Lesson 1: Systems of Measurement and Personal Referents
Launch
Are You Ready?
Complete these questions in your course folder (binder). If you are experiencing difficulty, you may want to use the information and the multimedia in the Refresher section to clarify concepts before completing these exercises.
1. What is a system of measurement?
2. Name three common units used for measuring length in the metric system.
3. Name three common units used for measuring length in the imperial system.
4. Perform the following fraction operations. Reduce to lowest terms, where possible.Â
Once you have completed these exercises to the best of your ability, use the answer link provided to check your work.
If you feel comfortable with the concepts covered in the questions, move forward to Discover. If you experienced difficulties, use the resources in Refresher to review these important concepts before continuing through the lesson or contact your teacher.
Refresher
The formal system of measurement used in Canada is the SI, but imperial units are still used in ordinary conversation. Imperial unit usage is found, for example, in recipes, construction, house renovation, and gardening. The imperial system of measurement actually has a longer history than the SI. Imperial units of length were initially based on human dimensions. In this lesson you will create a body ruler to help you understand these units.
As you start making measurements in the imperial system, you will need to be familiar with fractions. Use the multimedia piece titled “Exploring Fractions” to practise basic fraction operations. (Make sure you maximize the screen by clicking on the button in the top-right corner of the video.) ( You may need to log in using username LA53 and password 4487)
This page includes both a video and an interactive component. Go to the left side of the web page, and choose “Exploring Fractions (Object Interactive).”
Materials
- rulers and measuring tapes marked in both SI and imperial units