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Year 6 · Maths · Converting units · Lesson 1

Converting metric units

Convert between metric units of length, mass and capacity, compare measurements, and solve problems with mixed units.

Whiteboard video lesson: Converting metric units

22-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

Watch free for a month

What your child will learn

  • Know metric conversion facts
  • Convert using × and ÷ by 10, 100 and 1,000
  • Compare measurements
  • Solve problems with mixed units

The method

  1. Write the fact.
  2. Bigger -> smaller: multiply.
  3. Smaller -> bigger: divide.
  4. Check it makes sense.

Key words: convert, metric, kilometre, kilogram, litre, millilitre.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

Convert 3 m to cm.

  1. Step 1: 1 m = 100 cm
  2. Step 2: m -> cm: × 100
  3. Step 3: 3 × 100 = 300

Answer: 300 cm

Question 2

Convert 7.2 cm to mm.

  1. Step 1: 1 cm = 10 mm
  2. Step 2: cm -> mm: × 10
  3. Step 3: 7.2 × 10 = 72

Answer: 72 mm

Question 3

Convert 5000 m to km.

  1. Step 1: 1 km = 1,000 m
  2. Step 2: m -> km: ÷ 1,000
  3. Step 3: 5000 ÷ 1,000 = 5

Answer: 5 km