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Keywords: | Activity, Base Unit, Classroom, Collaboration, Defining Constant, Derived Unit, Education, Estimation, Formal, Game, Hybrid, Individual, Informal, International System of Units, In-person, Measurement, Metric System, Play, Prefix, Proportion, Quantity, Scale, Sense-making, STEM, Team, Virtual |
Audience: | Educators, academic coordinators, outreach ambassadors, formal, and informal |
Grade Level: | K to Higher Education |
Subjects: | Biology and life sciences, chemistry, earth science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, physical science, physics, STEM |
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Download this publication, which includes the printable companion resources located at the end of the publication.
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This classroom presentation includes both Option 1 and 2 game boards as well as background information.
The ability to interpret measurement scales and approximate a quantity are essential Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) competencies. The Metric System Estimation Game is a fun, hands-on activity that helps participants become familiar with SI measurements by practicing estimation skills. During this activity, participants will become familiar with using the metric system (International System of Units, SI) measurements on common, everyday items. About how many grams does a baseball weigh? Approximately how many centimeters long is a pencil? How many liters are in that water bottle? Participants will work in small groups and earn points during this interactive, hands-on measurement game. With multiple game variations, the activity may be differentiated for instructional and skill levels.
Did you know that you can obtain a free set of metric education resources for use in your classroom? Contact the NIST TheSI [at] nist.gov (Metric Program) at TheSI [at] nist.gov (TheSI[at]nist[dot]gov) and include your name, school, subject, grade level, phone number, and U.S. mailing address. Publication requests may also be made using the OWM Contacts System. The NIST SI Teacher Kit contains a curated collection of instructional measurement resources. A metric ruler is a valuable tool for science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) classrooms.
The Metric Estimation Game is designed to develop and reinforce estimation skills, select and use appropriate measurement tools, and determine measurement unit quantity, scale, and magnitude
One recommended education best practice is to teach the SI by using the SI. Participants must build proficiency and confidence working with metric measurements before they can effectively make comparisons with other measurement systems. Use the Top 10 Tips for Teaching the Metric System.
Game | Delivery Method | Grade Level | |||
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K to 2nd | 3rd to 5th | 6th to 8th | 9th+ | ||
In- person |
| X | X | X | |
In-person | X | X |
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Becoming Familiar with SI | Everyday Estimation | Metrication FAQs | Prefixes | Metric Kitchen | SI Education and Training | SI Publications | Understanding Metric | Writing with Metric Units | National Metric Week | NEST-R (STEM Registry) | NIST Education Resources