Present the measuring devices to the students from smallest to largest. Hold up the cup, then the pint, the quart and the gallon, calling each item by name.
Pour water into the cup to demonstrate volume equivalents with a liquid. Pour water from the cup into the pint to demonstrate that 2 cups equals 1 pint. Pour water to show that 2 pints equals 1 quart and 4 quarts equals 1 gallon.
Use rice or beans to demonstrate the volume equivalents with dry ingredients also.
Ask students to choose the best measuring device for different amounts of liquid. For example, ask students what they would use to measure liquid in a coffee cup. Ask students what they would use to measure liquid in a bucket. Use various liquid containers in both small and large sizes to help students learn about different measuring devices.
Encourage pouring between different measuring devices so students can see the relationship between them. Use either water or the dry ingredients to demonstrate volume equivalents. Using a 1-cup measuring cup, students can learn that 2 cups equals 1 pint, 4 cups equals 1 quart and 16 cups equals 1 gallon. Students can see that 2 pints equals 1 quart and 8 pints equals 1 gallon.