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Metric Conversion Matching Activity and Free Problem Solving

9/11/2013

Metric Measurement Matching Game and Problem Solving Activity

$Metric matching - free activity$

The other day I shared the Metric Matching activity I used to help students work on their metric conversions (free activity found in that blog post). In that metric activity, students were given sets of cards that had numbers on them, like 7, 700, 7,000. They were also given the headings meter, centimeter, and millimeter, and they had to match the number with the correct heading so that all 3 values would be equivalent (7 m, 700 cm, 7,000 mm)

We completed this metric activity for a second time, using decimals in the meter category more often than we did with the first set of numbers (these more challenging numbers are on the second page of the activity).

Observations During the Metric Matching Activity

It did take students longer to place the numbers appropriately this time, because they wanted to put all of the whole numbers in the meter category.

It was fun to watch them try to figure out how many cm and mm these would be equal to, decide the numbers didn't work in the categories, and then rearrange them.
It was very difficult for me to be quiet and give help only if really necessary! However, some groups did need some redirection, and a little questioning, like, "If 4 meters is equal to 400 cm, can 4 meters also be equal to 0.4 cm?" was helpful.

Metric Conversion Problem Solving

As groups finished up with their matching, I gave them metric conversion problem solving sheets to work on together. This problem solving required students to complete metric conversions to reach their solutions.

This is the first time these classes have worked on problem solving together, and the students did well explaining their thinking to one another and using the resources in the room to help them.

If you'd like to try the metric problem solving with your students, you can grab it below. There are 3 problem solving sheets with answer keys and a student recording sheet.

$metric conversions free problem solving$

Download the Free Problem Solving Pages

Additional Resources to Practice Metric Conversions

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Metric Matching Activity

9/8/2013

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$metric conversion matching activity$

I've got a metric matching activity for you to use with your upper elementary or middle school math students!

After measuring with meter sticks and then finding the decimeter measurement of our classroom one day, we then worked on matching metric measurements.

Students were in groups of 2-3 students to complete this math activity.

Metric Matching Activity Steps

1) I gave each group 21 cards (7 sets of 3). Each set of 3 had equivalent measurements, in meter, centimeter, and millimeter form, but the measurements were not labeled with their units.
2) Students set up "Meter," "Centimeter," and "Millimeter," headings on their boards, and then had to determine which measurements to put in which categories, so that the measurements in each column would be equivalent.

For example, they had to place the cards 7, 700, 7,000 under meter, centimeter, and millimeter, respectively. (Example in picture.)
I used several similar numbers, so students couldn't just go by the initial digit to match the numbers:-) Most students did a good job with this, placing the numbers in the appropriate columns.

Students place the numbers in the correct column.

Students add the dm column

After the Metric Matching Activity

$metric conversions chart$

After I checked each group to be sure they were correct, I instructed students to add a decimeter column and write the equivalent decimeter measurements.

Most students used the poster pictured here to be sure that they place their decimeter column correctly. I believe every group in every class had their decimeter measurements correct....they did a great job figuring this out together!

After having their decimeter measurements checked, students had to make observations of the numbers in each column....

how did the numbers change as they moved from one column to another,
what is the relationship between the numbers?

These observations were written in their journals. Some observations were:

"The numbers get bigger as the units get smaller"
"Every time you move right, you add a zero (except when there's a decimal)"
"Multiply by 10 every time you go to the right."

The class observations got better later in the day (because those kids had science before math and had gotten some additional information!) Hopefully, getting this information in two different classes, in two different ways, will help the students to have a better grasp of the information than they have in the past (usually this info is just taught in science.)

The Metric Matching, which you can download below, has 2 different sets of 21 cards; I used the first page last week and used the second, more challenging page, today.

You can also grab some free metric problem solving in my follow-up post to this one, where I share the 2nd day of the metric matching activity:-)