Converting English Linear Measurement
This lesson is simply converting one form of English linear measurement to another. I will not be posting a video for this skill. All students need to really understand is that when we convert from a large form of measurement to a smaller one, we divide. When we convert a small form of measurement to a larger one, we multiply. Students learned a rap that tells them "Big to little gotta multiply. Little to big..divide!" They also learned a chant that tells them how many feet are in a mile. Both of these are demonstrated in the videos below. Check the chart below to figure out which numbers equate in linear measurement. There are practice problems below that you can access by clicking on the link, and there are word problems at the bottom of the page.
Table of English Linear Measurement
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12 inches = 1 foot 3 feet = 1 yard 36 inches = 1 yard 5280 feet = 1 mile |
For example:
18 feet = ______ inches Students should first look at the unit of measurement that is given to them: feet. So they are going from feet to inches or "big to little." Therefore, they need to multiply 18 by the number of inches in a foot (12). 18 times 12 is 216, so there are 216 inches in 18 feet. 18 feet = 216 inches OR For example: 27 inches = ______ feet Students should see that they are going from inches to feet or "little to big." Therefore, they need to divide 27 by the number of inches in a foot (12). 27 divided by 12 is 2 with a remainder of 3. They should understand that they can make 2 whole feet and have 3 inches left over. 27 inches = 2 feet and 3 inches |
Practice Problems
| convertingenglishlinear.doc |
Sample Word Problems:
1. A carpenter is cutting wood for his door. He has 3 pieces of wood that are each 3 yards in length. How many feet of wood does he have?
2. Megan's mom wants to make a dress out of fabric, but the store will only sell her material in feet. She buys 12 feet of material. The pattern says she will need 5 yards to make the dress. Will she have enough material? If so, will she have any left over? If not, how much more will she have to buy?
3. David has 72 inches of rope to tie up his piping. How many feet of rope does he have? How many yards?
4. If I have 14 yards of yarn to knit with, how many feet of yarn do I have? How many inches of yarn do I have? If the store charges me a penny an inch for the yarn, how much will I have to pay?
5. Dan walked home from school yesterday because he missed his bus. His house is 4 miles from the school. How many feet did he have to walk to get home?
1. A carpenter is cutting wood for his door. He has 3 pieces of wood that are each 3 yards in length. How many feet of wood does he have?
2. Megan's mom wants to make a dress out of fabric, but the store will only sell her material in feet. She buys 12 feet of material. The pattern says she will need 5 yards to make the dress. Will she have enough material? If so, will she have any left over? If not, how much more will she have to buy?
3. David has 72 inches of rope to tie up his piping. How many feet of rope does he have? How many yards?
4. If I have 14 yards of yarn to knit with, how many feet of yarn do I have? How many inches of yarn do I have? If the store charges me a penny an inch for the yarn, how much will I have to pay?
5. Dan walked home from school yesterday because he missed his bus. His house is 4 miles from the school. How many feet did he have to walk to get home?