Measurement Conversions Teaching Resources
Teaching measurement conversions is about to get easier this school year! Explore units of measurement conversion worksheets, activities and more teacher resources created by math teachers for teachers like you.
This collection of digital and printable math resources is aligned with both TEKS and Common Core math curriculum standards, and each resource has been created specifically to help you build your lesson plans. Whether your students are still learning about the relationships between units of measurement in the US customary system or they're learning to convert between larger and smaller units within the same measurement system, we've got you covered!
Is this your first year teaching students how to convert measurements? Or maybe you're looking for some fresh ideas to make this math concept more fun? Read on for a helpful primer from our teacher team with helpful tips to teach unit conversion!
What Is Unit Conversion in Math? A Kid-Friendly Definition
Whether you call it "unit conversion" or "conversion of units" or "units of measurement conversion," this math skill is crucial for students to learn to prepare them for the real world, where we face these questions every time we bake a cake, measure an item of furniture or read a sign on the highway.
But what is a unit conversion, exactly? How do you explain it to your students?
Here's a handy definition that can help you do just that!
Unit conversion is a math process in which we transform one unit of measurement to another unit of the same quantity.
Unit conversion involves different operations, depending on the units of measurement that are involved.
For example, let's say you have use a ruler to measure how much snow falls in your town during a particular time period. You might mark down the amount of snow in inches each day to track daily snowfall.
But what if you want to know the total amount of snow that fell over a whole month, and you want to calculate that total in feet?
You could add up all of the daily values in inches to determine the total amount of snow. However, you still need to perform a unit conversion to determine what that represents in feet! To find that answer, you'll need to use the division operation.
If a total of 23 inches of snow fell during the month of February, for example, finding the total amount of snowfall would require dividing the total number of inches by 12.
The result would be 1.9 feet of snow.
How to Teach Converting Units of Measurement in the United States Customary System (Imperial System)
The United States uses a system of measurement known as the imperial system or the United States customary system. Learning how to convert units of measurement within this system requires a solid understanding of the basic units themselves and how they relate to one another.
The key to teaching students how to make these conversions lies in teaching them a series of formulas they can rely on for each unit conversion!
Here's a look at some of the more common unit conversion formulas that will come in handy for students both in your classroom and in life!
1. Inches to Feet
One of the most basic unit conversions used in America is the conversion of inches to feet. To do this requires know that there are 12 inches in a foot.
How to Convert Inches to Feet
- Divide the number of inches by 12.
- feet=inches/12
2. Feet to Yards
When we move from measuring with a traditional ruler to the next largest measurement tool, we traditionally use a yardstick. To convert from feet to a yard, students need to know there are 3 feet in a yard.
How to Convert Feet to Yards
- Divide the number of feet by 3.
- yards=feet/3
3. Yards to Miles
If you're measuring distances in the United States, the unit used is traditionally the mile. There are 1,760 yards in a mile.
How to Convert Yards to Miles
- Divide the number of yards by 1,760.
- miles=yards/1,760
4. Square Inches to Square Feet
Many construction materials are sold in square feet, so students should learn that there are 144 square inches in a square foot in order to make a simple unit conversion.
How to Convert Square Inches to Square Feet
- Divide the number of square inches by 144.
- square feet=square inches/144
5. Square Feet to Square Yards
There are 9 square feet in a square yard.
How to Convert Square Feet to Square Yards
- Divide the number of square feet by 9.
- square yards=square feet/9
6. Square Yards to Acres
Are you measuring large sections of land, such as a football field or a plot of land for a house? You'll need to know that there are 4,840 square yards in an acre.
How to Convert Square Yards to Acres
- Divide the number of square yards by 4,840.
- acres=square yards/4,840
7. Fluid Ounces to Cups
Converting liquid measurements comes in handy in many recipes, so teaching your students that there are 8 fluid ounces in a cup can help prepare them for a culinary adventure!
How to Convert Fluid Ounces to Cups
- Divide the number of fluid ounces by 8.
- cups=fluid ounces/8
9. Cups to Pints
Another important liquid measurement to know is the number of cups in a pint — 2. As many liquids are sold in pint form, this can help students easily determine how many pints they need to purchase for a particular recipe.
How to Convert Cups to Pints
- Divide the number of cups by 2.
- pints=cups/2
Pints to Quarts
If you can remember the number of cups in a pint, you may also be able to easily remember the number of pints in a quart. The number is also 2!
How to Convert Pints to Quarts
- Divide the number of pints by 2.
- quarts=pints/2
Quarts to Gallons
Water and milk are among the liquids typically sold in gallon-sized container in the US, but what if you can only find quarts? The good news is there are 4 quarts in a gallon.
How to Convert Quarts to Gallons
- Divide the number of quarts by 4.
- gallons=quarts/4
Ounces to Pounds
Another common conversion of units involves determining the weight of a person or object. There are 16 ounces in a pound.
How to Convert Ounces to Pounds
- Divide the number of ounces by 16. pounds=ounces/16
Pounds to Tons
Elephants, cars and many other large animals and objects weigh so many pounds that it's easier to measure them in tons. So how many pounds are in a ton? It's a whopping 2,000!
How to Convert Pounds to Tons
- Divide the number of pounds by 2,000.
- tons=pounds/2,000
- Free Plan
Metric Conversion Worksheet Set
Utilize our metric conversion worksheet set to give your students practice converting units of metric length, mass, and capacity.
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Measurement Conversion Activities - Metric System Task Cards
Share these measurement conversion activities task cards with your students to help them master metric conversions of length, mass, and capacity.
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Riddle Me! Converting Units of Length – Worksheet
Use ratio reasoning and measurement conversion skills to complete a set of 3 riddle worksheets.
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Math Dream House Project
Introduce this math dream house project to your students to help them increase spatial skills while designing the home of their dreams!
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Customary Measurement Conversion Lesson — Teaching Slides
Introduce your students to customary length conversions with our customary measurement conversion lesson slides that are easy to download and use.
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Measurement Conversion Games — Customary System Task Card Set
Download our measurement conversion games task card set to give your students many ways to practice converting between customary units of length, weight, and capacity.
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Customary Measurement Conversion Chart Set
Use this customary measurement conversion chart pack as a handout or classroom poster for easy reference!
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Customary Measurement Conversion Worksheet Set — “Riddle Me!”
Share this customary measurement conversion worksheet set with your students and watch them laugh while learning to convert customary units of length, weight, and volume!
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Customary Measurement Conversion Worksheets
Download our customary measurement conversion worksheets to give your students the practice they need to master converting customary units of length, mass, and capacity.
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Converting Units of Length Worksheet Set
Download our converting units of length worksheet set to allow your students to demonstrate an understanding of decimal representations while converting units of metric length.
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Mixed Operations - Length Word Problems Worksheets
Solve multi-step length word problems with a printable pack of 3-act Math Word Problem Worksheets.
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Grade 5 Math - Time Conversion Chart
Help your 5th Grade math students learn to convert units of time with a printable Time Conversion Chart.
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Converting Time Units - Task Cards
Practice converting time with a handy set of free Time Unit Conversion Task Cards.
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Customary Units of Measurement – Poster Pack
Use this set of customary conversion posters when learning about units of length, weight, and capacity.
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Mini-Mystery – Who Won the Race?
A fun, logic-based activity where students read clues to solve a mystery.
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Estimation Activity: Estimating Space Worksheet Set
Use this estimation activity to give your students practice estimating space, converting measurements, and problem solving.
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Time Conversion Math Maze Worksheets
Convert units of time while finding your way through this set of 3 Time Conversion math mazes.
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Units of Time - Time Conversion Poster
A poster highlighting the different units of time.
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Volume and Capacity Activity — "Splash World" Math Investigation
Use this volume and capacity activity to expose your students to real-world volume applications by letting them design “Splash World” - their very own waterpark!
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Measurement Conversions Activity — Matching Lengths
Provide students with this conversions activity to let them practice converting between common metric and customary units of length.
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Metric Measurement Conversion Lesson Plan — Teaching Slides
Teach your students metric conversions with our metric measurement conversion lesson plan slides that are easy to download and use!
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Metric Conversion Games — "Measurement Mansion"
“Escape” the ordinary in your classroom with metric conversion games like our “Measurement Mansion” escape room.
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Measurement Escape Room (Customary System)
“Escape” the ordinary in your classroom with this measurement escape room that will engage your students while they practice customary conversions of length, weight, and capacity.
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Metric Conversion Word Problems Worksheet Set
Assign our metric conversion word problems worksheet set to strengthen your students’ understanding of metric conversions.
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Customary Measurement Conversion Word Problems Worksheet Set
Use our customary measurement conversion word problems worksheet set to strengthen your students’ understanding of customary conversions.
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Converting Customary Units of Length Worksheet Set
Review measurement concepts with our customary length conversion worksheet set that provides practice converting among four units of length.
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Customary Units of Capacity Worksheets
Use these customary units of capacity worksheets to give your students the practice they need converting among cups, pints, quarts, and gallons.
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Conversion of Capacity Worksheet Set
Use this conversion of capacity worksheet set to give your students essential practice converting metric units of capacity.
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Converting Customary Units of Weight Worksheets
Share these converting customary units of weight worksheets with your students to give them the practice they need to master conversions of customary weight.
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Converting Mass Units Worksheet Set
Download this converting mass units worksheet set to give your students the practice they need to master conversions of metric mass.
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Metric Conversion Handout Set
Use this metric conversion handout set as a personal student guide or classroom poster for easy reference!
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Metric Conversion Practice Worksheet Set — "Riddle Me!"
Laugh and learn with our metric conversion practice worksheet set that will give your students practice converting metric units of length, capacity, and mass.