Metric c o nversions for the adult learner

1. Tammy Murphy Physical Science D. Phillips, Spring 2011 EMPACTS Project Metric conversions for the adult learner

2. General Goal The most important goal for the adult learner is to be able to use and apply the skill of converting within the metric system that is learned in an academic setting and be able to apply it to real-life situations.

3. What is the metric system? The decimal measuring system based on the meter, liter, and gram as units of length, capacity, and weight or mass The metric systemis in use by 95% of the world The metric system is universally used in the sciences The only country in the world that does not utilize the metric system is the United States

4. Metric system in the real world… There are three basic units of metric measure that the adult learner will use in real-life situations: meter (m) - length gram (g) - mass or weight liter (L) - volume

5. Real life context: Many disciplines use the metric system, such as pharmacology, chemistry, nursing and astronomy. For example, the average distance between the moon and the earth is 384,403 kilometers (238,857 miles). When nurses calculate how much an infant takes from a bottle, they do it in cubic centimeters. Thirty cc's equals about an ounce.

6. 1 2 3 MetersLitersGrams How do you use the “ladder” method? 1st – Determine your starting point. 2nd – Count the “jumps” to your ending point. 3rd – Move the decimal the same number of jumps in the same direction. Starting Point Ending Point __. __. __. 2 3 1 Ladder Method KILO1000Units HECTO100Units DEKA10Units DECI0.1Unit CENTI0.01Unit MILLI0.001Unit 4 km = _________ m How many jumps does it take? 4. = 4000 m

7. How to remember… An easy way to remember the metric units of measure is to remember the sentence: King Henry died ___ drinking chocolate milk! (Poor guy!!!) kilo- (1000) hecto- (100) deka- (10) deci- (0.1) centi- (0.01) milli- (0.001)

8. Compare using <, >, or =. 56 cm 6 m 7 g 698 mg Conversion Practice Try these conversions using the ladder method. 1000 mg = _______ g 1 L = _______ mL 160 cm = _______ mm 14 km = _______ m 109 g = _______ kg 250 m = _______ km

9. Metric Conversion Challenge Write the correct abbreviation for each metric unit. 1) Kilogram _____ 4) Milliliter _____ 7) Kilometer _____ 2) Meter _____ 5) Millimeter _____ 8) Centimeter _____ 3) Gram _____ 6) Liter _____ 9) Milligram _____ Try these conversions, using the ladder method. 10) 2000 mg = _______ g 15) 5 L = _______ mL 20) 16 cm = _______ mm 11) 104 km = _______ m 16) 198 g = _______ kg 21) 2500 m = _______ km 12) 480 cm = _____ m 17) 75 mL = _____ L 22) 65 g = _____ mg 13) 5.6 kg = _____ g 18) 50 cm = _____ m 23) 6.3 cm = _____ mm 14) 8 mm = _____ cm 19) 5.6 m = _____ cm 24) 120 mg = _____ g

10. Let’s practice what we’ve learned… Compare using <, >, or =. 63 cm ___ 6 m 536 cm ___ 53.6 dm 5 g ___ 508 mg 1,500 mL___1.5 L 43 mg ___ 5 g 3.6 m ___ 36 cm

11. References • Dictionary.com, n.d. Retrieved April 25, 2011 from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/metric+system • Ehow.com, n.d. Retrieved April 25, 2011 from http://www.ehow.com/how_5864935_use-metric-system-real-life.html • Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. n.d. Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://www.michigan.gov • The Science Spot, n.d. Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://sciencespot.net/Pages/classmetric.html#Anchor-14210 • The Science Spot, n.d. Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://sciencespot.net/Media/metric_metconv.ppt