Introduction

One aspect that remains constant is the metric system. Understanding and converting metric measures within the same system is an essential skill that our students need to become proficient in early in their educational journey.

As an upper elementary math teacher, you play a crucial role in equipping your students with this skill. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the importance of teaching metric conversions along with pre-learning suggestions, share effective strategies and activity examples and introduce a valuable set of resources to support students’ understanding.

Let’s delve into the world of metric measures and how you can ensure your students become proficient in this essential aspect of mathematics.

Why Metric Conversions Matter

The metric system is a globally recognized measurement system and is the primary system of measurement used in most countries. Although the customary measures system is used most often in the USA, metric units are extensively used within the medical, science, military and electronics fields. It’s also known as the International System of Units, abbreviated to SI.

The metric system uses prefixes like kilo-, hecto-, deka-, deci-, centi-, and milli- paired with base units like meter, liter, or gram. As metric units are ‘organized’ in powers of ten which aligns with our base ten number system, it can be easier for students to see the relationships between units and perform unit conversions.

Tips and Strategies

1. Foundations Skills

Prior to teaching metric measures, review and revisit the following:

1. Place value:

Review the concept of place value and the base ten number system. Focus on patterns of powers of ten (x1, x10, x100, 1000 and x10,000) where each place value position is 10 times greater than its place to the right.

2. Multiplication and division fundamentals

Strengthen students understanding of multiplication as scaling up and division as scaling down, laying the foundation for metric relationships.

3. Decimal Notation

For 5^th Grade students I will revisit decimal notation as a pre-learning activity so I can illustrate the connection between decimal places and metric units.

2. Key Language

Teaching key language to your students is essential. I start by introducing fundamental terms such as “meter,” “centimeter, “liter,” and “gram.” and their abbreviated forms. I also suggest reinforcing these terms through some hands-on starter activities where students measure lengths or quantities using equipment.

Use terms like “larger unit” and “smaller unit” to guide students in understanding the direction of metric conversions.

3. Connections to Real Life

Understanding and using the metric system is a fundamental skill in many aspects of life, from cooking to sports to science to travel!

Give students the opportunity to provide examples of how they use metric measures in their own lives making metric measures relatable and practical.

Discuss the value of converting measures in problem solving, for example in careers such as engineering and I also suggest looking for key events such as the summer or winter Olympics which provide a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the use of metric measures.

4. Use Visual Aids and Illustrations

There are a variety of metric measurements conversion charts and visual aids which will  remind students when to multiply by powers of ten and when to divide during conversions.

These can range from metric measures anchor charts using acronyms such as ‘King Henry Doesn’t Usually Drink Chocolate Milk’ or those using staircase imagery or in table/chart format. I think it is useful to have laminated reference mats or mini anchor charts on desks for students so they can easily refer to them when completing activities.

I’ve even found large kitchen conversion posters or magnetic posters, (purchased through Amazon), which are a great method for visually representing metric units and their conversions.

5. Interactive Learning

As part of my unit plan I integrate hands on learning. Here are three examples you may find useful to try:

1. Recipe Remix:

Bring the kitchen into the classroom by providing a set of recipes, each with measurements that need to be converted. Have students work in pairs to convert the measurements. Then, they can prepare a scaled-down or scaled-up version of the recipe, reinforcing the practical application of metric conversions in cooking.

2. Metric Scavenger Hunt:

Hide objects around the classroom or school with their measurements labeled in metric units. Provide students with a list of items and their corresponding larger or smaller metric measurements. In pairs or small groups, students embark on a metric scavenger hunt, locating each item and matching it to the correct object.

3. Travel Adventure:

Create a fictional travel scenario where students embark on a journey to different landmarks in the local community, each using the metric system. Students are given a travel itinerary with distances between landmarks in meters. They must convert these distances to kilometers using the appropriate conversion factor.

6. Reinforce Learning with Practice

Consistent practice and feedback are key to mastery. To build on whole-class teaching and hands-on activities, I assign practice exercises or drills that aim to build fluency through a scaffolded approach.

RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT: Converting Metric Units of Length, Mass and Capacity Worksheets

This converting metric units activity includes a range of worksheets that support learning length, capacity and mass in upper elementary.

These worksheets help students practice metric conversions for length, mass and capacity. Build fluency in converting and comparing metric units of kilometers, meters, centimeters, millimeters, liters, milliliters, kilograms, grams, and milligrams through focused exercises.

Set 1

Focuses on converting a unit within a single metric system eg kilograms to grams

Set 2

Students convert and compare units of measure using < > or = symbols

Set 3

Designed to help students convert expanded formats of metric length, mass and capacity.

There are over 800 questions in drill format designed for fact fluency and aligned to CCSS 4.MD.A.1 or TEKS MA.4.8.B. Each metric measurement worksheet contains differentiated lists, providing teachers with the flexibility to adjust the level of difficulty for their students or scaffold learning.

Perfect for test prep, topic review, assessment, morning activity work, homework, whole class learning or independent practice.

CLICK HERE to view this resource in my store.

Thank you for reading and happy teaching!