Converting Units - Imperial Units - Presentation

In the lesson on converting units, students are introduced to the concept of converting between metric units (such as metres, kilograms, and litres) and imperial units (including inches, pounds, and pints). They are encouraged to think about items that are still commonly measured in imperial units and to discuss their thoughts. The lesson utilises bar models to visually assist students with the conversion process. For example, they learn that one inch is approximately equivalent to 2.5 centimetres, and they use this knowledge to work through exercises converting inches to centimetres and vice versa. Additional activities help students understand how to convert between kilograms and pounds, with one kilogram being roughly equal to two pounds.

The lesson continues with an exploration of volume conversions, specifically converting pints to millilitres and litres. Students are presented with the fact that there are 568 millilitres in a pint and are tasked with calculating how many litres are in various quantities of pints. These practical exercises are designed to strengthen their understanding of volume conversion. The lesson also includes reasoning activities where students apply their conversion knowledge to real-life scenarios, such as determining the amount of milk used or comparing weights. Independent work tasks further challenge students to convert measurements and consider the implications of using approximate values. Through these activities, students are encouraged to think critically about the use of imperial measurements and the meaning of approximation in the context of conversions.