Top 10 Tips for Teaching the Metric System.xml NESTR_schema.xsd (Version 2)

Top 10 Tips for Teaching the Metric System

Click here to view this resource (on external site)

Description: Calling all teachers, parents and students. It’s easy to learn the metric system — or, as it is more formally called, the International System of Units (SI). Explore these top 10 tips for teaching the SI. Let the countdown begin! Explore 10 strategies to cultivate an immersive classroom measurement climate full of application opportunities that reinforce Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) cross-cutting concepts of scale, proportion, and quantity.
Teaching tips:
  • 0 to 5 minutes teaching time
  • Build students' proficiency as they apply the International System of Units (SI) measurements in STEM
  • An interdisciplinary approach is key to bringing the SI into K—12 classrooms, including language arts, fine arts, social sciences, industrial arts, vocational technologies, consumer studies, and physical fitness instruction
  • Make learning fun! Games provide a low-risk opportunity to experience success in applying metric measures
  • Measurement concepts are meaningfully established through regular hands-on activities using a variety of metric tools and methods to help students gain experience using various measurement instruments
Resource owner information:
  • Elizabeth Benham
  • [email protected]
  • NIST
  • 68 - Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML)
  • 680 - Physical Measurement Laboratory Office
Resource dates:
  • Created on October 12, 2022
  • Last updated on March 14, 2024
  • Reviewed on March 13, 2025
Resource types:
  • Educational Resource: Article
  • Workforce Development: Professional Development
Resource format:
  • Webpage
School subjects:
  • STEM: Biology and Life Sciences
  • STEM: Chemistry
  • STEM: Engineering
  • STEM: Mathematics
  • STEM: Physical Science (General)
  • STEM: Physics
  • Other: Social Sciences
  • Other: Physical Education
  • Other: Graphic or Visual Arts
Topics:
  • Research at NIST: Metrology
  • Other: SI Units
Instructional levels:
  • Professional
  • Career and Tech Ed
  • Continuing Ed
Target audiences:
  • General Public
  • Educators
  • Outreach Ambassadors
  • Parents
  • Students
Language:
  • English