# Day 77 — Shape is not the answer

**25 minutes · AC9MFM01 (capacity focus, partial) · educator review pending**

**Success:** Child makes an initial guess if they wish, then relies on a direct transfer to determine which of two different containers holds more to its safe line. The test can change an appearance-based guess.

**Prepare:** teacher-pretested **Pair B** (A empties into B and B still has room) from [print aids](print-aids.md), C02/C04 child prompts, tray, water, towels and [capacity page](capacity-transfer.svg). Choose stable unbreakable clear containers with different shapes. If actual Pair B pretest does not fit, relabel by the observed outcome before class.

1. **Retrieve, 3 min.** Ask what yesterday's equal result looked like at the end of the transfer. Show two empty containers of different shapes.
2. **Model, 5 min.** Read fixed [R02](print-aids.md): B reaches its line while A still has water, so A holds more. Say, “That is a *worked result card*, not the result of today's real pair. We must test this pair.”
3. **Live test, 10 min.** Read C02. Learners predict privately or pass. Adult fills A to line, leaves B empty, pours under learner direction in a tray. For verified Pair B, A empties while B remains below line. Learners record B holds more; repeat with C04 wording to show context does not change capacity. Teacher observes three focus learners' endpoint reasoning.
4. **Fresh process check, 4 min.** Reset and let a focus learner direct a second A→B test without the model script: start state, stop point, observed endpoint and conclusion. This rechecks the method on the **same pair**; note if more experience with a new pair is needed.
5. **Close, 3 min.** Ask what changed between prediction and checked result. **Key:** verified Pair B / C02 / C04: B holds more to line because A emptied and B still had room. R02's *different stated outcome* means A more. Do not use appearance as the key.

**If the child says “tall means more”:** Ask them to name what remained after the transfer; retest rather than arguing from shape. **Access and record:** Adult pouring, a quiet/distant viewing option, high-contrast lines, spoken endpoint description and sign/AAC are available. Record whether the child inferred from shape or used the live evidence.