Measuring with the Metric System Revised by Stephanie Magnuson 2010

Essential Questions 4. What is the unit of measure for capacity? How are they different from the others? 1. What are metric units? How do you measure with them? 2. What is the unit of measure for length? How are they different from the others? 3. What is the unit of measure for mass? How are they different from the others?

Note Taking We will be taking notes on our metric units. Please take out your math journals. Remember to write down the units it is equal to AND how to remember how big it is!

Big Ideas w/ Metric Units 1. To measure the length of an object, the most commonly used metric units are: millimeter, centimeter, decimeter, meter, and kilometer 2. To measure the weight of an object, the most commonly used metric units are: grams and kilograms 3. To measure the capacity of an object, the most commonly used metric units are:liters

Let’s take a closer look! Let’s take a look at how to measure length. If you want to get exact measurements, you need to use a meter stick, which is a little longer than a yardstick. A meter stick measures: m, cm, mm

Millimeter! Millimeter (mm)is the smallest unit of the metric system. It takes 1000 mm to equal 1 meter. The thickness of a penny is about 1 mm. See how small the thickness of this necklace is? It is 1 mm

Centimeter! The next unit used to measure length is centimeters (cm). It takes 10 mm to equal 1 cm. There are 100 cm in 1 meter. The width of a large paper clips is about 1 cm. 1 cm The width of your fingernail is also about 1 cm.

Decimeter! Another metric unit to measure length is decimeter (dm). It takes 10 cm to equal 1 dm. There are 10 dm in 1 meter. The length of your palm (across) is about 1 dm. 1 dm

Meter! After decimeters, comes meters (m). 10 dm equals 1 m. 100 cm equals 1 m. 1,000 mm equals 1 m. The length of a major league baseball bat is about 1 m. 1 m

Kilometer! The longest unit of length in the metric system is kilometer (km). It takes 1,000 m to equal 1 km. Most people can walk 1 km in about 15 minutes.

Let’s review: Length - 1 centimeter = 10 millimeters 1 decimeter = 10 centimeters 1,000 millimeters = 1 meter 100 centimeters = 1 meter 10 decimeters = 1 meter 1,000 meters = 1 kilometer Weight- 1,000 milligrams = 1 gram 1,000 grams = 1 kilogram Capacity: 1,000 milliliters= 1 Liter

Let’s check for understanding! Tell me or show me how you will remember the lengths of metric units: Millimeter Centimeter Decimeter Meter Kilometer

Now let’s look at weight Let’s take a look at how to measure weight (also known as mass). If you want to get exact measurements, you need to use a balance. Measuring mass uses: mg (milligram), g (gram), kg (kilogram)

Milligrams! There are three units we use in the metric system to measure weight. The smallest is milligrams (mg). There are 1000 mg in 1 gram. A mg is so small, 1 grain of sugar weighs 1 mg!

Grams! The next unit of measurement for mass is grams (g). There are 1,000 mg in 1 g. A paper clip weighs 1 g. An eraser on a pencil weighs 1 g. A button weighs 1 g.

Kilograms! The largest unit of weight in the metric system is Kilogram (kg). It takes 1,000 g to equal 1 kg. A pineapple weighs about 1 kg. It would take about 1,000 paper clips to equal 1 kg.

Let’s practice! What metric unit for length would I use to measure these items? Chalk? Classroom Wall? School to Tucson? cm m km

Weight practice! What metric unit for weight would I use to measure these items? Apple? Rubber band? Person? g g kg

Last one... Capacity! Let’s take a look at how to measure capacity (also known as the volume an object can hold). If you want to get exact measurements, you need to use a graduated cylinder. Metric Capacity is measured in ml (milliliter) and L (liter).

Milliliters! There are 1000 milliliters (ml) in 1 liter. Typically, only liquid medications are measured in ml. 1 ml of water weighs 1 g. Think of how much that would be.

Liters! There are 1,000 ml in 1 liter (L). Lots of liquids we purchase at the store are sold in liters. 1 L typically weighs 1 kg (remember, that is the weight of a pineapple). This water bottle is 1 L. The soda bottles you buy from the grocery store are 2 L.

Closure Now that you know all there is to know about the metric system, let’s use it! On the back of your notes, decide which is the best unit of measurement for each object. 1. What would you use to measure the distance from Tucson to Phoenix? A. Kilometers B. Meters C. Centimeters D. Millimeters 2. What would you use to weigh a bag of potatoes? A. kilograms B. grams 3. For what object would you use centimeters to measure? A. person B. door C. pencil D. wall

Metric Reference Length: m: Capacity: Weight: dm: cm: width of a mm: thickness of a km: a walk for 15 min. mg: 1 grain of sugar kg: the weight of a g: the weight of a L: 1 L water bottle ml: 1 ml of water = 1 g