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Metric on the Move

Remembering metric conversions can be challenging. to help with this, students can design and create a handy portable conversion reference.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Heavy Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    The metric system is a decimal-based system of of weights and measurements that arose during the French Revolution (1789-1799) to replace the confusing system that had been in place. Have students review some of the units and their equivalents in US customary units: meters to feet, centimeters to inches, liters to gallons, kilograms to pounds, etc.

  • Step 2

    Have students design a conversion chart on heavy paper. Ask them to write or type and print the units and their equivalents, then cut them out and glue them onto the chart. Encourage them to decorate the reference guide.

  • Step 3

    Encourage students to present their charts and swap and share with classmates when needed.

Standards

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

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

Adaptations

There are two metric and one non-metric systems of temperature measurements. Have students learn about the Celsius scale (metric), the Kelvin scale (metric), and the Fahrenheit scale (non-metric). What is the boiling point and freezing point in each? 

In 1964 the British humor (or humour, as it's spelled in England) satirized the hodgepodge of weights and measures used at the time. It provided laughter while Brits were transitioning from Imperial units to metric. Have students read about the conversion system they came up with, which they called the "FFF" for Furlong-Firkin-Fortnight system.