Word (.docx)
Acrobat (.pdf)
Examples
Example: If a ribbon is 11 yards 2 feet in length, how long is the ribbon in feet?Example: A gallon contains 16 cups. How many cups are in 
gallons?
Clarifications
Clarification 1: Instruction includes the understanding of how to convert from smaller to larger units or from larger to smaller units.Clarification 2: Within the benchmark, the expectation is not to convert from grams to kilograms, meters to kilometers or milliliters to liters.
Clarification 3: Problems involving fractions are limited to denominators of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 100.
Benchmark Instructional Guide
Connecting Benchmarks/Horizontal Alignment
Terms from the K-12 Glossary
- NA
Vertical Alignment
Previous Benchmarks
Next Benchmarks
Purpose and Instructional Strategies
The purpose of this benchmark is for students to see the relationships between the units they use for measurement. Students should begin to generalize that the smaller the unit is, the more precise measurement they will get, but will also need more of the unit to measure (MTR.5.1). Work in this benchmark builds from grade 3 foundations of using customary measurements (MA.3.M.1.1).- For instruction, students need to use measuring devices in class to develop a sense of the attributes being measured to have a better understanding of the relationships between units.
- The number of units relates to the size of the unit. Students need to develop an understanding that there are 12 inches in 1 foot and 3 feet in 1 yard. Allow students to use rulers or a yardstick to discover these relationships among units of measurements. Using 12-inch rulers and yardsticks, students will see that three of the 12-inch rulers are the same length as a yardstick, so 3 feet is equivalent to one yard. A similar strategy can be used with rulers marked with centimeters and a meter stick to discover the relationships between centimeters and meters.
- To help students to visualize the size of units, they should be given multiple opportunities to measure the same object with different measuring tools.
- For example, have the students measure the length of a room with one-inch tiles, with one-foot rulers, and with yardsticks. Students should notice that it takes fewer yard sticks to measure the room than rulers or tiles and explain their reasoning.
- During instruction, have students record measurement relationships in a two-column table or t-chart.
- Students are not expected to memorize conversions. Students should be provided conversion tools (e.g., charts) during instruction.
Common Misconceptions or Errors
- Students can assume that converting from smaller units to larger units (e.g., ounces to pounds), that multiplication is used, and when converting from larger units to smaller units (e.g., pounds to ounces), that division is used. To assist students with this misconception, expect them to estimate reasonable solutions.
Strategies to Support Tiered Instruction
- Instruction includes demonstrating which operation to use when converting from smaller units to larger units (e.g., ounces to pounds) and when converting from larger units to smaller units (e.g., pounds to ounces). Instruction also includes estimating reasonable solutions. The teacher models a think aloud and records the relationships on a two- column chart.
- For example, “If a ribbon is 11 yards 2 feet in length, how long is the ribbon in feet?”
- “I know that for every 1 yard, there are 3 feet. So, I can multiply the number of yards by 3 to convert to feet. I also know that for every 3 feet, there is one yard. I can divide the number of feet by 3 to convert to yards. Therefore 2 yards convert to 6 feet and 6 feet converts to 2 yards. To find out how many feet there are in 11 yards, 2 feet, I have to multiply the number of yards by 3. 11 yards × 3 = 33 feet. Next, I have to add the extra 2 feet. So, 11 yards, 2 feet converts to 35 feet.”
- Instruction includes using a bar model or tape diagram to show the relationship between the units. The teacher models a think aloud.
o For example, “If a ribbon is 11 yards 2 feet in length, how long is the ribbon in feet?”
- “I know that for every 1 yard, there are 3 feet. So, I can multiply the number of yards by 3 to convert to feet. I also know that for every 3 feet, there is one yard. I can divide the number of feet by 3 to convert to yards. Therefore 2 yards convert to 6 feet and 6 feet converts to 2 yards. To find out how many feet there are in 11 yards, 2 feet, I have to multiply the number of yards by 3. 11 × 3 = 33. Next, I have to add the extra 2 feet. So, 11 yards, 2 feet converts to 35 feet.”
Instructional Tasks
Instructional Task 1 (MTR.3.1)
Calculate how many minutes there are in 1 week.Instructional Items
Instructional Item 1
There are 3 paperclip chains. Chain A is 50 inches long, Chain B is 4 feet long. Chain C is 1 yard long. Order the chains from the longest length to the shortest length.- a. Chain A, Chain B, Chain C
- b. Chain B, Chain C, Chain A
- c. Chain C, Chain B, Chain A
- d. Chain B, Chain A, Chain C
Related Courses
Related Access Points
Related Resources
Formative Assessments
Lesson Plans
Original Student Tutorials
Tutorials
STEM Lessons - Model Eliciting Activity
Students will work in groups to assist a client in purchasing different fish for a fish pond. From a data table, they will need to decide which type of fish and how many fish to purchase according to the size of the each pond. After, they will need to revisit a revised data table to make different selection of fish and calculate costs for the purchase of the fish.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
In this Model Eliciting Activity, MEA, students will rank four promotional deals that a travel agency is running. Before they make their decision, the students must find the discounted price by multiplying a whole number by a fraction and convert the duration of the trip to the same unit.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
Students are asked to plan a playground for a new park within a given budget and area limit. They will analyze the best use of playground equipment using a data table of area requirements and cost. Students will convert units within a single measurement system, calculate the area of a rectangle, and perform addition/subtraction calculations involving money using decimal notation.
This MEA asks students to take on the job of a tennis pro and decide which factors are most important in choosing a facility to take tennis lessons. Students will perform math calculations, create a two-column table for hours and minutes, develop a procedure to rank facilities, and provide written feedback through letters to a parent whose child needs group tennis lessons and writes letters to ask for advice. They will rank their choices from "best to worst" tennis lesson facilities. Students will provide a detailed written explanation for how they decided to rank factors and their solution for rating tennis lesson facilities.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought processes. MEAs follow a problem-based, student-centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
The practice of science is collaborative and exciting. This lesson engages students as a STEM team working collaboratively to provide a company with the best sneaker design.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
Students will be asked to rank the different floor tiles for the playrooms in activity centers throughout community parks. They will need to take certain factors into consideration when making their rankings. They will also need to calculate the costs of installing the floor tiles using the given measurement of the playroom and the floor tiles. The "twist" will be that the client now needs to include a storage room for some of the playroom's equipment. They will need to decide if to use the same floor tile or different from the playroom and the additional cost of the storage closet. After, they will add the total costs of the playroom and the storage closet. They will report their findings and reasons by writing letters to the client.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
This activity requires students to apply their knowledge of unit conversions, speed calculation, and comparing fractions to solve the problem of which water park their class should choose to go on for their 5th grade class trip.
MFAS Formative Assessments
Students complete two tables by converting from feet to inches and pounds to ounces.
Students are asked to complete two tables by converting meters to centimeters and kilograms to grams.
Students complete two tables by converting kilometers to meters and liters to milliliters.
Students complete two tables by converting units of time from hours to minutes and minutes to seconds
Students are asked to solve a multi-step word problem that requires converting metric length units.
Students are asked to convert units of measure given with fractions and decimals using linear models.
Original Student Tutorials Mathematics - Grades K-5
Learn to convert a larger customary measurement unit into equivalent smaller units, including converting yards to feet and inches, in this sports-themed interactive tutorial.
Learn to convert a larger customary measurement unit into equivalent smaller units, including converting miles to yards and feet in this sports-themed interactive tutorial.
This is Part 2 of a two-part series. Click HERE to open Part 1: Measuring Length with Customary Units.
Student Resources
Original Student Tutorials
Learn to convert a larger customary measurement unit into equivalent smaller units, including converting miles to yards and feet in this sports-themed interactive tutorial.
This is Part 2 of a two-part series. Click HERE to open Part 1: Measuring Length with Customary Units.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to convert a larger customary measurement unit into equivalent smaller units, including converting yards to feet and inches, in this sports-themed interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Tutorials
This Khan Academy tutorial video demonstrates a strategy for ordering four different-sized metric length units.
Type: Tutorial
In this Khan Academy tutorial video Chris is told to be home by 6:15. You know the number of minutes it takes him to get home. What time should he leave?
Type: Tutorial
This Khan Academy tutorial video presents conventional examples that use specific customary units
Type: Tutorial
In this tutorial video from Khan Academy, explore the differences and similarities involved when converting between measurements in the metric and customary systems.
Type: Tutorial
In this video tutorial from Khan Academy, explore converting between gallons, quarts, pints, cups, and fluid ounces.
Type: Tutorial
In this video tutorial from Khan Academy, explore conversion within metric units of length, such as: kilometers, meters and centimeters.
Type: Tutorial
In this video tutorial from Khan Academy, explore conversion of units of time between hours, minutes and seconds.
Type: Tutorial
In this video tutorial from Khan Academy, explore U.S. customary units of fluid volume (teaspoon, tablespoon, fluid ounce, cup, pint, quart, and gallon).
Type: Tutorial
In this video tutorial from Khan Academy, explore pounds, ounces and tons.
Type: Tutorial
Parent Resources
Tutorials
In this tutorial video from Khan Academy, explore the differences and similarities involved when converting between measurements in the metric and customary systems.
Type: Tutorial
In this video tutorial from Khan Academy, explore converting between gallons, quarts, pints, cups, and fluid ounces.
Type: Tutorial
In this video tutorial from Khan Academy, explore conversion within metric units of length, such as: kilometers, meters and centimeters.
Type: Tutorial
In this video tutorial from Khan Academy, explore conversion of units of time between hours, minutes and seconds.
Type: Tutorial
In this video tutorial from Khan Academy, explore U.S. customary units of fluid volume (teaspoon, tablespoon, fluid ounce, cup, pint, quart, and gallon).
Type: Tutorial
In this video tutorial from Khan Academy, explore pounds, ounces and tons.
Type: Tutorial
