4.8.B
The Standard
convert measurements within the same measurement system, customary or metric, from a smaller unit into a larger unit or a larger unit into a smaller unit when given other equivalent measures represented in a table
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Mathematics
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students read an equivalence table and use its unit relationship to convert measurements. They multiply or divide as needed and include the correct unit in each answer.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students use an equivalence from a table to convert in either direction. They choose the correct operation, label the answer, and explain why smaller units produce a larger number.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may multiply when converting to a larger unit or divide when converting to a smaller unit. They may assume every conversion uses 10, ignore the given table, or leave off unit labels.
How to Assess It
- Give a table showing 1 yard equals 3 feet and 1 meter equals 100 centimeters. Ask students to convert 7 yards to feet and 500 centimeters to meters, then name the operation used.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Lay inch tiles along foot rulers, record equivalent pairs in a table, and use the table to convert four given lengths.
Prompt students to explain why 4 feet has a larger number when written in inches, using one table row as evidence.
Play Conversion Match: teams pair cards such as 6 yards and 18 feet, using a posted equivalence table to justify each match.
Give a track meet schedule in meters and kilometers, then have students convert each event length to the unit requested by the coach.
Keep exploring
Related Standards
- 4.8.A
identify relative sizes of measurement units within the customary and metric systems
- 5.7
The student applies mathematical process standards to select appropriate units, strategies, and tools to solve problems involving measurement. The student is ex...
- 7.4.E
convert between measurement systems, including the use of proportions and the use of unit rates
- 6.4.H
convert units within a measurement system, including the use of proportions and unit rates
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