Metric conversions for the adult learner

Tammy Murphy

Physical ScienceD. Phillips, Spring 2011EMPACTS Project

EMPACTS Project 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.

 

Community Benefits:

Developed new ways to present how to convert units within the metric system to the adult learner.

Expanded on the knowledge of measurement that the learner already understood.

Increased the student’s ability to apply this knowledge to real-life situations.

Technology

• Digital Camera• Phone (Texting and calling)• Computer• Internet• E-mail• Microsoft Power Point• Microsoft Word

Lead in to lesson…

The teacher will use the PowerPoint presentation to explain the Metric System.

The first activity on the presentation is the Manipulative Activity.

What is the metric system?(This is the 1st slide on the classroom presentation…)

The decimal measuring system based on the meter, liter, and gram as units of length, capacity, and

weight or mass

The metric system is 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

Metric system in the real world…

(2nd slide of the classroom presentation…)

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

Real life context:

(3rd slide of the classroom presentation…)

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.

KILO1000Units

HECTO100

Units

DEKA10

UnitsDECI

0.1Unit

CENTI0.01Unit

MILLI0.001Unit

MetersLitersGrams

Ladder Method

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.

4 km = _________ m

12

3

How many jumps does it take?

Starting Point Ending Point

4.1

__.2

__.3

__. = 4000 m

(4th slide of classroom presentation…)

How to remember…

(5th slide of classroom presentation…)

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)

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

Manipulative Activity

Compare using <, >, or =.

56 cm 6 m 7 g 698 mg

(6th slide of classroom presentation)

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

Independent Practice(7th slide of classroom presentation)

In class assessment…

After the students have completed the Independent Practice “Metric Conversions Worksheet ” the teacher will ask about the process by which they knew how to complete the worksheet. The teacher will use this group discussion as an assessment tool to assess each student’s understanding of metric conversion.

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

(8th slide of classroom presentation)

Closure

• Review worksheets

• Review “Ladder System” of metric conversions

• Students will demonstrate how to convert metric units

Ms. Phillip’s PHSC M/W class…

Presented “Metric conversions for the adult learner” to Ms. Phillip’s PHSC M/W class on Wednesday, April 20, 2011.

The adult student learners in this class were very cooperative and learned a new skills that they will be able to apply to real-world situations.

Measure of success…

• Success = observing student progress and their understanding of the concepts taught

• Successful due to feedback from manipulative activity

• The independent practice reflected their comprehension of the subject matter

My experience…

Demonstrating “Ladder System” to adult learner classroom

Goals were met…

• Students did well on all of the activities

• Students were able to use the “ladder system” to convert units of metric measures

• Students were able to work independently to make their own comparisons and convert metric measures

Developed skills…

• Group collaboration

• Interacting with teachers

• Becoming proficient within my topic

• Group efficiency with time and organization

• Improving teaching abilities and gaining experience in the classroom

• Improving technology skills

Into the future…

This lesson plan can be used in any adult learner classroom to teach metric conversions and

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

Thank you to. . .

A big thank you to Ms. Phillips and her Physical Science M/W adult learner class for allowing me to present a lesson on metric conversions. I had a lot of fun teaching this lesson!