Metric System: Magic Number Lab

This activity provides students with a first-hand opportunity to experience one of the benefits of the metric system.

Materials:
Stop watch
Pencil

Procedure:
Have your partner time how long it takes you to do all four problems in one column.
Time your partner doing the same four problems.
Complete the remaining columns in the same way.
Come to the front table and check each other’s papers after you’ve both finished all four columns.

The Problems:
Column 1: 13x5
462x5
87x5
78,956x5

Column 2: 13x12
462x12
87x12
78,956x12

Column 3:
13x100
462x100
87x100
78,956x100

Column 4: 13x10
462x10
87x10
78,956x10

For each column, record the time (in seconds) it took to complete the column and the number of problems you solved incorrectly.

Discussion questions:
Which number could you multiply by the fastest?
With which number did you make the fewest mistakes?
Explain what this activity had to do with the metric system.

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Metric System: Metric Label Project

Look for metric units in the world around you!


Collect 10 labels from products that have metric measurements (even though we live in an English system, products still bear metric units). Labels can be paper, cardboard, or plastic.

Fasten each label to a single sheet of paper, one label per page.

Label each page:
---the amount of metric measurement (ex. 453 grams)
---unit of measure (mass, volume, length)

Number each page, on the bottom of each page

Assemble the pages into a book

Design a cover related to the metric system

Extra Credit:
3 points each for labels in METRIC ONLY. Fasten each of these to a separate page and put in your booklet after page 10


Scoring:
2 points for each page = 20 points
5 points for the cover = 5 points
-------TOTAL--------- = 25 points

Depending upon your students, you may wish to require them to have a certain number of mass labels, volume labels, and length labels. FYI: length labels are the most difficult to locate, mass labels are easy to find.

All in all, a simple project, easy to grade, but it increase students' awareness of the metric system and helps bridge the gap between science class and their lives outside of school.

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