1. Metric Conversions Ladder Method

2. Metric Staircase

3. How many jumps does it take?
Ladder Method 1 2 3
KILO 1000 Units
HECTO 100 Units
DEKA 10 Units
DECI 0.1 Unit
Meters Liters Grams
CENTI 0.01 Unit
MILLI Unit
How do you use the “ladder” method?
1st – Determine your starting point.
2nd – Count the “jumps” to your ending point.
3rd – Move the decimal the same number of jumps in the same direction.
4 km = _________ m
Starting Point
Ending Point
How many jumps does it take? 4. 1
__. 2
__. 3
__.
= 4000 m

4. Conversion Practice Try these conversions using the ladder method.
1000 mg = __1.0___ g 1 L = _1000__ mL 160 cm = 1600 mm
14 km = __14000 m 109 g = .109 kg 250 m = .250 km
Compare using <, >, or =.
56 cm < m 7 g > mg

5. Metric Conversion Challenge
Write the correct abbreviation for each metric unit.
1) Kilogram __kg 4) Milliliter __mL_ 7) Kilometer __km
2) Meter __m_ 5) Millimeter __mm 8) Centimeter __cm
3) Gram ___g__ 6) Liter __L__ 9) Milligram __mg
Try these conversions, using the ladder method.
10) 2000 mg = __2__ g 15) 5 L = __5000_ mL 20) 16 cm = __160___ mm
11) 104 km = __104000_ m 16) 198 g = .198____ kg 21) 2500 m = __2.5__ km
12) 480 cm = _4.80__ m 17) 75 mL = _.075__ L 22) 65 g = _65000_ mg
13) 5.6 kg = 5600__ g 18) 50 cm = _.50__ m 23) 6.3 cm = _63_ mm
14) 8 mm = __0.8_ cm 19) 5.6 m = __560_ cm 24) 120 mg = _.120__ g

6. Compare using <, >, or =.
25) 63 cm m 27) 5 g mg 29) 1,500 mL L
26) 536 cm dm 28) 43 mg g 30) 3.6 m cm
<
> =