Volume Conception in late primary school children in Cyprus

This article concerns a research contacted in Cypriot schools to evaluate children’s (age 10-12 years) learning on volume. Children’s response to volume measurement tasks ranged from consideration of only visible aspects of the rectangular constructions, to realisation of the structural organisation of unit cubes in terms of columns and layers to the use of the formula V=LxBxH. Answers to volu me conservation tasks ranged from indication full competence to conserve occupied and displaced volume to no conservation at all. It was concluded that there is strong association between understanding of conservation and measurement and that there are specific skills necessary for children to develop before we can expect meaningful use of the formula V=LxBxH.