Metric System Unit Conversion Worksheets
Worldwide the metric system is the most widely used system of measurement as it provides a nice standard that allows us to share the dimensions and size of things with one another. We have all different types of measurement tools that cover a wide range and scope of measurements. This often requires that we convert the units of measures to accommodate different scales or intervals. Metric unit carry a prefix at the front the name that indicate the power of ten that it is scaled up or down from the base unit. Earning these prefixes and how they relate to one another is a lesson in applied decimal units. These worksheets will help students learn how to convert values with metric units using the prefixes that we are presented with.
Aligned Standard: 5.MD.A.1
- Step-by-Step Lesson- U.S. Standard to Metric units and vice versa unit conversion practice.
- Guided Lesson - Help Gus cut boards, Nixon hand out fruit punch, and Nate ship rice.
- Guided Lesson Explanation - We get all cross multiplying crazy with this. Make sure to cover that with students.
- Liquid Volume, Distance, and Mass U.S./Metric Conversions - There are three word problems in here to finish it off strong.
- Conversion Quickness - 34 locked and loaded measurement problems for you in all.
- Answer Keys - These are for all the unlocked materials above.
Homework Sheets
We practice U.S./Metric standard conversions for length, volume, and mass. We also touch on the idea of sliding the decimal point around.
- Homework 1 - Manny Macho is a weight lifter that can easily lift 315 lbs. How many kgs can he easily lift?
- Homework 2 - To convert to a larger unit, move the decimal to the left or divide.
- Homework 3 - To convert to a smaller unit, move the decimal to the right or multiply.
- Homework 4 - Using the chart that is provided above, we would just look for the unit that we are starting with and the unit we are want to end up with.
- Homework 5 - Fill in the missing decimals.
Practice Worksheets
The sliding slanted unit scale really will help students visualize the problems.
- Practice 1 - Use the chart and a calculator if needed, to convert each measurement. Show your work and if needed, round to the nearest hundredth.
- Practice 2 - Use the ladder method to complete these conversions.
- Practice 3 - We would then multiply by the value provided on the chart.
- Practice 4 - For each problem we will need to identify which units are available from the chart provided.
Math Skill Quizzes
If you ever need to cover the whole gamut of topics available for this section, these are the quizzes for you.
- Quiz 1 - Our teacher found a caterpillar on the way to school. We measured it at 12 cm long. How many in. long was it?
- Quiz 2 - Use the ladder method to complete these conversions.
- Quiz 3 - The vet weighed our new kitten. She was a chunky 3kg. How many lbs did she weigh?
- Quiz 4 - Check out the unit moving charts.
Tips for Metric Unit Conversion
There are three heavily followed measurement unit systems that are being used all around the world. These unit systems include the International System of Units, known as SI units, United States Customary Units - UCS, and Imperial System of units. The International System of Units is the modern form of the metric system. All countries across the world, except three, have implemented the use of the International System of Units.
So, you want to learn metric unit conversions? Well, here are some tips that you can apply, regardless of which metric system you are using.
Conversions of measurement units within the measure within the metric system almost always require you to slide a decimal point in one direction or another. For each tens place that you must move, the decimal place makes one movement. If it is amplifying the value, the decimal slides to right. If the conversion reduces the value, the decimal point slides to the left.
This system is based entirely upon prefixes and the powers of 10. The number of zeroes associated with each value is set in a standard. The most common prefixes flow three powers of ten above and below the core unit of the measure. They present in this order where each is a power of ten difference from one another: Kilo, Hecto, Deca, (Unit Standard), Deci, Centi, Milli.
You can remember this using the acronym: K, H, D, U, D, C, M
It may be easier to remember the phrase:
King Henry Doesn’t Usually Drink Chocolate Milk.
When converting a small unit into a large unit, you always perform the division operation. When converting a large unit into a small unit, you always perform the multiplication operation. When converting units, make sure all units involved belong to the same measure. Always write units when converting quantities as it ensures that you are moving in the right direction. Writing conversions as a fraction can really ease the process for you.