1. Grade 5 Nature of Science Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science
Metric Units of Measurement
Questions on content or strategies contact:

2. Scientists use measurement tools that involve numbers or quantities
How do Scientists get precise or specific size information about objects?
Scientists use measurement tools
to make observations
that involve numbers or quantities
Explain: Ask question - How do Scientists get precise or specific size information about objects? After students respond click and show Scientists use measurement tools… Then ask what tools do scientists use to measure length… (ruler, tape measure, meter stick) Click for clip art. What else can these tools measure? (width, height, volume) What metric units are used? (meter, centimeter, millimeter) Continue in same format for mass, weight (Newtons, grams), volume (liters), temperature(Celsius, Fahrenheit and time.

3. What tools do scientists use to measure length or distance?
ruler tape measure meter stick
Explore and Explain: Show actual tools. Ask why we use different tools? What are some examples?

4. What is Length? Length- is the distance between two points.
How long is the screw in centimeters?
It is 5.1 centimeters.
Remember to measure to the smallest place value the tool allows and use decimals.

5. 1 centimeter = 10 millimeters
Measuring Length
How many millimeters are in 1 centimeter?
1 centimeter = 10 millimeters
What is the length of the blue line in centimeters? _______cm
What is the length of the blue line in millimeters? _______mm
HINT: Measure to the smallest place value the tool allows – use decimals.
The line is 3.2 cm and 32 mm.
Crayola Marker 13.8 cm
Crayon varies from amount of use: ≤ 9.1cm ≥

6. Metric Units km m cm mm
What are the metric units for measuring length or distance ?
Units include the kilometer, meter, centimeter and the millimeter.
(km) (m) (cm) (mm)
Millimeter being the smallest measurement.
The basic unit of length in the metric system in the meter and is represented by a lowercase m.
Metric Units: largest to Smallest
1 Kilometer (km) = 1000 meters (m)
1 Meter = 100 Centimeters (cm) or 1000 Millimeters (mm)
1 Centimeter = 10 millimeters
Explore and Explain: Click to show the video on measuring length in metrically.
Adapted from T. Trimpe

8. What tools do scientists use to measure mass?
Pan Balance & gram pieces(each gram piece = 1 g
Triple Beam Balance
Electronic balance
Explain

9. Metric Units kg g What is mass?
Mass is the amount of matter in an object.
The base unit of mass in the metric system in the gram and is represented by g.
Kilogram (kg) – gram (g) – centigram (cg) – milligram (mg)
Metric Units
1 Kilogram (kg) = 1000 Grams (g)
1 gram (g) = 100 centigrams or 1000 Milligrams (mg)
1 centigram = 10 milligrams (mg)
Explore and Explain: Go to the next slide and have students do the tootsie roll observation.

10. What tools do scientists use to measure volume
What tools do scientists use to measure volume? (of a liquid or irregular object)
Measuring cups
Graduated cylinders
Beakers
Explain: Show actual tools.

11. kL cL mL L Metric Units What is volume? Metric Units
Volume is the amount of space an object takes up.
The base unit of volume in the metric system in the liter and is represented by L or l.
Metric Units
1 liter (L) = 1000 milliliters (mL)
1 milliliter (mL) = 1 cm3 (or cc) = 1 gram (with water)
Explore: Demonstrate with a liter pitcher and liter measuring cups using colored water.
*Which is larger?
A. 1 liter or 1500 milliliters
B. 200 milliliters or 1.2 liters /
Adapted from T. Trimpe

12. Measuring Volume
Graduated cylinders are tools used to find the volume of liquids. Here’s how:
Read the measurement based on the bottom of the meniscus or curve.* When using a real cylinder, make sure you are eye-level with the level of the water.
What is the volume of water in the cylinder?
43 mL
Explore and Explain
Let students explore measuring water with food coloring added.
*What causes the meniscus?
The liquid in the graduated cylinder generally tends to stick to the sides of the cylinder. That is why for water and similar liquids we read the bottom.
Adapted from T. Trimpe

13. Measuring Volume of Liquids
What is the volume of liquid in each cylinder?
Explain C A B
22.5mL
52 mL
37 mL
Adapted from T. Trimpe

14. Measuring Volume of Solids
What tool can be used to measure the volume of an object with the shape of a rectangular prism?
We can measure using a ruler and the formula:
length ___ x width ___ x height ___ = ______ cm3
10 cm
9 cm
8 cm
What can be used to measure the
volume of irregular shaped object (rock) ?
water displacement using
a graduated cylinder
Explore and Explain
Give each group a container of water and one small rock that will fit into the graduated cylinder available. Have them follow the steps to find its volume.
Amount of H2O with object = ______ About of H2O without object = ______ Difference = (rock) Volume = ______
Adapted from T. Trimpe

15. What tools do scientists use to measure weight?
Spring Scale
Pan Balance
Triple Beam Balance
Explain

17. What is weight?
Weight is the measure of the pull of gravity on an object.
What units are used to measure weight?
Newtons (N) and grams (g)
Explain

18. How to use a spring scale
Hold the spring scale in one hand so that the hook is hanging downward.
Be sure that you hold it high enough so you can see the scale clearly.
Look at the center of the scale for the units the scale uses. It will be grams and /or Newtons.
Check that round platform is set at zero (x) on the scale.
Hook the object you are weighing onto the hook that hangs down from the scale. If there is a basket or pan suspended below the scale, place the object on the pan.
Wait for the spring to stop moving up and down. Once it stops moving, look at the markings on the side of the scale and record the weight. On most scales it can be recorded in both grams and Newtons. X
Explore: Pass out spring scales to every two to three students to use with a few objects at their tables to measure.

19. What are these WEIGHT measurements?
Explain A. B C
3.4 N N N

20. What tools do scientists use to measure temperature?
Thermometers
Explain

21. What is temperature?
Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold something is.
It is the measure of the heat or thermal energy in a substance.
It is the average speed of the particles in a substance.
Explain

22. Measuring Temperature
There are two different scales we will use to measure temperature.
Fahrenheit scale – water freezes at 320 and boils at 2120F
Celsius (centigrade) scale- water freezes at 00C and boils at 1000C
Click on the hyperlink below for an
Interactive Thermometer
Explore: Have students look at thermometers. Identify the scale and read the room temperature. If temperatures are different, Ask for possible reasons.

23. Brain Check Quiz # 1 Measurement Tool Tool Use Ruler /Tape Measure
(Property Measured)
Measurement Tool
Ruler /Tape Measure
Balance
Spring Scale
Graduated cylinder
Thermometer
Mass
Temperature
Length
Weight
Volume of a liquid
Evaluation: Students can copy and complete in their notebooks.

24. Brain Check Quiz # 2 Measurement Tool Metric Unit Ruler /Tape Measure
Balance
Spring Scale
Graduated Cylinder
Thermometer
Centimeters
Degrees Celsius
Newtons
Grams
Milliliters
Evaluation: Students can copy and complete in their notebooks.
 Journal Entry:
How does measurement help us learn about the world?