South Carolina ETV

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Don't Flip Out Over the Metric System (Grades 5-9)

Master Teachers

Jane McRoy
Sandy Rogers

Time Allotment

90 minutes

Overview

Students are required to use the Metric System when measuring in science. Students will develop a flipbook to use in labs and any situation in which they need to measure. The book will be a reference for measurement in the science or math class.

Through activities presented in this lesson, including the use of video and the Internet, students will be able to identify the proper prefix and base word to use when measuring with metric units.

Subject Matter

Science and Math

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

identify the most appropriate metric prefix to use
describe the usefulness of a system based on tens
compare the metric system to the American system of measurement
develop a metric flip book to use as a reference
define the Metric System

South Carolina Standards

These Standards can be found online at Office of Curriculum Standards.

Select and use the appropriate metric prefixes to include milli, centi, and kilo.
Collect and record data using appropriate metric measurements.
Use mathematics in all aspects of scientific inquiry.

Media Components

Videos

Metric System, Lesson 9: "Using the Metric System Everyday" helps students develop an intuitive feeling for the metric system.

MeasureMetric, Lesson 1: "The Greatest Measurement Show"

Web Sites

Body Height Weight Converter allows students to convert their height and weight from the American Standard System to the Metric System.

Temperature Converter allows students to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius and vise versa.

Temperature Conversion Formula gives the formulas for converting Fahrenheit to Celsius and vise versa.

Webshots. This is a photo of the Washington Monument

Webshots. This is photo of a catepillar.

Webshots. This is a photo of Mount McKinley National Park.

Webshots. This is a photo of a hamburger.

Webshots. This is the photo of a jet.

Materials

colored paper (3 different colors)
markers
pencils
stapler
computer with the Internet
highlighters
Metric Magic handout
Metric Treasure Hunt handout

Prep for Teachers

Prior to this lesson, bookmark the sites used in this lesson.

When using media, provide students with a Focus for Media Interaction, a specific task to complete and/or information to identify during or after viewing of video segments, Web sites, or other multimedia elements.

Introductory Activity

Step 1: Distribute the "Metric Magic" handout (Activity Sheet 1). Have groups read over and try to convert the formulas to receive magical powers.

Step 2: After they have tried to complete the conversions, ask for a show of hands as to who has magical powers. (Those able to correctly convert the measurements.)

Learning Activities

Step 1: Have the students make a flip book. Select either Activity Sheet 2A or 2B, depending on your class' grade level.

Step 2: FAST FORWARD the video, Metric System, Lesson 9: "Using the Metric System Everyday," until the screen says, NEWS

PREDAWN. PLAY the tape until you see a black background with the words: NEWS and PAUSE. This is a quick introduction to the Metric System.

FAST FORWARD until you see the words: ARTS AND CRAFTS. Provide a Focus for Media Interaction by instructing students to write the instructions for measuring length on the flap labeled Length.

Step 3: Follow the program to make the flip book. As you pause at each spot on the video, have students fill out the flip books as instructed. CONTINUE PLAYING the tape until you see "hands rub across the board and then the hands make the okay sign." PAUSE. Allow students time to write.

Step 4: Say, "The most common prefixes in the metric system are milli, centi, and kilo.Use your highlighter to highlight these three on your flip books."

Step 5: Instruct students to complete the flaps for volume, and weight. (Note to Teacher: You may need to provide examples on the board.) Instructions are included on the activity sheet.

Students should now have a "Metric Flip Book" that they will use to complete the rest of the lesson.

Step 6: Go to the Internet site: Body Height Weight Converter.Provide a Focus for Media Interaction by telling students:

Convert your height and weight from American Standard to Metric.

Step 7: Go to the Internet site: Temperature Converter. Provide a Focus for Media Interaction by telling students: Convert today's temperature from degrees Fahrenheit to Celsius.

Step 8: Say, "We are accustomed to using the American Standard System of measurement in this country. Most other countries in the world use the Metric System. In science class we measure using Metrics because it is an internationally used system. Someone in one part of the world can share their measurements with a person in a totally different part of the world and the numbers will mean the same. The Metric System is based on tens. You probably learned your tens tables right when you started learning how to multiply."

Ask, "When we measure temperature using Metric, what is our base word?" (Celsius)

Provide a Focus for Media Interaction by asking students: What is °Fahrenheit for freezing? (32º) Go to the Web site: Temperature Converter. Punch in 32º Fahrenheit and convert it. What do you find? (0º Celsius)

Say, "Which is easier to remember 32 or 0? (0)

Provide a Focus for Media Interaction by asking: What is the boiling point for Fahrenheit? (212º) Punch in 212º Fahrenheit and convert it. What do you find? (100º Celsius)

Say, "Isn't that easy?"

(Note to Teacher: This would be a good place to end a 45-minute session. For homework or classwork, have the students name five things that can be measured using each base measurement.) Day 2

Culminating Activity

Step 1: Insert the second video, The Greatest Measurement Show on Earth. Provide a Focus for Media Interaction and tell students: Listen for the basic units that are measured using the Metric System. (Area, mass, volume, length and temperature.)

FAST FORWARD the tape until you see the words: MEASURE METRIC across the screen. PLAY the tape until the lady says, "A wise guy." Say, "Name the units for measure that the barker listed." (Area, mass, volume, length and temperature.) If no response, rewind the tape and review the units listed.

FAST FORWARD the tape and PAUSE and review again.

Step 2: Provide a Focus for Media Interaction by saying: Decide what unit of measure and estimate the height of the clown. PLAY the tape and PAUSE when the clown does his second flip. After the students have made their estimates, PLAY the tape until the boy measures him. Say, "He is a meter tall." PLAY the tape until you see the man on the moon.

Step 3: Tell students to get out the flip books they designed. Go to the Web site: Webshots: Washington Monument. Provide a Focus for Media Interaction by saying: "What basic unit would you use to measure the height of this building?" (Meters.) "Would it be necessary to use a prefix with that?" (No.)

Step 4: Go to the Web site: Webshots: Caterpillar Provide a Focus for Media Interaction by saying: "What basic unit would you use to measure this?" (Meters)

"Would you need to use a prefix with this?" (Yes,milli or centi.)

Step 5: Go to the Web site:Webshots: Mt. McKinley National Park.Provide a Focus for Media Interaction by saying: "What basic metric measurement would you use to get the amount of water in this pond?" (It is a liquid so we are measuring volume. The base word will be liters.)

"Would you need to use a prefix with liter?" (Yes, kilo.)

Step 6: Go to the Web site: Webshots: Hamburger. Provide a Focus for Media Interaction by saying: "They call this a `Quarter Pounder' but what would we use in metrics?" (Grams)

"Do you need a prefix?" (No.)

Step 7: Go to the Web site: Webshots: Jet. Provide a Focus for Media Interaction by saying: "Suppose you want to know how much this weighs, what base word would you use? (Grams)

"Would you use a prefix?" (Yes,kilo.)

Step 8: Send the students on a metric treasure hunt. They are to find things around the school that are certain measurements. (See Activity Sheet 3)

Cross-Curricular Extensions

Art: Have students illustrate each flap on their flip books with drawings of things that can be measured with each base word.

Writing: Write a story describing what would happen to your community if the measurements were switched to metrics overnight without warning.

Art/Social Studies: Have students draw a picture with designated sizes in directions indicated. Example: Draw a full moon in the upper northeast corner that is 3cm., draw a witch on a 80mm.broom in the northwestern sky, etc.

Community Connections

Have students convert signs that indicate distances to nearby cities from miles to kilometers.

Write a letter to your local politicians convincing them to convert all measurements to metrics.

Student Materials

colored paper (3 different colors)
markers
pencils
stapler
computer with the Internet
highlighters
Metric Magic handout
Metric Treasure Hunt handout
Metric Flipbook Directions