Young learners tends to make misconception on capacity of volume of liquid as they are in the stage of pre-operational stage as in Piaget’s Four Stages of Cognitive Development ( Karen Huffman, 2004) whereby they are unable to differentiate the capacity of volume when two different size of glasses or containers are shown to them although the capacity are equal. This is due to the process known as conservation. Conservation refers to understanding that certain physical characteristic (such as volume of liquid) remain unchanged, even when their outward appearance changes. Many researchers have implemented the test of conservation to young learners and the link below shows a video how misconception on capacity can be tested.
Click on the link below to view the video.
Click on the link below to view the video.
Because of this limitation, Year 2 pupils need to be taught with careful attention as the teacher's role is to avoid misconception on capacity. Through the video we can observe that both the children being tested indicates that the taller glass holds more liquid compare to the shorter glass although in the beginning they were shown equal amount of liquid in two same size glasses. We need to guide the young learners to understand the concept and at the same time teach them how to measure volume of liquid.
In the Curriculum Specification of Mathematics Year 2 published by Curriculum Development Centre, Ministry of Education (2003), emphasises the acquisition of basic concepts and skills. The learning of mathematics at all levels involves more than just the basic acquisition of concepts and skills. It involves, more importantly, an understanding of the underlying mathematical thinking, general strategies of problem solving, communicating mathematically and inculcating positive attitudes towards an appreciation of mathematics as an important and powerful tools in everyday life.
For Year 2 pupils, the introduction to the topic of Volume of Liquid begins with understanding and use the vocabulary related to volume of liquid such as below:
full
half full
empty
fill up
more
less
muchCurriculum Specification
Once the pupils have mastered the terms they will be taught to measure and compare volumes of liquids by direct comparison and by using uniform nonstandard units. Nonstandard units could be any containers that are available such as cups, carbonated drink can, mineral water bottles, jugs, and glasses. Hands on activity will be a little bit messy and difficult to control the class but with careful planning the teacher might overcome the situation by dividing the class into several station with every station monitored by one of the pupils themselves. Actual juices, water or drinks can be use in the classroom because at the end of the lesson the teacher allow the pupils to drink the juices as to established the children long term memory as well as a part of motivation to the children to learn more. Stages of learning objectives and learning outcomes enables the pupils to acheive them in such a manner from something simple to something a bit complex suitable for their mental development.
