Teaching measurement conversions does not need to be difficult if you use these high quality videos, books, lesson plans, activities, and printables. All activities listed are free and have been tested for quality.
Introductory Activities for Units of Measurement
Study Jams Units of Measurement video from Scholastic is a quick 3 1/2 minute video which goes a little into the history of measurement units, compares the customary and metric systems and then addresses capacity, length, weight, mass and temperature. A seven question multiple choice quiz is available to take after watching the video.
An additional option is Metric & Standard Measurement Systems, a 5 minute introductory video from NASA Connect.
To help students understand the importance of having standard units of measurement the book How Big Is a Foot? is a great one. You can have them measure objects using their feet like in the book and then note the differences in the measurements using different students’ feet (as well as the teacher’s!) Here is a free complete lesson plan that includes printable activity sheets for grades 3-5 using this book from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Other children’s books for teaching measurement.
The Smithsonian has an interesting article for teacher background knowledge on why the U.S. has not adopted the metric system used in most of the rest of the world (and much easier to convert as it is based on ten like the rest of our number system!)
Teaching U.S. Customary Units
Measurement: Distance and Length is a 20 minute video from Math Crush about using the U.S. customary system to measure distance and length.
Khan Academy Converting Feet to Inches
Khan Academy Converting Yards to Inches
Flocabulary: Capacity and Weight. Video, vocabulary cards, vocabulary game, read and respond, and quiz.
Inches, Feet and Yards animated music video from NumberRocks
Customary Measurement is a free 3 flap foldable for 4th-6th grade
Here are guided practice notes on converting customary measurement units (source:better lesson.com)
Using a Ratio Table to Convert Feet, Inches, and Yards
Tic Tac Convert ($2 on TPT) Graphic organizers for 4th/5th grade customary measurement conversion standards
Teaching Metric Unit Conversions
Flocabulary: The Metric System- video, vocabulary cards, vocab game, read and respond, and quiz
Math Antics Intro to the Metric System 11 minute video
Khan Academy Converting Metric Units
Khan Academy Centimeters to Meters
Metric System Conversion Song from Number Rocks
Relationships in the Metric System is a Math Solutions full lesson plan for 3rd-5th grade
Metric Length Madness lesson for 5th grade
Conversion Excursion lesson for 5th grade
Brain Pop: Converting Metric Units
Teaching Measurement Conversions Between Customary and Metric
Practice Activities, Puzzles, and Games
Muscle memory “trick” for remembering whether to multiply or divide
10 free printable unit conversion puzzles
Measurement Equivalence Bump Game
Liquid Measurement Slap It Card Game
Printable Rock, Paper, Scissors Conversion Game
Measurement In Real Life is a free activity from Jennifer Findley using grocery ads to practice measurement conversions.
Hands On Conversions
Don’t underestimate the importance of working with different measurements in a hands on way. You can buy teacher supplies such as the Classroom Liquid Measuring Set from Learning Resources (link below) for hands on measuring, but I think it is just as good and less expensive to buy measuring cups/spoons, containers, etc. made for the kitchen from Walmart or even a thrift store.
Capacity Relay Race– in this activity from E is For Explore teams race to fill a gallon of water with squeezing water from a sponge into a cups, emptying cups into pints, pints into quarts.
Measurement Conversions Cooking Lesson (baking vanilla cupcakes)
Online Games
- Online Measurement Conversion Games on Sheppard Software
- Horrendous Soup online metric system conversion game from Mr.Nussbaum
Task Cards
See my post Ways to Use Task Cards for creative ways to use these.
Printable Reference Tools for Students
- Gallon Man printable (full color and black/white options)
- Measurement Conversions Fans reference tool
- Printable measurement conversion charts for both metric and customary
More Help for Intervention Students
Measurement Conversions For Kids Who Just Don’t Get It
Additional Challenge for Enrichment
Measure Me 3rd Grade Enrichment Lesson- Students measure themselves and create a life size paper person. (FREE lesson)
Measurement Conversions Project Run a Circus (for GT 4th-6th grade with differentiation options). $4.50 on TPT
4th Grade 30 No Prep Measurement Conversion Enrichment Projects and 30 test prep problem solving questions by Gina Kennedy, $3.99 on TPT
Note: Gina Kennedy’s test prep questions are specifically aligned to Texas STAAR, though of course measurement conversions work the same way anywhere!