Introduce students to the metric system and commo

1
Metric Match Game

• MCHS General Chemistry
• Purpose
• Introduce students to the metric system and
  common conversions using this Metric Match Game. 
• Science Concepts
• Metric system
• Metric conversions

2
Background

• Up until the time of Napoleon, every country in
  the world had its own measuring system, which was
  often based on a body part of the ruling monarch
  (thus the term ruler). The units of length might
  have been based on the length of a king's foot
  (thus the measurement of foot). Weight units
  might have been called stones for the number of
  equal size stones it took to counter-balance a
  king on a huge balance. Not only did every
  country have its own measuring system, but the
  system might have changed from monarch to monarch.

3

• Napoleon used cannons and cannon shells to
  conquer most of Europe. He didn't want to run his
  supply too thin and therefore used locally
  produced cannon balls and artillery supplies.
  Since every country had different measuring
  systems, he found it impossible to have the
  conquered countries manufacture his needed
  supplies. He therefore ordered his scientists
  back in Paris to come up with a measuring system
  that would be easy to understand and could be
  used by all people in any country he occupied. He
  could then have all his supplies made locally to
  his specifications. The system the French
  scientists came up with was the metric system
  and was based upon divisions of 10 using the same
  prefixes for length, mass and volume.

4

• Most countries today still use this system for
  all their measurements. The North Atlantic Treaty
  Organization (NATO) uses it so every member's
  weapomy is interchangeable. As an example, a
  60-millimeter artillery shell has a diameter of
  60 mm. This artillery could then be used by any
  member country.

5

• Why does the United States still commonly use the
  English system of measurement? Napoleon never
  conquered England. The United States was mainly
  developed from English heritage, so it ended up
  with the English measurement system. Ironically,
  the British and their Commonwealth countries now
  use the metric system of measurement, but the
  United States, for the most part, still holds
  onto the English system.

6

• One area that does use the metric system as a
  standard is the field of science. The metric
  system is the foundation for most measurements
  and calculations used in all divisions of
  science. The Metric Match Game will introduce and
  help strengthen students' knowledge of the
  metric system and their ability to carry out
  conversions between different units in the metric
  system. The most commonly used metric
  units-grams, meters and liters-will be used in
  this game. A table of conversion units is listed
  on the next page, and may be reproduced and given
  to students if desired.

7
Procedure

• 1. Hand out a set (in a zipper-type bag) of
  Metric Match Game cards to each student group.
  Students should not begin the activity at this
  time.
• 2. Explain to students that the purpose of the
  game is to form a 4 by 4 rectangle (4 across and
  4 down) by correctly matching up the measurement
  conversions on the given Metric Match Game cards.
• 3. Every side of a rectangle that touches any
  other side of another rectangle must have a
  correct metric equivalent. For example, 1 m and
  100 cm would match.
• 4. The identical measurement on two adjacent
  sides cannot touch. For example, the 100 cm side
  of a rectangle cannot touch the 100 cm side of
  another rectangle.
• 5. When ready, instruct students to begin the
  activity.