http://www.nsa.gov

Metric MealsMetric Meals

A – History of Measurement

B – The Metric System

C – Give it a try!

D – Culminating Activity …

After reading “The History of Measurement”, what information do you know about metric measurement?

Use the space that is shaped like a trapezoid to write your response

Discuss with your group what you wrote on your own space

Agree on what information the group wants to include in the center rectangular box

Copy your center box response on your worksheet and share it with the rest of the class

A – History of Measurement

Metric MealsMetric Meals

1. The prefixes in the metric system

Prefixes are short names and letter symbols for numbers (powers of ten).

A prefix is attached to the front of a unit, without a space.

As you go up the “ladder” of these prefixes, the unit is multiplied in steps of 1000, or 103.

Going down the prefix scale, a unit is divided in steps of 1000. In other words, it is multiplied in steps of 0.001, or 1/1000.

B – The Metric System

Metric MealsMetric Meals

2. Conversion using equation

Procedure:

• Write the question.

• Write the equation.

• Multiply both sides by the number to be converted.

• Resulting equation will be the answer.

Katie’s dog weighs 35 kilograms. How much is this in grams?

• 1 kg = 1000 g

• 35 x 1 kg = 35 x 1000 g

• 35 kg = 35000 g

B – The Metric System

Metric MealsMetric Meals

2. Conversion using equation

Pratice:

Katie’s dog weighs 35 kilograms. How much is this in grams?

• 1 kg = 1000 g

• 35 x 1 kg = 35 x 1000 g

• 35 kg = 35000 g

B – The Metric System

• A race is 2500000 centimeters long. How is this in meters?

• Convert this meter measure to kilometers. 25000 m = ? km .

• How many milliliters in 4 liters of soda?

Metric MealsMetric Meals

3. The three main metric measurements

B – The Metric System

Using the text and the items on the board, complete the chart for the three main metric measurements.

Mass of a horse

Thickness of a dime

Width of a piece of bread

Capacity of a swimming pool

Mass of an orange

Capacity of a tablespoon

Width of a football field

Metric MealsMetric Meals

Part 1:

• Select a unit to compare and measure each glassware height.

• Estimate the measurement.

• List the items from least to greatest height.

• Record the actual measurement.

C – Give it a try!

Metric MealsMetric Meals

• Use the actual measurement to number the item from least = 1 to greatest = 3.

Part 2:

Same questions for each glassware mass.

Part 3:

Same questions for each glassware capacity.

Part 4: Writing Prompt

In a paragraph or more, describe for your teacher the process you used to find the actual measurement of the glasswares.

Before you begin writing, be sure you brainstorm your ideas.

C – Give it a try!

Metric MealsMetric Meals

• Think about how you decided what unit you selected to use.

• Think about what instrument you decided to use.

• Think about how you made your measurements.

• Think about what conclusions you can draw from your estimation and the data.