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Metric Me!

Four noses? Five hands? Students will measure body parts using both US customary and metric units and use them as a standard against other measurements.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

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  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    During ancient times, people would measure objects using body parts. Early Babylonian, Egyptian, and Hebrew records indicate that length was measured with the forearm, hand or finger. In the US, the foot of an adult European-American male is typically about 11.5". In fact, that is why 12" is called a foot. Ask students to estimate the length of their feet or hands, their nose, their hair, a thumb, or any other relatively small feature. Then have them use a ruler and find the measurements in both metric and US customary units. Did their estimations align? 

  • Step 2

    Ask students to create a general outline of their body on a large piece of paper. Then have them draw the parts they measured (hand, foot, nose, other) on construction paper and cut those out. Have them indicate the length in both metric and US standard units on the cut-outs. Then have them measure longer areas of their body (thigh, shin, forearm, upper arm, torso) in both units of measurement and express them using the original measurements they took. For example, their forearm might measure two palms. They might also wish to measure other inanimate objects as well and use them as another basis of comparison.

  • Step 3

    Have a discussion about the different systems of measurement and how it can be challenging but also enriching to work with two different systems.

Standards

MATH: Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight.  

MATH: Analyze, compare, create, and compose math ideas using written, oral, and drawn lines, shapes, forms, and patterns.

MATH: Create models that demonstrate math concepts and attend to precision. 

Adaptations

What countries do not use the metric system? What countries use a blend of both? Have students investigate which countries use other systems. Ask them to think of ways the United States uses both. For example, gasoline is sold by the gallon, but soft drinks are usually labeled in liters.

The metric system came into being  during the French Revolution (1789-1799). Have students explore its origin (in the late 1600s by the French abbot and astronomer Gabriel Mouton), the reason it was necessary, and the eventual adaptation of the "Système international d'unités," the International System of Units known commonly as the SI.