Mass, Capacity and Temperature
Mass, Capacity and Temperature is the Year 2 skill of choosing and using standard units to measure how heavy something is, how much liquid a container holds, and how hot or cold something is, reading scales on equipment such as kitchen scales and a thermometer.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Start with real, physical experience before any numbers: use a simple see-saw balance to compare which of two objects is heavier, so mass is understood as a physical quantity before it is measured with a scale.
- Introduce kitchen or bathroom scales and explain that the display or pointer shows the mass in grams (g) for light objects and kilograms (kg) for heavier ones.
- Teach scale-reading directly, since this is the main sticking point: when not every mark on a scale is labelled, count on in the steps shown (in 2s, 5s or 10s) from the nearest labelled number to work out the value the pointer sits on.
- Move to capacity using a measuring jug marked in millilitres (ml) or litres (l); explain that capacity is how much a container can hold, while the amount of liquid actually in it is the volume.
- Correct the common misconception that a taller or bigger-looking container always holds more: show a tall, thin glass next to a short, wide one and pour the same amount of water into each to prove that shape can be misleading, so containers must be measured, not judged by eye.
- Introduce temperature with a real or picture thermometer marked in whole degrees Celsius; explain that the higher the red line on the thermometer, the hotter the temperature.
- Compare two measurements of the same type (two masses, two capacities, two temperatures) using words such as 'heavier than' or 'hotter than' first, then move to the < and > symbols once the child is confident.
Worked example
A bag of flour has a mass of 500 g. A bag of sugar has a mass of 750 g. How much heavier is the sugar than the flour?
- Write down both masses: flour = 500 g, sugar = 750 g.
- To find how much heavier the sugar is, subtract the smaller mass from the larger mass: 750 - 500.
- 750 - 500 = 250.
- The sugar is 250 g heavier than the flour.
Practice questions
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Q1Would you measure the mass of an apple in grams or kilograms?Show answer
Answer: Grams (g), because an apple is a light object
Q2A jug holds 2 litres of water. Is this measuring capacity or mass?Show answer
Answer: Capacity
Q3A thermometer shows 10 degrees Celsius outside in winter and 24 degrees Celsius outside in summer. Which season is hotter?Show answer
Answer: Summer, because 24 degrees Celsius is hotter than 10 degrees Celsius
Q4Write < or > to compare these masses: 300 g ___ 450 gShow answer
Answer: 300 g < 450 g
Q5A bottle holds 1000 ml of juice. Ali pours out 400 ml. How much juice is left?Show answer
Answer: 600 ml (1000 - 400 = 600)
Q6Which is heavier: a bag of feathers that has a mass of 100 g, or a bag of coins that has a mass of 1 kg?Show answer
Answer: The bag of coins, because 1 kg is the same as 1000 g, which is heavier than 100 g
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a KS1 Maths exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
A melon has a mass of 2 kg. A watermelon has a mass of 3 kg. What is the total mass of both fruits together?
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A bucket holds 6 litres of water when full. Priya pours out 2 litres to fill a bowl. How many litres of water are left in the bucket?
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Two thermometers are read at the same time. Thermometer A shows 15 degrees Celsius. Thermometer B shows 9 degrees Celsius. Which thermometer shows the colder temperature, and by how many degrees is it colder? Show your working.
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the mass, capacity and temperature worksheet pack - 8 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
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