Choosing the Right Metric Unit of Length

​Choosing the Right Metric Unit of Length (SKH)

By Andrew Swihart

Review metric units

Millimeter (mm): Very small—used for thin objects like paper thickness.

Centimeter (cm): Small—used for shorter objects like pencils or notebooks.

Meter (m): Medium—used for things like rooms, doors, or furniture.

Kilometer (km): Long—used for distances between places.

Match

Read each situation and choose the correct metric unit:

• The length of a fingernail

• The height of a door

• The distance from school to home

• The length of a math book

• The width of a whiteboard

millimeters (mm)

meters (m)

kilometers (km)

centimeters (cm)

meters (m)

• millimeters (mm)

• meters (m)

• kilometers (km)

• centimeters (cm)

• meters (m)

Multiple Choice

Width of a coin?

• millimeters (mm)

• meters (m)

• kilometers (km)

Multiple Choice

Height of a student?

• millimeters (mm)

• meters (m)

• centimeters (cm)

Multiple Choice

Distance between two cities?

• meters (m)

• centimeters (cm)

• kilometers (km)

Multiple Choice

Height of a water bottle?

• millimeters (mm)

• centimeters (cm)

• meters (m)

Match

Match the object to the correct unit.

• Ant

• Truck

• Paperclip

• Fingernail

• Road trip distance

millimeter (mm)

meter (m)

centimeter (cm)

millimeter (mm)

kilometer (km)

• millimeter (mm)

• meter (m)

• centimeter (cm)

• millimeter (mm)

• kilometer (km)