- Definition
Capacity is how much a container can hold, like how many cups of water fit in a jug.
A water bottle filled to the very top is at its full capacity.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Capacity is like how much water you can fit in a bathtub before it spills over the top.
Ask your child: Which of these cups do you think holds the most?
Common mix-up: Kids may think the tallest container always holds the most. Capacity is about all the space inside, not just how tall it is.
Examples
- Filling a small bucket all the way to the top with sand.
- The amount of juice that comes in a full juice box.
capacity is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
- Kindergarten Kindergarten
- Grade 1 Mathematics
- Grade 3 Mathematics
- Grade 4 Mathematics
- Grade 5 Mathematics
- Grade 6 Mathematics
+1 more mention across the curriculum
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
