1. Bellwork: 8/15/2013 Bellwork Questions:
What do you think the letters: “m”, “L” and “g” represent?
What do you think “cm” could be? “mm”? “km”?

2. Abbreviating Symbols
When writing out the symbols to represent the metric system…
Consider the unit
Write the prefix
Put the two together and… Wah-lah! 
Prefixes:
Kilo- = k
Hecto- = h
Deca- = D
Deci- = d
Centi- = c
Milli- = m
Units:
Meter = m
Liter = L
Gram = g

3. Practice Abbreviating SymbolsDm
Dekameter = ____
Centigram = ____
Kiloliter = ____
Millimeter = ____ cg kL mm

4. Okay, so the Metric System is awesome… how can I remember it?
Kilo-
Hecto-
Deca-
BASIC UNIT
Deci-
Centi-
Milli-
Kittens
Hate
Dogs
BECAUSE
Can’t
Meow
Other mnemonics…
Kids Have Dropped over Dead Converting Metrics
King Hector Died by Drinking Chocolate Milk

5. How to use The Metric Ladder
Step 1: Determine if you are converting to a larger or smaller unit
Large  Small, move RIGHT
Small  Large, move LEFT
Step 2: Decide how many spaces you need to move on the ladder
Step 3: Move your decimal point that many spaces!

6. Converting Large to small numbers
Practice Problem: 1.0 m= ? cm
Step 1: (Determine if you are converting to a larger or smaller unit)
You know the LARGER unit (1 m), but do not know the SMALLER unit (cm)
Since you are moving from a large to a small number, move to the RIGHT
Step 2: (Decide how many spaces you need to move on the ladder)
From meter  centimeter, there are 2 spaces
Step 3: (Move your decimal point that many spaces!)
Move your decimal point 2 place values to the right
1.00m 
100.0 cm

7. Converting Small to large numbers
Practice Problem: 3.0 cg= ? Dg
Step 1: (Determine if you are converting to a larger or smaller unit)
You know the smaller unit (3 cg), but do not know the larger unit (Dg)
Since you are moving from a small to a large number, move to the LEFT
Step 2: (Decide how many steps you need to take on the ladder)
To go from centigrams  decagrams takes 3 steps
Step 3: (Move your decimal point that many spaces!)
Move your decimal point 3 place values to the left
3.0 cg 
0.003 Dg

8. Practice Problems 12 km = _____ m 3 Dg = _____ g 1 mL = _____ L
45 dm = _____ m
2 dL = _____ DL
7,220 cm = _____ hm
Questions to ask yourself:
Are you going to a smaller or larger unit?
Which way will you move the decimal? (smaller-right; larger-left)
How many spaces do I move? (Use the Metric Ladder to help)

9. Practice Problem sOlutions
12 km = _____ m
3 Dg = _____ g
1 mL = _____ L
45 dm = _____ m
2 dL = _____ DL
7,220 cm = _____ hm
12,000 30
0.001
4.5
0.02
0.722

10. Practice Problems
Use the next minutes to complete the Metric Conversion worksheets