Reading Measuring Jugs in Milliliters

Six measuring jugs, and nothing else, fill this Grade 2 page. Each one holds liquid to a different level, and each carries a scale with labelled marks and unlabelled ticks in between them. The child works out what a single tick is worth, follows the surface of the liquid to the nearest line, and writes the amount in milliliters underneath. Six readings, one unit, and no balance scales competing for attention.

Giving capacity a page of its own lets one method be taught properly. Look at two labelled marks, count how many gaps lie between them, divide — now every tick has a value and the jug can be read rather than guessed at. Children who skip that step write down the number nearest the liquid and are routinely fifty milliliters out. It pairs beautifully with a real jug at the sink: pour to a line, predict the reading, then check. Ten minutes of that makes the printed jugs look obvious.

The page prints free as a PDF, and a spare copy is handy for the child who wants to check a real measuring cup against it. Balance scales in grams is the mass half of the same skill, the jugs to 2000 ml page takes the numbers higher, and the combined capacity and mass sheet puts jugs and scales back on one page.