🔢 Numbers & shapes · Ages 3–4 · about 2 weeks

Full and Empty

Goal: Describe a container as full, empty or partly full, and change how much it holds.

For parents: Use the same cup at first so your child can focus on what is inside. Partly full means there is some space left. This is playful comparison, without measuring or fraction names.

Do together

  1. Fill and empty

    You need: An unbreakable cup, a shallow bowl and a little water

    Stay within reach throughout. Put the bowl on a stable low surface. Help your child fill the cup, then empty it into the bowl. Say full and empty as they watch. Wipe spills promptly and empty all water when finished.

  2. Stop before the top

    You need: The same cup, bowl and water

    Supervise as your child pours a little water into the cup. Notice the space above it: the cup is partly full. Add a little more, then pour some out. Talk about more water and less water, without asking for exact amounts.

  3. Draw our cups

    You need: Paper and a crayon

    Draw three cup outlines. Colour one to the top, leave one empty and colour one part of the way up. Ask your child to match the pictures to full, empty and partly full. They can point, describe or make their own pictures.

Talk about it

  • Is there anything in this cup?
  • How could we make it full?
  • What changes when we pour some water out?

Words to use

  • full
  • empty
  • partly full
  • pour
  • more
  • less

Play

  • Size Safari
    Measuring
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