1. METRIC SYSTEM
Mr D’s 6th Grade Class

2. Why do we need to know the Metric System
MYANMAR (Burma)
Liberia
United States

3. METER(s)
LITER(s)
GRAM(s)
CELCIUS

4. Metric System Base Units Gram(s)(g)
Root or base unit of measurement for weight and or mass of an object
Weight is how much an object is affected by gravity
Mass is how much space an object occupies

5. Metric System
Base Units
Meter(s)(m)
Root or base unit of measurement for length
How high, tall, width, length of an object

6. Metric System
Base Units
Liter(s)(l,L)
Root or base unit of measurement for volume
Volume is the measurement of the capacity or how much something will hold

7. King = kilo (k) 1000 Acronym Harry = hecto (h) 100
Didn’t know = deka (dk) 10
But = Base Units meter, liter, gram
Dopey = deci (d) .1
Carl = centi (c) .01
Might = milli (m) .001

8. English vs. Metric Units
Which is longer?
A. 1 mile or 1 kilometer
B. 1 yard or 1 meter
C. 1 inch or 1 centimeter
1.6 kilometers
1 mile
1 yard = meters
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
Left Image: Right Image:

9. Click the image to watch a short video about the meter.
Metric Units km m cm mm
The basic unit of length in the metric system in the meter and is represented by a lowercase m.
Standard: The distance traveled by light in absolute vacuum in 1⁄299,792,458 of a second.
Metric Units
1 Kilometer (km) = 1000 meters
1 Meter = 100 Centimeters (cm)
1 Meter = 1000 Millimeters (mm)
Click the image to watch a short video about the meter.
Which is larger?
A. 1 meter or 105 centimeters
B. 4 kilometers or 4400 meters
C. 12 centimeters or 102 millimeters
D millimeters or 1 meter

10. Measuring Length 1 10 2.8 How many millimeters are in 1 centimeter?
1 centimeter = 10 millimeters
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. 1 10
2.8
Ruler:

11. Measuring Volume
We will be using graduated cylinders to find the volume of liquids and other objects.
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? _____mL 43
What causes the meniscus?
A concave meniscus occurs when the molecules of the liquid attract those of the container. The glass attracts the water on the sides.
Top Image: Bottom Image:

12. Measuring Liquid Volume
What is the volume of water in each cylinder?
Images created at A B C
=37ml
=23ml
=52ml
Pay attention to the scales for each cylinder.

13. Measuring Solid Volume
10 cm
9 cm
8 cm
We can measure the volume of regular object using the formula length x width x height.
_____ X _____ X _____ = _____
10 cm
8 cm
9 cm
720 cm3 or ml
We can measure the volume of irregular object using water displacement.
Amount of H2O with object = ______ About of H2O without object = ______ Difference = Volume = ______
260 ml
200 ml
60 ml or cm3
Click here for an online activity about volume. Choose Lessons  Volume & Displacement

14. Click the image to watch a short video about volume.
Metric Units kL cL mL L
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.
Standard: 1 liter is equal to one cubic decimeter
Metric Units
1 liter (L) = 1000 milliliters (mL)
1 milliliter (mL) = 1 cm3 (or cc) = 1 gram*
Which is larger?
Click the image to watch a short video about volume.
A. 1 liter or 1500 milliliters
B. 200 milliliters or 1.2 liters
C. 12 cm3 or 1.2 milliliters*
* When referring to water Liter Image:

15. English vs. Metric Units
1 pound = grams
Which is larger?
1. 1 Pound or 100 Grams
2. 1 Kilogram or 1 Pound
3. 1 Ounce or 1000 Milligrams
100 kilogram = 220 pounds
1 ounce of gold = 28,349.5 milligrams

16. Metric Units kg g cg mg
Kilogram Prototype
Mass refers to the amount of matter in an object.
The base unit of mass in the metric system in the kilogram and is represented by kg.
Standard: 1 kilogram is equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram (IPK), a platinum-iridium cylinder kept by the BIPM at Sèvres, France.
Metric Units
1 Kilogram (km) = 1000 Grams (g)
1 Gram (g) = 1000 Milligrams (mg)
Click the image to watch a short video about mass.
Which is larger?
A. 1 kilogram or 1500 grams
B milligrams or 1 gram
C. 12 milligrams or 12 kilograms
D. 4 kilograms or 4500 grams
Kilogram Prototype Image -

17. _______ + ______ + _______ = ________ g
Measuring Mass
We will be using triple-beam balances to find the mass of various objects.
The objects are placed on the scale and then you move the weights on the beams until you get the lines on the right-side of the scale to match up.
Once you have balanced the scale, you add up the amounts on each beam to find the total mass.
What would be the mass of the object measured in the picture?
_______ + ______ + _______ = ________ g
300g
70g
3.4g
373.4
Graduated Cylinder
Top Image: Bottom Image:

18. Measuring Mass – Triple-Beam Balance
1st – Place the film canister on the scale.
2nd – Slide the large weight to the right until the arm drops below the line. Move the rider back one groove. Make sure it “locks” into place.
3rd – Repeat this process with the top weight. When the arm moves below the line, back it up one groove.
4th – Slide the small weight on the front beam until the lines match up.
5th – Add the amounts on each beam to find the total mass to the nearest tenth of a gram.
Triple Beam Balance Tutorial

19. English vs. Metric Units
Which is larger?
A. 1 liter or 1 gallon
B. 1 liter or 1 quart
C. 1 milliliter or 1 fluid ounce
1 fl oz = ml
1 12-oz can of soda would equal approximately 355 ml.
1 gallon = 3.79 liters
It would take approximately 3 ¾ liters to equal a 1 gallon.
1 quart = liters

20. Length
The standard unit for length, width, distance, thickness in metric system is the meter.
Other units of length and their equivalents in meters are as follows:
1 millimeter (mm) = .001 meter (m)
1 centimeter (cm) = .01 meter (m)
1 decimeter (dm) = .1 meter (m)
1 meter (m) = 1 meter (m)
1 kilometer (km) = 1000 meters (m)

21. Estimation: for reference
1 meter is a little longer than a yard or 3ft
1 centimeter is nearly the diameter of a dime
1 millimeter is about the thickness of a dime
A typical doorknob is usually 1 m high
Diameter of a CD or DVD is 12 cm

22. Volume 1 milliliter (ml) = .001 liters (l)
The standard unit of volume in the metric system is the liter.
1 milliliter (ml) = .001 liters (l)
1 centiliter (cl) = .01 liter
1 deciliter (dl) = .1 liter
1 liter (l) = 1 liter
1 kiloliter (kl) = 1000 liters
1 milliliter (ml) = 1 cm3
2000 cm3 = 2 liters

23. Mass (weight); ‘What’s the difference?”
The standard unit of mass in the metric system is the gram.
Other units of mass and their equivalents in grams are as follows:
1 milligram (mg) = gram (g)
1 centigram (cg) = 0.01 gram (g)
1 decigram (dg) = 0.1 gram (g)
1 gram (g) = 1 gram (g)
1 kilogram (kg) = 1000 grams (g)

24. Estimation: for reference
1 gram is about the mass of a paper clip
1 kilogram is about the mass of a liter of water
US Nickel weighs approximately 5 grams
penny weights 2.5 grams

25. Temperature
Temperature is expressed in degrees Celsius in the metric system
Estimation: for reference
Boiling point of water (at sea level) is 100oC
Freezing point of water (at sea level) is 0oC
A hot day is about 30oC which is equivalent to 86o F

26. Let’s Check What you Know!

27. Meter (m)
Liter (l)
Gram (g)
Celsius (oC)

28. Metric Measurements Review

29. King = kilo (__) 1000 Acronym Harry = hecto (__) 100
Didn’t know = deka (___) 10
But = Base Units: _____(m), _____ (l), _____(g)
Dopey = deci (__) .1
Carl = centi (__) .01
Might = milli (__) .001

30. Metric Measurements Review

31. Check Your Knowledge
Draw a line matching unit of measurement to what they measure`
1. liter mass, and weight
2 meter distance, length, thickness
3. gram temperature
4. Celsius volume, capacity 3 2 4 1

32. Metric Measurements Review