Testament stories or Legends support the contemplation of the human condition as well.
Social Studies:
Concept: People from diverse cultures and societies share some common experiences and aspects of life.
Connection: All stories about measurement will begin with the historical story of it, thereby connecting your child to the world. The common language of measurement will be presented.