1. Metric Measurement
Students will each need a metric ruler, meter stick and thermometer. You will also need to supply them with some water and a graduated cylinder.
You will need a metric ruler, a meter stick, a thermometer and a graduated cylinder

2. Vocabulary
beaker – a wide mouthed container with a pouring spout used in science labs
graduated cylinder – a tall cylindrical shaped container used to measure the volume of a liquid
volume – the amount of space something takes up
milliliter (ml) – a small unit of measurement used when finding the volume of a liquid ml = 1 liter
liter – (l) – a unit of measurement used when finding the volume of a liquid.
metric ruler – a tool used to measure length of an object up to 30 cm.
meter stick – a tool used to measure length or distance

3. Vocabulary
millimeter – a small unit of measurement used when finding the length of a very small object. 10 mm. = 1 centimeter ml. = 1 meter.
centimeter (cm) – a unit of measurement used when finding length or distance cm = 1 meter.
meter (m) – a unit of measurement used when finding length or distance. It is the length of a meter stick.
thermometer – a tool used to measure temperature
Celsius – temperature scale in which 0 is the freezing point and 100 is the boiling point of water
degrees – unit of measurement used when finding the temperature

4. Vocabulary
estimate – approximation; a reasonable amount close to the actual measurement
mass – amount of matter (or stuff) in an object
capacity – the volume a measured container can hold when full
kilometer (km) – metric unit of distance, equaling meters
gram (g) – metric unit of mass, about that of a paperclip
milligram (mg) – 1000 mg = 1 gram
kilogram (kg) – 1000 grams

5. Volume of a Liquid Tools - Graduated Cylinders & Graduated Beakers
Units of Measurement
liter, milliliter

6. Measurement with a Cylinder
Written at the top of the cylinder, you will find the largest capacity that the cylinder can measure.
It is important to
determine what
numbers the lines
represent.
100 ml
50 ml

7. Now you try!
In the next slide, notice the size of the two cylinders. Are they the same? What is different about them?
Look at the numbers. Use skip counting to see if you can count each line correctly. Remember – each line represents a number.
Try counting by ones, twos, or fives until you figure out the correct numbers.
What numbers should be at the red arrows? Are they the same?

8. Skip Counting
20 ml
30 ml
20 ml
10 ml
10 ml

9. Did you figure out the correct numbers?
20 ml
30 ml 19 18 17 28 26 24 22 16
20 ml 15 14 13 12 11 18 16 14 12
10 ml
10 ml

10. Length/Distance Tools – Meter Stick or Metric Ruler
Notice this ruler has two sides. Which side is metric? Always be sure to use the metric side when measuring in science.
Units of Measurement –meter, centimeter, millimeter, kilometer
The top is metric – notice the little mm in the corner which stands for millimeter. The bottom is labeled inches.

11. How do I know which units of measurement to use?
When we measure we want to be as exact as possible – so we use the unit of measurement that “fits” the size of the object we are measuring.
To measure small objects, such as an ant, we use millimeters. Find the millimeter on your metric ruler.
To measure small objects that are a bit bigger than an ant, we use the centimeter. Pencils can be measured in centimeters.

12. To measure large objects that fit inside a building we use meters
To measure large objects that fit inside a building we use meters. A desk or the size of room can be measured in meters.
To measure long distances, such as how far you travel on a trip, we use kilometers.
Often we use a combination of units to help us be exact. For instance, a desk might measure 1 meter + 10 centimeters in length, therefore we would write our answer like this: 1m and 10 cm.

13. Where should you start your measurement?
Look closely at your ruler. Where is the 0?
Some rulers do not start 0 at the edge of the ruler. Can you guess how many millimeters it is from the edge to the number 0?
If you place the edge of your ruler at the beginning of the object you are measuring, will you have an accurate answer? Why or why not?

14. Start at Zero!!! 1 2 mm
If 0 does not begin at the edge, do not begin at the edge. Start at 0.
Place the beginning of the object you are measuring at the 0, so that your measurement can be accurate.
What does the “mm” in the corner mean?
Which unit of measurement is smaller, millimeter or centimeter?
What unit of measurement is represented by the space between 0 and the first line?
What unit of measurement is represented by the space between 0 and 1?
What does “mm” mean? = millimeter
Smaller measurement is millimeter
Space between 0 and the first line is 1 millimeter
Space between 0 and 1 is one centimeter

15. Think About This…
Which unit of measurement would you use for the length or distance of the following items?
Ant
Teacher’s Desk
Distance between two cities
Pencil
Ant-millimeter
Desk – meter
Distance – kilometer
Pencil - centimeter

16. Size Matters!
Millimeter
Centimeter
Meter
Kilometer

17. Fill in the blank.
A __________________ measures the volume of a liquid.
A __________ or ________ measures length.
The unit of measurement for graduated cylinders is a _________ or __________.
The unit of measurement for length can be _________ , _________, ________ or __________, depending upon size.
A graduated cylinder measures the volume of a liquid.
A metric ruler or meter stick measures length.
Unit of measurement for graduated cylinders = milliliter or liter
Unit of measurement for length can be = millimeter, centimeter, meter, kilometer

18. Temperature Tool – Celsius Thermometer
Unit of Measurement – Degrees. The symbol for degrees is °
In Science, a Celsius thermometer is used.
Some thermometers have both Celsius and Fahrenheit.
C° represents Celsius.
F° represents Fahrenheit.

19. Your Turn! Which side of the thermometer represents Celsius?
How do you know?
Find 0° on the Celsius side. Why are 10° and 20°below 0°? What does that mean?
What is the freezing point for Celsius?
What is the boiling point for Celsius?
Right side is Celsius because it is marked with the letter “c”
The 10 and 20 tht are below the 0 indicate temperatures that are below the freezing point.
Freezing point is zero degrees
Boiling point is 100 degrees

20. Important Facts to Remember:
20 ml
30 ml
Every line represents a number.
To what number is the arrow pointing?
Hint: Don’t forget to skip count!
22 ml, skip count by two’s

21. Every space from one line to another represents a unit of measurement.
What unit of measurement is the red arrow pointing to?
What unit of measurement is the blue arrow pointing to?
Red arrow is pointing to one millimeter
Blue arrow is pointing to one centimeter (10 millimeters) 1 2 mm

22. What do the little lines in-between the numbers represent?
Look at this ruler. What are the numbers 1, 2, 3, and so on representing?
Why is the 10 bigger?
What do the little lines in-between the numbers represent?
See if you can find the following units of measurement on a Meter Stick: millimeter, centimeter
1,2,3 = centimeters
10, 20, etc are bigger to help find numbers faster. Notice on this ruler after 10 is 1,2,3,4 again – which really are 11, 12, 13, 14,

23. The space between 5 and 6 represents this unit of measurement: centimeter
How many millimeters are in one centimeter?
The space between 1 and the first line after the number 1 represents this unit of measurement: millimeter.
There are 10 millimeters between each centimeter.

24. Measure the items listed:
Pencil to the nearest centimeter.
Paperclip to the nearest millimeter.
The diagonal measure of your desk or table.
Length of teacher’s board.
(You may need to use meters and centimeters in some of your answer.)

25. Let’s Measure What is the capacity of a small cup?
Pour water into the cup filling it as close to the top without overflowing.
Pour the water into the graduated cylinder.
Record the volume of water measured.

26. Measuring Temperature
Place a Celsius thermometer in a cup of room- temperature water and record the temperature.
Place a Celsius thermometer in a cup of cold water and record the temperature.
Place a Celsius thermometer in a cup of warm water and record the temperature.
What is the difference in temperature between the warm and cold water?

27. Bonus Questions Use your Meter Stick to help you answer.
How many centimeters are in one meter?
How many millimeters are in one centimeter?
How many millimeters are in one meter?