The metric conversion is an essential topic in mathematics and especially science. Since objects have different physical properties such as size, weight, volume, and areas, the metric system acts as a base for the fundamentals of math.
The primary aim of measurement is to quantify those properties, which means expressing them as numbers. Units of measurement are pre-determined quantities that we use as references, and it’s imperative to be familiar with standard units of measurement.
As measurements can be tricky to understand and then convert, games and activities come to your rescue!. Students are likely to remember the concept when they are involved in a challenging gaming environment. Similarly, online games provide high-end graphics with interesting plots to attract students in the learning process and are easily accessible
This post aims to help you with games and activities that employ the concept of metric conversion in a fun and engaging way!
Metric conversion in real life: Where is it used?
The metric system is quite simply a more systematic approach to measuring things. It has proved to be a relatively easy concept to adopt and replicate the standardization of the system. Check out how metric conversion surrounds individuals in everyday routine tasks.
- Metrics are used in shopping as it requires individuals to measure the length and sizes of clothing to buy the perfect outfit.
- It is also used in grocery shopping when buying vegetables, fruits, or other foodstuffs that require the quantity to be measured in kilograms or grams.
- Electricity bills also use metric conversion to convert the watts into units to arrive at the final bill amount.
- The health sector also uses a metric conversion system as individuals go for regular health checkups and doctors check height and weight through metrics.
- Travel is dependent on metric conversion because of the distance of the destination, weight of passengers, and speed of the vehicle work on metrics.
- To check the weather, individuals need to understand metric conversion as the weather is generally depicted in degrees there enabling individuals to understand forecasts by understanding degrees.
Fun metric conversion activities
Teachers, parents, and adults can use these fantastic measurement activities and games to involve students in a competitive learning environment. While most games can be played as activities, some can also be given as tests for students.
1. Live Metric Board
Metric, while it looks pretty scary, it isn’t. The live board is easy to understand and use in the classrooms. This tool improves and enhances the memory retention skill of students.
How to play:
- Make all students stand on the floor and assign specific areas to write all the prefixes at the top of it. For example, start from kilo to milli.
- Here, the floors should be divided into columns for an engaging experience.
- There will be a total of 7 columns, with one column at the center.
- Students should move from one piece of a column to another.
- The one’s column is the same thing as your bases, such as meters (length), liters (volume), and grams (mass).
- The rest of the columns are all prefixes.
- To start the activity, give the students a conversion question.
- For example, ask them to convert 1000 grams into kilograms.
- They would move from grams to kilo by crossing three columns to the left.
- The same thing is done with the decimal point in the number.
Understanding metric conversion concepts help navigate challenging valuations in math and science. Furthermore, it advances conceptual knowledge and understanding.
2. Conversion Tic-tac-toe
This activity is vital for students to practice metric conversion based primarily on strengthening the concepts regarding metric system usage. The requirements for this game are white chart paper and a black marker.
How to play:
- Divide the chart paper into 9 square tic-tac-toe grids.
- Divide the group into two teams and ask the player to use the left section of the chart to fill each grid square randomly.
- Fill the squares in such a way that each contains a single figure.
- For example, write millimeters in the top left, decameters in the top center, 100 meters in the center square, and similarly in other squares.
- The first player would pick a random square, and their task is to convert it to or from meters.
- For example, if the player chooses the square of the decameter, then they will have to convert it to meters.
- If they can answer it correctly, they can mark the square with an O or X.
- The fastest team, which gets three squares in a row, wins.
The primary benefit of this game is the fun practice of metric conversions. Since it was converted into a game, it motivates the students to participate and work on their teamwork skills.
3. Conversions Conversations
This activity focuses on students accepting various challenges concerning metric conversions. They will be able to relate their knowledge of metric conversion to real-life objects around them.
How to play:
- Ask the students to sit in a circle.
- Provide them with visual cues about different objects around them.
- Ask them to think of a metric unit in which its weight can be best expressed.
- For example, a sack of wheat will match with kilograms.
- Students will debate amongst themselves the various metrics in which it can be converted.
This activity involves a deep background check on the knowledge learned by the students on the concept. Also, the group discussion would help in correcting misconceptions about the topic.
4. Metric Conversion Partner
The activity is played in pairs and works on the clarity of metric conversions. Working in pairs, they will have to roll a dice and will have to answer questions turn by turn.
How to play:
- Divide the group into pairs.
- Each team will get the chance to roll the dice.
- Questions will be written on small chits in a bowl with numbers on them.
- If players roll 4, they’ll have to pick the chit 4.
- Inside each chit, there will be a conversion-related question.
- The pair would get 30 seconds to complete it.
The team who gets three questions right in a row will win the round. The activity focuses on teamwork, mutual trust, and sharing the knowledge of the metric conversion.
Engaging online games for learning metric conversion
Online games are ideal when teachers and parents look for easy yet interactive learning sessions. These free online games involve visually appealing scenarios to trigger children’s creative thinking abilities.
1. Length Conversions
The game is based on good calculation skills. The prime focus of the game is to test the aptitude and knowledge of the players. There will be 15 questions, and for every correct option, players will get a point. The scoreboard displays the score at the top left corner of the game.
How to play:
- The players will be shown a question.
- They will have to answer it in the box below, and press submit.
- If they want to do some rough calculations, there is a sketch pad option available.
- Moreover, if the player cannot calculate the answer, they can press the hint icon to get the hint. However, they will get only three recommendations in a round.
The games allow working on the basics of metric conversions and solving complex word problems. Not only this, but players can also practice and revise their conceptual knowledge about the calculations and concepts.
2. Metric Units of Weight
This archery-based game works with a mix of archery and calculation of metrics. The player will control the turtle and shoot arrows at the dragons to save the eggs.
How to play:
- Players will have control of the turtle; with the arrows of the mouse, they can shoot the dragon to protect the eggs.
- To secure each egg, players will have to answer some questions.
- If the player gives incorrect answers, they will lose the eggs to the dragon.
It would improve players’ accuracy while shooting the dragons as it requires precision. While doing so, they’ll try and answer tough questions to score more eggs in the game.
3. Match the Cards
Either single or multiple players can play this game. Players will have many game options they can choose from Tug of war, Snap, metric unit pairs, and metric unit matching.
How to play:
- You can pick any game from any of the five options.
- Click on the blue button on the games to choose any of them.
- To win the game, they will have to finish the games in the least of all the clicks.
This activity provides a variety of games by which players can have enough practice to get a good hang of the concept. Moreover, they will also improve their calculation and conversion abilities.
4. Compare and Convert
As the name suggests, this online game works on the principle of conversion and comparison. Players will have to compare two mentioned quantities and answer which one is greater or smaller.
How to play:
- On the homepage, press start to begin the game.
- For every comparison or conversion question, three options will be provided.
- Choose the correct option to progress further in the game.
- Each level has 10 questions, and players can win up to 5 stars for their correct answers.
While comparing different quantities, it’s important to understand the difference between them and how they function differently. Improving calculation accuracy is integral to revising mathematical and science concepts.
Summing up,
As metric conversion activities and games are an engaging option to make children understand the concept, teachers, and parents can also take help from various other resources. Worksheets and training sessions can also be helpful to make children understand practical and real-world applications. Students can also be challenged to observe various metric conversions during the entire day. Additionally, the knowledge of metric conversion allows children to explore each metric and deeply comprehend its application.
An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’,