Metric Capers

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
In this outdoor activity, learners measure familiar objects in nature to practice working with the metric system. The goal is for learners to develop their "metric senses" by measuring and estimating in metric units the mass, length, temperature, and volume of familiar objects. Can be adapted into an indoor activity on a rainy day.

Quick Guide

Learning Time:
45 to 60 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$10 - $20 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 6 - 14
Resource Type:
Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • kilogram scales
  • gram scales
  • onion bags or mesh bags
  • plastic bags (strong enough to hold one liter of soil)
  • meter tapes
  • rulers, 15-30 cm, preferrably clear plastic
  • liter-containers
  • 250-ml measuring cups
  • buckets of water
  • 1 8-10 liter bucket (optional)
  • Celsius thermometers
  • rulers, 15-30 cm
  • flagging
  • 1 Metric Tools Equipment card (see PDF)
  • 1 sheet of Practic and Caper Cards (see
  • pencils

Keywords

Subjects

  • Mathematics
    • Measurement
      • Units of Measurement
      • Size and Scale
      • Systems

Informal Categories

  • Outdoor Activity

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • be mobile
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves teamwork and communication skills
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, The Regents of the University of California, 1979