Exploring volume for science is a fun activity to do with young kids! We enjoy using everyday items to test out our science ideas and here is an easy way to teach preschoolers about volume. Grab some different size containers, and a pitcher of water to get started. Enjoy fun and playful learning with easy preschool science activities!

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Learn About Volume For Preschool Science

Simple STEM activities like this volume activity are a wonderful way to get kids thinking, exploring, problem solving, and observing what is happening around them.

All you need are an assortment of containers, a pitcher of water and you are ready to go! Take the learning outdoors if the weather allows for easy clean up. Alternatively, for indoor play and learning, place everything on a large tray or in a plastic bin.

Here is a fun and easy way to introduce our preschoolers to the concept of volume or capacity in science. Extend the activity with some simple math. We used a 1 cup measurement to calculate our volume. Also check out the fun suggestions below if you don’t want to use water.

Why Is Science Important For Preschoolers?

Kids are curious and always looking to explore, discover, check things out, and experiment to find out why things do what they do, move like they move, or change as they change!

Indoors or outdoors, science is amazing! Let’s introduce our younger kiddos to science at a time in their development when they have so much curiosity about the world around them!

Science surrounds us, inside and out. Preschoolers love looking at things out with magnifying glasses, creating chemical reactions with kitchen ingredients, and of course exploring stored energy! Check out 50 awesome preschool science projects to get started!

There lots of easy science concepts that you can introduce kids to very early on! You might not even think about science when your toddler or preschooler pushes a car down a ramp, plays in front of the mirror, fills a container with water, or bounces balls over and over again.

See where I am going with this list! What else can you add if you stop to think about it? Science starts early, and you can be a part of that with setting up science at home with everyday materials.

Or you can bring easy science to a group of kids! We find a ton of value in cheap science activities and experiments. Check out our helpful science resources below.

Helpful Science Resources To Get Your Started

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

What Is Volume For Kids?

Young kids learn by exploring, observing, and figuring out the way things work by doing. This volume activity encourages all of the above.

Kids will learn that volume in science is the amount of space a substance (solid, liquid or gas) takes up or the 3 dimensional space a container encloses. Later on, they will learn that mass in contrast is how much matter a substance contains.

Kids will be able to observe the differences and similarities of containers’ volumes when they pour the water in each and compare the results. Which do container do they think will have the biggest volume? Which one will have the smallest volume?

A great resource to support learning with water is the book Exploring Water with Young Children by Chalufour.

Tips For Exploring Volume

You can also try this activity with a number of materials including small blocks, shells, gems, sand, and rocks. Setting up two stations, one for liquids and one for solids, is a great way for kids to explore volume with a variety of materials.

See another version that uses colored rice instead of water. Volume Experiment

We also tried out our activity two ways. First my son poured water from the pitcher into the measuring cup to the one cup mark. We chose to use a one cup measurement for our volume activity. Try out other measurements as well for added math practice.

He carefully poured the one cup of water into the first water bottle with the help of a funnel. He then decided to pour that water bottle into the next smaller water bottle. This continued for all 6 containers.

Next, he chose to pour one cup at a time from the pitcher into each container. This is a great way to be able to observe the volume of the containers all at once. Kids can easily compare and contrast the results and discuss what they see in regards to the volume of each container.

Volume Activity

Why not pair this simple volume activity with one of these other fun water experiments!

Supplies:

  • Plastic 1 or 2 Cup Measuring Container
  • Plastic Pitcher of Water
  • Funnel
  • Food Coloring
  • Variety of Containers in Different Sizes and Shapes
  • Tray and Paper Towels (To Catch Spills)

Instructions:

STEP 1. Fill a plastic pitcher with enough water so the kids can manage pouring. Refill the pitcher during the activity if needed.

STEP 2. Add food coloring as desired.

TIP: Adding a bit of color is always fun for kids, and it helps them to see the volume of water in each container better.

STEP 3. Place a variety of containers on a tray or table. I also set out a funnel to use with the water bottles. Water bottles, food storage containers, party cups, or any sort of clear container works great for this activity.

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STEP 4. Pour water from the pitcher into the containers. Alternatively, fill up the water bottle and use that to transfer water.

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TIP: Add in some math practice by measuring the amount of water you add to your container. Alternatively, fill the container with water and pour into a measuring jug to work out the volume.

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More Hands-on Math Activities

We love helping our kiddos learn in a multi-sensory way with one of these fun, hands-on activities below. See our list of preschool math activities.

Compare the weights of different objects with a balance scale.

Use a balance scale to measure the weight of your favorite candy.

Explore what weighs more.

Have fun with this measuring length activity.

Practice measuring your hands and feet using simple cube blocks.

Try this fun Fall measuring activity with pumpkins. Pumpkin math worksheet included.

More Fun Pre-K Learning Activities

Printable Preschool Themes Pack

Get ready to explore this year with our growing Preschool STEM Bundle.

What’s Included:

There are 4 fun preschool themes to get you started. This is an ” I can explore” series!

Each unit contains approximately 15 activities, with instructions and templates as needed. Hands-on activities are provided to keep it fun and exciting. This includes sensory bins, experiments, games, and more! Easy supplies keep it low cost and book suggestions add the learning time. 

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