1. T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net/
Lesson 1: Length
T. Trimpe

2. Visualize the unit! 1 Kilometer ___ 1 meter ___ 1 centimeter ___B
1 meter ___
1 centimeter ___
1 millimeter ___ A D
Kagan: Think – Pair – Share
Give them 30 sec think time to try to match the unit to the correct picture.
Pair with your should partner and discuss
Share out as a class
2. Go over each unit – pointing out the prefix tells you how big or small the measurement is.
3.Write – Pair – Share
Have each student come up with their own examples for each unit ( NO TALKING)
Pair with your shoulder partner and discuss
Share out with the class.
Left Image: Right Image:

3. 1 mm
Give each pair a meter stick ( Have them find each of these measurements.)
Explain what a meter looks like
Explain what a centimeter looks like
Explain what a millimeter looks like
1 cm

4. km mm m cm Metric Units: PROVE IT
The basic unit of length in the metric system in the meter and is represented by a lowercase m.
Metric Units – With your partner use the meter stick to figure out each measurement.
1 Kilometer (km) = ___________ meters
1 Meter = ________________ Centimeters (cm)
1 Meter = _______________ Millimeters (mm)
1 Centimeter = ___________ Millimeters (mm)
10 Centimeters = __________ Millimeters (mm)
8.5 Centimeters = __________ Millimeters (mm)
1000
100
1000 10
100
Go over the basic unit, a meter and show them a meter stick.
Give each pair a meter stick – Metric Units
Using the meter stick have them figure out ( or if they already know – PROVE) how many centimeters and in a meter and how many millimeters are in a meter.
Discuss as a class and see if they can guess how many meters are in a km.
3. Which is Larger?
1. Kagan – Rally Coach
2. Partner A do A and B and Partner B do C and D
3. Be sure to explain and PROVE using the meter stick which is larger.
4. Go over as a class 85
Which is larger? Rally Coach: Partner A (A and B) Partner B (C and D)
A. 1 meter or 105 centimeters
B. 4 kilometers or 4400 meters
C. 12 centimeters or 102 millimeters
D millimeters or 1 meter

5. Measuring Length- Individually
1 centimeter = 10 millimeters
How many millimeters are in 1 centimeter?
What is the length of the line in centimeters? _______cm
What is the length of the line in millimeters? _______mm
What is the length of the line to the nearest centimeter? ________cm
HINT: Round to the nearest centimeter – no decimals.
Kagan – Pairs Compair
1. They will complete this individually ( 2 or 3 min)
2. Call time
3. Compare with shoulder partner
4. Call time
5. Compare with face partner
Ruler:

6. Metric Conversions Ladder Method
Kagan – Write – Pair – Share
Give 30 seconds to write (White board and marker) down as many units in the metric system as then can
Call time
15 sec to pair with your shoulder partner
Share out with class / compile a list on the white board and fill in any holes.
Write the problem 5.5 meters= __________cm on the board. Let them have 30 seconds or so to work as a group and see if they can solve it.
Share out – If someone can solve have them explain how they got their answer. ( Most will not be able to solve)
Explain that you are going to teach them a very easy method for them to use to convert with in the metric system.
T. Trimpe

7. King Henry King Henry Died Monday Drinking Chocolate Milk
Show them the mnemonic device and how it pairs with each metric unit. King with Kilo etc.
Explain that the stair step shows how big or small the unit is. Kilo is the largest and milli the smallest.
Have partner A teach partner B the mnemonic device like this ( King = Kilo, Henry = Hecto, Died = Deka, Monday = Metes, Drinking = Deci, Chocolate = Centi and Milk = Milli.
Switch

8. Now Try!
Partner A use the mnemonic device to complete the ladder. ( they may use the white board if they need to)
Switch Partner B’s turn
Go over through the units as a class. Use the selector and let a student go through the units for a piece of gum.

9. 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 and end point
2nd – Count the “jumps” to your ending point.
3rd – Move the decimal the same number of jumps in the same direction.
Now it is time to convert using the ladder.
(Before you begin be sure they know what a decimal is and where it is located in a whole number such as the number 5)
There are three steps (They must show these steps in the boxes on their paper when they convert)
Go through the example with them – they will write this in their notes.
4 km = _________ m
Starting Point
Ending Point
How many jumps does it take? 4. 1
__. 2
__. 3
__.
= 4000 m

10. Conversion Practice 1000 mm = _________ m 1.000 1-2-3 1000.
Try these conversions using the ladder method.
1.000
1000 mm = _________ m
Go through the example with them step by step as they write each step in their notes
Partner A Explain to partner B each step used to solve the problem. (First find the starting point. Second find the ending point, third count the number of jumps from the SP to the EP, Fourth indicate the direction of the jumps, Fifth, move the decimal the correct spaces and in the correct direction.
Switch B explain.
1-2-3 EP SP
1000.

11. Conversion Practice 15 mm = __________ km 0.000015 0.000015.
Try these conversions using the ladder method.
15 mm = __________ km
Go through the example with them step by step as they write each step in their notes.
Partner A Explain to partner B each step used to solve the problem. (First find the starting point. Second find the ending point, third count the number of jumps from the SP to the EP, Fourth indicate the direction of the jumps, Fifth, move the decimal the correct spaces and in the correct direction.
Switch B explain. EP SP

12. Conversion Practice:
Rally Coach – use the white board to show your work.
Partner A (A, C, E, and H) and Partner B (B, D, F and I)
REMEMBER: You must explain to your partner what you are doing in each step!
A. 1 m = _______ mm B. 160 cm = _______ mm C. 130 mm = ________km
D. 14 km = _______ m E. 109 m = _______ km F. 250 m = _______ km
Compare using <, >, or =. ( convert to meters)
H. 56 cm m I. 7 m mm

13. Conversion Practice: Answers
A. 1 m = _______ mm B. 160 cm = _______ mm C. 130 mm = ___________km
D. 14 km = _______ m E. 109 m = _______ km F. 250 m = _______ km
1000
1600
14000
0.109
0.250
Compare using <, >, or =.
H. 56 cm m I. 7 m mm

14. 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

15. 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