The Power of Thinking Big, … or Small
Objectives
• Students know their own measurement system (English and metric).
• Students have a solid point of reference of their own size, use various
methods to help determine the size of macro and micro systems and how big
or small they actually are.
Suggested Grade Level
9
Subject Area
Math
Physical Science
Timeline
Two 55-minute periods
Background
Students need to know the English system of measurement as well as the metric
scale.
Materials
Meter stick
Tape measure
Computer and internet access
Worksheets on metric and English measurement conversions
Lesson
First, present a review on the English system of measurement in comparison to the
metric system to make students comfortable with their own measurement system.
Present the metric system. Do a worksheet to convert measurements in the metric
system from one unit to another.
Metric System
Km
Hm
Dm
m,l,g
dm
cm
mm
µm
nm
.001
.01
.1
1
10
100
1000
1,000,000
1x10¯
³
1x10¯
²
1x10¯
¹
1x10º 1x10¹ 1x10² 1x10³
1,000,000,00
0
1x109
1x106
View the Powers of 10 video on the internet which shows a simulation on size
comparisons.
Find the distances of the planets from the sun in kilometers. Make a chart like the
one below to record the information. Once the distances are recorded, convert
these distances to meters, yards and miles.
Planet/star or Distance
Distance from Distance
Distance from Scale model
atom
from the Sun the Sun (m)
from the Sun the Sun
distance (yds)
(km)
(yards)
(miles)
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Oort Cloud
Alpha
Centauri
A Hydrogen
atom
Now make a scale to allow the planets to fit into one length of a football field. In this
system, the sun is at one end of the football field and the edge of the solar system
(the Oort Cloud) is at the other end. Find this distance. Find the distance in the
scale model of each planet from the Sun and record. Hint: you must know the
length in yards of a football field. Also, make a proportion comparing real distances
to scale in order to find scale model distances.
Use this measurement to place the planet on the football field.
Research the distance to the nearest star. How many football fields would you need
to place alpha Centauri in the solar system model using the created model?
Research the size of an atom. Include the diameter of the hydrogen atom and the
size of its nucleus. How would this be placed on the same solar system model?
Calculate distance in nanometers and meters.
Extensions
Make up your own scale of measurement.
Calculate the distance to each planet from Earth.
Calculate the distance to each planet from Earth using light years and parsecs.
Evaluation
•Students will know how to convert from English to metric units as well as metric to
metric units.
•Students know their own measurement system (English and metric).
•Students have a solid point of reference of their own size, use various methods to
help determine the size of macro and micro systems and how big or small they
actually are.
Resources
Space Foundation Biological, Physical Science notes and handouts.
Algebra: Explorations and Applications by McDougal Littell.
Powers of 10 website.
Worksheets on conversions of units.
Algebra: Explorations and Applications, Evanston, Illinois,
McDougal Littell, 1998, 0-395-86297-3.
http://www.powersof10.com
Addendum
Metric Mania Name_________________________
English or Metric?
Use the chart and a calculator to convert each measurement. Be sure to show your
work.
Round answers to the nearest hundredth if needed.
To go Multiply To go Multiply To go Multiply
from To by from To by from To by
ml -> fl oz 0.0338 cm -> in 0.3937 g -> oz 0.0353
fl oz -> ml 29.575 in -> cm 2.54 oz -> g 28.35
l -> gal 0.2642 m -> ft 3.2808 kg -> lbs 2.2046
gal -> l 3.785 ft -> m 0.3048 lbs -> kg 0.4536
km -> mi 0.6214
mi -> km 1.609
1) 16 in = _______ cm 2) 345 lbs = _______ kg 3) 56 g = _______ oz
4) 450 km = _______ mi 5) 1200 ml = _______ fl oz 6) 40 m = _______ ft
7) 4 gal = _______ l 8) 12 fl oz = _______ ml 9) 50 kg = _______ lbs
10) Penny has a pencil that is 19 cm long. How long the pencil in inches?
11) Macho Mel can lift 200 kilograms with ease. How much is this in pounds?
12) The distance between Happyville and Giggleland is 60 miles. How far is this in
kilometers?
13) A can of Cheap-O soda holds 355 ml of soda. How many milliliters would be in
2 cans of soda?
14) A cookie recipe calls for 1 pound of butter. How many grams of butter would be
needed for 3
batches?
T. Trimpe 2000 http://sciencespot.net/
English or Metric Worksheet - ANSWER KEY
1. 40.64 cm
2. 156.49 kg
3. 1.98 oz
4. 279.63 mi
5. 40.56 fl oz
6. 131.23 ft
7. 15.14 l
8. 354.9 ml
9. 110.23 lbs
10. 7.48 in (19 x .3937)
11. 440.92 lbs (200 x 2.2046)
12. 96.54 km (60 x 1.609)
13. 710 ml (355 x 2)
14. 1360.8 g (1 lb -> 16 oz x 28.35 x 3)
T. Trimpe 2000 http://sciencespot.net/
Name_________________________
Metric Mania
Conversion Practice
To convert to a smaller unit, move
decimal point to the right or multiply.
Basic
Unit
To convert to a larger unit, move
decimal point to the left or divide.
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
Compare using <, >, or =.
56 cm
6m7g
698 mg
T. Trimpe 2000 http://sciencespot.net/
Metric Mania
Conversion Practice
To convert to a smaller unit, move
decimal point to the right or multiply.
Basic
Unit
To convert to a larger unit, move
decimal point to the left or divide.
Kilo 1000
units
Hecto 100
units
Deka 10
units
Deci 0.1
units
Centi 0.01
units
Milli -
0.001
units
Overhead Copy
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
Compare using <, >, or =.
56 cm
6m7g
698 mg
T. Trimpe 2000 http://sciencespot.net/
Metric Mania Name_________________________
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.
1) 2000 mg = _______ g 6) 5 L = _______ mL 11) 16 cm = _______ mm
2) 104 km = _______ m 7) 198 g = _______ kg 12) 2500 m = _______ km
3) 480 cm = _____ m 8) 75 mL = _____ L 13) 65 g = _____ mg
4) 5.6 kg = _____ g 9) 50 cm = _____ m 14) 6.3 cm = _____ mm
5) 8 mm = _____ cm 10) 5.6 m = _____ cm 15) 120 mg = _____ g
Compare using <, >, or =.
16) 63 cm 6 m 17) 5 g 508 mg 18) 1,500 mL 1.5 L
19) 536 cm 53.6 dm 20) 43 mg 5 g 21) 3.6 m 36 cm
T. Trimpe 2000 http://sciencespot.net/
Metric Mania Answer Keys
Conversion Practice
NOTE: See overhead copy for the stairstep boxes.
1000 mg = 1 g
160 cm = 1600 mm
109 g = 0.109 kg
1 l = 1000 ml
14 km = 14000 m
250 m = .250 km
56 cm < 6 m
7 g > 698 mg
Conversion Challenge
1. kg
2. m
3. g
4. ml
5. mm
6. l
7. km
8. cm
9. mg
1. 2 g
2. 104000 m
3. 4.8 m
4. 5600 g
5. .8 cm
6. 5000 ml
7. 0.198 kg
8. 0.075 l
9. 0.5 m
10. 560 cm
11. 160 mm
12. 2.5 km
13. 65000 mg
14. 63 mm
15. 0.12 g
16. <
17. >
18. =
19. =
20. <
21. >
T. Trimpe 2000 http://sciencespot.net/