1
THE METRIC
SYSTEM
LENGTH, MASS &
CAPACITY
COMMON CORE STANDARDS

6.MD.1. Convert among different-sized
standard measurement units within a given
measurement system (e.g., convert 5 cm to
0.05 m), and use these conversions in
solving multi-step, real world problems.
2
OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to:
 Use metric units of length, mass and
capacity
 Choose appropriate units for length, mass,
and capacity
 Use a mnemonic device to help remember
the order of the metric system
3
DID YOU KNOW
Lost in space
In September 1999, the United
States lost the Mars Climate Orbiter
as it approached Mars. The loss of
the $125 million spacecraft was due
to scientists confusing English units
and metric units.
Two spacecraft teams, one at
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in
Pasadena, CA, and the other at a
Lockheed Martin facility in
Colorado, where the spacecraft was
built, were unknowingly
exchanging some vital information
The missing Mars Climate Orbiter
in different units.
DID YOU KNOW
Lost in space
The spacecraft team in Colorado
used English units of pounds of
force to describe small forces
needed to adjust the spacecraft’s
orbit. The data was shipped via
computer, without units, to the JPL,
where the navigation team was
expecting the to receive the data in
metric measure.
The mix-up in units led to the JPL
scientists giving the spacecraft’s
computer wrong information, which
threw the spacecraft off course. This
in turn led to the spacecraft entering
the Martian Atmosphere, where it
The missing Mars Climate Orbiter
burned up.
So…


Is it important to know what units you are
using?
What might happen if you don’t use the
same measuring system?
6
The Metric System Basics

The metric system is a measurement system
based on our decimal (base 10) number
system.

Other countries (besides the United States)
and all scientists and engineers now use the
metric system for measurement.
The Metric System Basics

The metric system is based on a base unit that
corresponds to a certain kind of measurement
• Length = meter
• Volume = liter
• Weight (Mass) = gram

Prefixes plus base units make up the metric system
• Example:
• Centi + meter = Centimeter
• Kilo + liter = Kiloliter
Metri The Metric System Basicsc
System

The three prefixes that we will use the most
are:
• kilo
• centi
• milli
Base Units
kilo
hecto
deca
meter
gram
liter
deci
centi
milli
What is the order of the metric
system?

King Henry Died by Drinking Chocolate
Milk
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
King: Kilo
Henry: Hecto
Died: Deca
By: Base (m, L, g)
Drinking: Deci
Chocolate: Centi
Milk: Milli
Metric System: Length

So if you needed to measure length you
would choose meter as your base unit
• Length of a tree branch
• 1.5 meters
• Length of a room
• 5 meters
• Length of a ball of twine stretched out
• 25 meters
- Basic Unit of Length: Meters

Meters measure length
or distance

One millimeter is about
the thickness of a dime.
Basic Unit of Length: Meters

•or your fingernail.
One centimeter is
about the width of a
large paper clip
Basic Unit of Length: Meters

A kilometer is about six city blocks or
10 football fields.

1.6 kilometers is about 1 mile
Metric System: Mass

So if you needed to measure mass you
would choose grams as your base unit
• Mass of a dollar bill
• 1 gram
• Mass of a plastic ziploc bowl
• 5 grams
• Mass of an average novel or book
• 120 grams
Basic Unit of Mass: Gram

Grams are used to
measure mass or the
weight of an object.
Basic Unit of Mass: Grams

A milligram weighs
about as much as a grain
of salt.
Basic Unit of Mass: Grams

1 gram weighs about as
much as a small paper
clip.

1 kilogram weighs
about as much as 6
apples or 2 pounds.
Metric System: Capacity

So if you needed to measure capacity
(always liquids) you would choose liters as
your base unit
• Capacity of a bottle of water
• 1 liter
• Capacity of a gallon of milk
• Approximately 3.79 liters
Basic Unit of Capacity: Liters

Liters measure liquids
or capacity.
 If you are ever
measuring any type of
LIQUID, you need to
use the base unit of
liters to measure.
Basic Unit of Capacity: Liters

1 milliliter is about the
amount of one drop
Basic Unit of Capacity: Liters

A kiloliter would be
about 500 2-liter
bottles of pop
Which unit would you use to
measure the length of this bicycle?
km
m
cm
mm
Which unit would you use to
measure the mass of a penny?
km
g
cL
mg
Which unit would you use to
measure the water in an aquarium?
L
m
cL
mg
Which unit would you use to
measure the mass of a feather?
L
m
cL
mg
Which unit would you use to measure
the mass of a student desk?
kg
g
cL
mg
Which unit would you use to measure
the mass of a whole watermelon?
kg
g
cL
mg
Which unit would you use to measure
the mass of an egg?
kg
g
mm
mg
Which unit would you use to
measure a can of soup?
kL
L
mm
mL
Which unit would you use to
measure this glass of milk?
kL
L
cL
mL
Which unit would you use to
measure the distance across
Michigan?
km
m
cm
mL
Which unit would you use to
measure the height of a tree?
km
m
cm
mm
Which unit would you use to
measure the length of a bracelet?
km
m
cm
mm
Classwork:

Use this interactive to identify Units of
Measurement
Homework:
Reteaching/Practice 9.1 HO
36