1. Lesson 32: Metric Capacity
Ms. Jamie Scordino
3rd Grade Math

2. Understanding Metric Capacity
Capacity is the measurement of how much liquid an object can hold Metric capacity is measured in the unit liters.

3. Types of Liters
There are seven different types of liters that we use to measure length. They are kiloliter, hectoliter, decaliter, liter, deciliter, centiliter, and milliliter. We us kiloliter, liter, and milliliter the most to measure capacity.

4. The Capacity of a Kiloliter (kL)
A kiloliter is the largest type of liter and it is equal to 1,000 liters or about gallons We use kiloliters to measure the capacity of very large objects that can hold a lot of liquid Example: the capacity of a swimming pool

5. The Capacity of a Liter (L)
A liter is equal to about .264 gallons We use liters to measure most objects that can hold liquid Example: how much water a bath tub holds, amount of soda

6. The Capacity of a Milliliter (mL)
A milliliter is the smallest type of gram and it is equal to liters or gallons. We use millimeters to measure objects that can only hold the amount of liquid we might drink in one at one time. Example: measuring cups, water bottles

7. Metric Staircase
Kil
Hec
Dec
Unit
Deci
Centi
Milli

8. Metric Conversions When you go down the stairs, you x10 Kil Hec Dec
Unit
Deci
Hint: x10 is the same as moving the decimal one place to the right or adding one zero to the end of the number
Centi
Milli

9. Capacity Conversions Kil Hec x10 Dec x10 Liter x10 Deci Centi Example
1 L = 1,000 mL
Milli

10. Capacity Conversions x10 Kil x10 x10 Hec Dec Liter Deci Centi Example
16 kL = 16,000 L
Milli

11. Capacity Conversions Kil Hec Dec x10 Liter x10 Deci Centi Example
19 L = 1,900 centiliters
Milli

12. Metric Conversions When you go up the stairs, you divide by 10 Kil Hec
Dec
Unit
Deci
Centi
Hint: divide by 10 is the same as moving the decimal one place to the left
Milli

13. Capacity Conversions Kil Hec /10 Dec /10 Liter /10 Deci Centi Example
1 mL = L
Milli

14. Capacity Conversions /10 Kil Hec Dec Liter Deci Centi Example
12 hectoliters = 1.2 kL
Milli

15. Capacity Conversions /10 Kil /10 Hec /10 Dec Liter Deci Centi Example
900 L = .9 kL
Milli

16. Thank you for a great lesson!
Your Turn
Thank you for a great lesson!