The United States is one of only three countries in the world that remain uncommitted to the metric system. Perhaps to policymakers the decision to hang on to miles, pounds, and gallons is one of tradition. However, as a physics teacher I have seen firsthand how growing up with U.S. Customary Units (commonly called by the pseudonym "British…

Plans are under way to redefine the International System of Units (SI) around 2018. The new SI specifies the values of certain physical constants to define units. This article explains the new SI in order to provide a resource for high school teachers as well as for advanced students already familiar with the pre-2018 SI.

Since much of SI is based on physics and mathematics, physics teachers have the background to teach SI. We present this review and summary in a series of SI notes in order to help teachers answer many questions about the SI that often are, or should be, asked (for example, in workshops for teachers). SI should not be considered a jargon to set…

Constructing model hot air balloons is an activity that captures the imaginations of students, enabling teachers to present required content to minds that are open to receive it. Additionally, there are few activities that lend themselves to integrating so much content across subject areas. In this article, the authors describe how they have…

Looks at what the problems are in the use of quantities and units in chemistry and what has been achieved until this time. Considers quantity and amount of substance, quotients of physical quantities, composition of mixed phases, and equations with quantities. Makes recommendations for future considerations. (CW)

Provides teaching suggestions for metric units incorporating humor. Includes teaching suggestions and rubrics. Also includes connections to other subject areas in literature, science, and mathematics. (MM)

Provides criteria for elementary teachers for selecting materials for metric education. Some teaching aids and equipment lists are suggested that can be helpful to the classroom teacher. (SA)

Discusses the metric system. Presents an activity in which students construct their own standards of measurement by taking advantage of materials available in the classroom. (MKR)

Information is provided on current metric practices accepted by the Standards Council of Canada. Rules and examples are given for using units, symbols, and numerals. A table of metric prefixes; a list of units, prefixes and symbols; and a summary of commonly used units are provided. Interrelationships among units are noted. Information on…

Authors have found that students have experience with metric units for volume and length; however, students have difficulty conceptualizing mass measurements in terms of grams and kilograms. Presents an activity, "Mass Appeal," where students use an equal arm balance to become familiar with the gram. (PR)

Presents an activity on metrics for elementary children which utilizes newspaper comic strips. Children are asked to write humorous metric captions to match the pictures. (SA)

Provides an overview and description of the metric system. Discusses the evolution of measurement systems and their early cultures, the beginnings of metric measurement, the history of measurement systems in the United States, the International System of Units, its general style and usage, and supplementary units. (RT)

These materials were designed to be used by life science students for instruction in the application of physical theory to ecosystem operation. Most modules contain computer programs which are built around a particular application of a physical process. The module is concerned with conventional techniques such as concepts of measurement,…

Presents an activity integrating mathematics and science intended to introduce students to the use of metric measurement of mass as a way to increase the meaningfulness of observations about variables in life sciences. Involves measuring the nutrient tolerance of algae. Contains a reproducible algae nutrient graph. (Author/MKR)