Instruct your students to measure each other's heights in centimeters using a metric tape measure and convert these measurements to millimeters, meters and even kilometers. Ask them to also measure short objects, such as pencils and erasers, using a 30-centimeter ruler and convert these measurements to and between millimeters, centimeters, meters and kilometers. Some example equations to use are: (millimeters = centimeters x 10) and (kilometers = meters / 1000).
Instruct your students to fill beakers and other containers marked in metric units with water. One activity should require your students to fill small beakers that measure milliliters and convert the measurement to liters. Another volume activity should require your students to fill larger containers that measure both liters and milliliters and convert these measurements from liters to milliliters. Your students should test their conversions by transporting the liquids from the small beakers to large containers and vice versa.
Instruct your students to weigh themselves on a metric scale in kilograms and convert to and between kilograms, grams and metric tons using the appropriate equations. Instruct them to also weigh smaller items, such as rice and their textbooks, using a metric scale. They should then convert their measurements between units using the appropriate equations, including (kilograms = grams x 1000) and (metric tons = kilograms x 1000).
Instruct your students to run a distance of 100 meters and time their speeds using meters per second. Ask students to convert these times using the appropriate equations to find other metric speeds, such as meters per minute, meters per hour, centimeters per second, kilometers per minute and other combinations. For example, to find meters per second from meters per minute, use (meters per second = meters x 0.0166).