1. Converter’s Creed
Raise your
right hand and
repeat after
me!
I (state your name) am aware that converting between units may seem weird and confusing. However, I am also aware of my ability to accomplish anything that I want to, especially when I maintain a positive attitude. I vow to keep an open mind and refrain from complaining as I begin to learn about these processes. I will be successful in the end.

2. Certificate of Training Converter
This certificate is awarded to
Who successfully completed the Conversion Course
offered by Howell Middle School South.
With this certificate, the aforementioned student
can perform a variety of conversions upon request.
___________________
Mr. Jones – 7th Science
HMSS
Date of Issuance:______
Certificate #:_________
Level of Certification
STANDARD

3. Levels of Certification
Levels of Certification are assigned dependent on the grade level achieved on the “Conversion Examination”
Levels are as follows:
% Advanced
% Standard
≤ 79% Provisional

4. Practice Problems How many milligrams are in 3.6 kilograms?
Convert 15 liters to centiliters
How many hm are in mm?
Convert 128,650 mL to daL
Jason ran 1.61 km. How many meters did he run?
3,600,000 milligrams
1,500 centiliters hm
daL
1,610 meters

5. 5 kilometers = 5,000 meters = 5,000,000 millimeters
The Metric System
The system of measurement utilized by the International System of Units or the Système International d'Unités (SI). This system was established to provide consistency related to weights and measures and is the primary system of measurement used around the world (however, not in the United States). Each measurement within this system consists of a base unit (liter, meter, gram, etc.) usually attached to a prefix (kilo, hecto, deca, deci, centi, milli, etc.). One can easily navigate, or convert, within the metric system by multiplying or dividing by a power of 10. In other words, by simply moving the decimal point to the right or the left, it is possible to convert from one unit of measure to another within this system.
Example
5 kilometers = 5,000 meters = 5,000,000 millimeters
Each of these conversions were made by simply moving the decimal point to the right or the left

6. Prefixes
The chart below provides a list of some commonly used prefixes
Symbol Prefix Numerical Expression Factor
T tera
G giga
M mega
k kilo
h hecto
da dek(c)a
NO PREFIX (UNIT)
d deci
c centi
m milli
μ micro
n nano

7. Units Units Symbol Used to Measure: liter L volume
The chart below provides a list of some commonly used units
Units Symbol Used to Measure:
liter L volume
meter m distance/length
gram g mass (weight)
Joule J energy
second s time
Pascal Pa pressure

8. Combining Prefixes and Units
Values in the metric system must contain a unit and
the units are typically preceded by a prefix
milli +
gram =
milligram
(mg)
Prefixes
tera (T)
giga (G)
mega (M)
kilo (k)
hecto (h)
dek(c)a (da)
deci (d)
centi (c)
milli (m)
micro (µ)
nano (n)
Units
liter (L)
meter (m)
gram (g)
Joule (J)
second (s)
Pascal (Pa)
kilo +
liter =
kiloliter
(kL)
centi +
meter =
centimeter
(cm)
*The lists of prefixes & units are not all-inclusive

9. “Use it to help guide you through the metric system”
Metric Map
“Use it to help guide you through the metric system”
UNITS
Gram
Liter
Meter
kilo
hecto
deka
deci
centi
milli
How To Use Your Map
Identify your starting point - this is the number followed by a prefix/unit.
Identify your final destination – this is the prefix/unit you want in the end.
Count the number of steps/places from the starting point to the final destination.
Move the decimal point the number of steps between the two locations, in the same direction.
*This map does not show all prefixes and units

10. Practice Problem 1 3,600,000 mg 3 6 kg mg
How many milligrams are in 3.6 kilograms?
Gram
kilo
hecto
deka
deci
centi
milli
Starting point
Final Destination
3,600,000 mg
3 6 kg mg
Direction:
Steps:  6

11. Practice Problem 2 1,500 cL 1 5 0 L cL
Convert 15 liters to centiliters
Liter
kilo
hecto
deka
deci
centi
milli
Starting point
Final Destination
1,500 cL
1 5 0 L cL
Direction:
Steps:  2

12. Practice Problem 3 0.0001267 hm 1 2 67 mm hm
How many hm are in mm?
Meter
kilo
hecto
deka
deci
centi
milli
Final Destination
Starting point hm
1 2 67 mm hm
Direction:
Steps:  5

13. Practice Problem 4 12.865 daL 1 2 8 6 5 0 0 mL daL
Convert 128,650 mL to daL
Liter
kilo
hecto
deka
deci
centi
milli
Final Destination
Starting point
daL mL
daL
Direction:
Steps:  4

14. Practice Problem 5
Jason ran 1.61 km. How many meters did he run?
Meter
kilo
hecto
deka
deci
centi
milli
Starting point
Final Destination
1,610 m
1 6 1 km m
Direction:
Steps:  3

15. Helpful Acrostic Try to create your own acrostic to help you
ARF!
kay
hit
dog
dog
can’t
move
Try to create your own acrostic to help you
remember the prefixes and their order. This
will be important because you will not receive
the metric map on your quiz.
Thank you for the acrostic Mrs. Eisenhower – Marblehead, MA