How Do You Teach Fifth Grade Measurement Conversions?
Have you heard? Students HATE learning about measurement in math class.
This was a sentence that I heard while at a gathering and I was completely shocked. I knew that it just was not true. And yes, I get it, everyone has their own opinion, groups of students are all so different, and sometimes the curriculum can make this concept dull, repetitive, and just, well, boring. But even still – I wanted to whip out my ruler and break into song about how great measurement really is.
Well – bygones be bygones, but now I am here to debunk that measurement myth.
So, how do you teach measurement conversions in fifth grade?
Measurement can measure up to any other fun concept that you teach! It really can be FUN, and when taught with a bit of flair (don’t worry – you don’t have to put on your glittery gear and dance around the room) can be a topic that students actually LOVE learning about.
Here are four ways that can make mastering measurement fun in fifth!
#1
Give students a chance to take learning into their own hands. Yep – hands on learning with a real-world context (my favorite way to teach any concept, really) is just what students need to MASSter the concept. Okay, measurement jokes aside, my own students always loved the measuring unit when we covered customary and metric units of length, mass, and capacity.
For length, we would measure the desks, the hallways, the playground, and more. Then, of course, we would practice converting those measurements.
For mass (or weight) we would bring out the paperclips, the textbooks, the water bottles…heck we even weighed a willing kindergartner one year.
Such a fun way to practice converting ounces and pounds.
Practicing capacity was a great way to incorporate some science. We would pull out the beakers, the measuring cups, the gallon containers, and more as we practice pouring to compare and convert.
#2
Create “rule” posters and measurement charts.
The hardest part about measurement (in my opinion) is just figuring out whether you are multiplying or dividing…and by what. If we can give students the tools they need to be successful, then…we should, right?
Put students in groups and assign them a measurement (customary length, customary weight, customary capacity; metric length, metric mass, metric capacity).
Then, have them create a large poster that explains the “rules” and also breaks down the common conversions for their measurement.
Finally, they can present and post their posters around the room.
This will help students for the entire unit (just make sure all conversions and rules are correct before popping them up onto your wall).
#3
Practice in fun, engaging ways while students are on their way to understanding and mastering the skill. My students always loved completing digital games or color-by-code activities like these ones.
#4
Finally – give them the additional practice that they need in the form of rote practice AND word problems. Rote practice should include traditional conversion problems and comparing problems so that students can think about this skill in different situations.
Then, wrap it all up with some real-world word problems so that students can make that connection from the classroom to their own lives.
See…measurement can truly be fun and engaging. Math is all in the mindset of both the teacher and the students. When our students see that we are excited about the content we are teaching, it is bound to spread like wildfire and ignite their passion for learning.
Happy Teaching!
xo, Kristin @ The Pixie Dust Classroom
P.S. Want even more idea for practicing fifth grade math skills? Check out this blog post!