1. Why do we need to know how to convert units in the metric system?
Friday, August 11th Day 1
1. Please have these
Items on your desk. AR
Book
under
desk
Science Starters
Sheet
Comp.
Book
Agenda
Science Starter:
Why do we need to know how to convert units in the metric system?
Why do you think we still use our standard unit of measurement?

2. Table of Contents Date Assignment Page
8/11(red) Scientific Method Worksheet pg 6
8/11(pink) Scientific Inquiry Process Learning Goals pg 7
8/11(purple) Metric Notes pg 8-9

3. Metric Conversions Ladder Method
T. Trimpe

4. How many jumps does it take?
Ladder Method 1 2 3
KILO 1000 Units
HECTO 100 Units
DEKA 10 Units
DECI 0.1 Unit
Meters Liters Grams
CENTI 0.01 Unit
MILLI Unit
How do you use the “ladder” method?
1st – Determine your starting point.
2nd – Count the “jumps” to your ending point.
3rd – Move the decimal the same number of jumps in the same direction.
4 km = _________ m
Starting Point
Ending Point
How many jumps does it take? 4. 1
__. 2
__. 3
__.
= 4000 m

5. BASIC UNITS OF THE METRIC SYSTEM
The meter (m) is the base unit of
length.
The gram (g) is the base unit of mass.
The liter (L) the base unit of volume.

6. Prefixes Prefix Meaning in words numbers Kilo k Thousand 1,000 Hecto h
Symbol
Meaning in words
Meaning in
numbers
Kilo k
Thousand
1,000
Hecto h
Hundreds
100
Deka da
Tens 10
Deci d
Tenths .1
Centi c
Hundredths
.01
Milli m
Thousandths
.001

7. Liters Meters Grams Henry Died By Kilo Deka Basic Unit Deci Centi
King
Henry
Died By
Drinking
Chocolate
Milk
Kilo
Deka
Basic Unit
Deci
Centi
Milli
Hecto
Liters
Meters
Grams

8. Converting Units
To convert from one unit to another is like following directions on a map.
Which way?
Left or Right?

9. Going Left???
When going from a smaller unit to a
larger unit, you move Left on the
map and the decimal moves to the
LEFT .

10. Going Right???
When going from a larger unit to a smaller unit, you move RIGHT on the map and the decimal moves to the RIGHT .

11. Practice Time
4.5 m = ? cm

12. . . . 4.5 What to do first in the problem 4.5 m = __ cm ?
Start at Meters and move to the Right to Centimeters.
Decimal place moves to the RIGHT two spaces. . . .
Kilo
Hecto
Deka
Basic Unit
Deci
Centi
Milli
4.5

13. As you move the decimal
you will need to add zeros. .

14. Is this your Final Answer?
4.5 m = 450 cm

15. Let’s do another one!
6.6 liters = _____ mL

16. . . . . 6.6 What to do first in the problem 6.6 L = __ mL ?
Start at Liters and move to the Right to Millileters.
Decimal place moves to the RIGHT three spaces. . . . .
Kilo
Hecto
Deka
Basic Unit
Deci
Centi
Milli
6.6

17. Check your answer!
6.6 liters = 6,600 mL

18. Let’s Go the Other Way!
3,580 mm = _______ m?

19. . . . . 3 5 8 0 Let’s move to the left this time.
3,580mm = ___________m?
Start at Millimeters and move to the Left to Meters.
Decimal place moves to the LEFT three spaces. . . . .
Kilo
Hecto
Deka
Basic Unit
Deci
Centi
Milli

20. Check your answer:
3,580mm = 3.58m

21. Quiz Time
28 cm = ? mm
438 cm = ? m
72 g = ? mg
202 g = ? Kg
2L = ? mL

22. How did We do??
cm =
280 mm
cm =
4.38 m
g =
72,000 mg
g =
0.202 kg
5. 2 L =
2,000 mL

23. Now we will practice with the following worksheets
Units of length
Metric conversion

24. Conversion Practice Try these conversions using the ladder method.
1000 mg = _______ g 1 L = _______ mL 160 cm = _______ mm
14 km = _______ m 109 g = _______ kg 250 m = _______ km
Compare using <, >, or =.
56 cm m 7 g mg

25. Compare using <, >, or =.
25) 63 cm m 27) 5 g mg 29) 1,500 mL L
26) 536 cm dm 28) 43 mg g 30) 3.6 m cm

26. Metric Conversion Challenge
Write the correct abbreviation for each metric unit.
1) Kilogram _____ 4) Milliliter _____ 7) Kilometer _____
2) Meter _____ 5) Millimeter _____ 8) Centimeter _____
3) Gram _____ 6) Liter _____ 9) Milligram _____
Try these conversions, using the ladder method.
10) 2000 mg = _______ g 15) 5 L = _______ mL 20) 16 cm = _______ mm
11) 104 km = _______ m 16) 198 g = _______ kg 21) 2500 m = _______ km
12) 480 cm = _____ m 17) 75 mL = _____ L 22) 65 g = _____ mg
13) 5.6 kg = _____ g 18) 50 cm = _____ m 23) 6.3 cm = _____ mm
14) 8 mm = _____ cm 19) 5.6 m = _____ cm 24) 120 mg = _____ g