How to Measure Length

Warm Up:

Using what you learned and saw when creating the prefix models; describe the pattern that you see among all of the prefixes. How are they similar? (Hint: think about the mathematical pattern)

CW: 1)Measurement Warm UP2)How to Measure Length NotesHW: 1) Reading a Ruler Worksheet

The Metric System

“I’m ten times better than the Standard system

of measurement!”

If you can multiply & divide by 10 (or any power of 10), then the metric system will be easy for you.

THE METER

The meter is the starting point for the metric system.

START

Here’s a meter stick!

It takes 10 decimeters to make up 1 meter.

It takes 10 centimeters to make up 1 decimeter.

If 1 meter = 10 decimetersand

1 decimeter = 10 centimetersthen how many centimeters

make up 1 meter?

That’s right!1 meter = 100 centimeters

100centimeters = 1 meter

It takes 10 millimeters to make up 1 centimeter.

Boy, that’s small!

If 1 meter = 10 decimetersand

1 decimeter = 10 centimetersand

1centimeter = 10 millimeters

then how many millimeters make up 1 meter?

That’s right!1000 millimeters = 1 meter

It takes 10 millimeters to make up 1 centimeter.

Millimeters are so small that they almost run together.

Now let’s take a closer look at some measuring devices.

This is a magnified image of a ruler/meter stick.

1

This is one centimeter.

2 3 4

This is a magnified image of a ruler/meter stick.

1

This is half of a centimeter.

2 3 4

This is a magnified image of a ruler/meter stick.

1

This is one millimeter.

2 3 4

1 2 3 4

This key measures 3 cm.

1 2 3 4

Or you could say that it measures 30 mm.

1 2 3 4

This key measures 2.5 cm.

1 2 3 4

Or, you could say that it measures 25 mm.

1 2 3 4

This toy car measures 4.2 cm.

1 2 3 4

Or, you could say it measures 42 mm.

The metric system deals with powers of 10

1 meter =

10 decimeters =

100 centimeters =

1000 millimeters

How many centimeters make up 2 meters?

That’s right! There are 200 centimeters in 2

meters.

How many millimeters make up 2 meters?

That’s right! There are 2000 millimeters in 2

meters.

How many decimeters make up 2 meters?

That’s right! There are 20 decimeters in 2

meters.

The metric system really is 10 times better than our

standard system of measurement. It is very easy to convert from one

unit to another.

You must simply multiply by 10, 100, or

1000.

OR

You must simply divide by 10, 100, or 1000.

The end.