I suppose one could make a point for using something like "rescale" as
opposed to "convert" when changing a value statement in centimeters to
one in millimeters, for example.
However, I don't see this as a major point. The word "convert" can mean
a wide variety of things. I would say "convert common fractions to
decimal fractions" even though 1/2 is the same value as 0.5.
To me, the major focus ought to be getting the children not only to
learn metric units but also to use them! And the latter ought to include
projects and work in lessons for English, foreign languages, art, social
studies, etc.
I have a fear that if we get to nit-picky about some of these little
things, we will only make the metric system seem obscure and difficult.
Jim
John Frewen-Lord wrote:
One doesn't of course 'convert' between centimeters and meters - they
are essentially one and the same thing. This reveals a fundamental
failure to understand what the metric system (let alone SI) is about.
As for mentioning the centimeter, and not the millimeter - Pat N should
be having fits by now! Still, all part of the failure in teaching SI.
John F-L
----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 7:31 PM
Subject: [USMA:46909] Common Core State Standards for Mathematics
On Page 16 of the DRAFT (for Grade 2), under "Length Measurement" is
the statement: "Understand that 1 inch, 1 foot, 1 centimeter, and 1
meter are conventionally defined lengths used as standard units.
"There is no mention of SI.
On Page 20 (for Grade 3) is the statement: "Determine and compare
areas by counting square units. Use cm^2, m^2, in^2, ft^2, and
improvised units." There is no mention of SI.
On Page 24 (for Grade 4) is the statement: "...show distances along a
race course to tents of a mile on a number line, by dividing the unit
of length into 10 equal parts to get parts of length 1/10...." There
is no mention of SI.
On Page 28 (for Grade 5)is the statement: Convert among differently
sized standard measurement units within a given measurement system
(e.g. feet to yards, centimeters to meters, and use conversions in
solving multiple word problems." also "...determine and compare
volumes...by counting cubic units (using cm^3, m^3, in^3,ft^3, and
improvised units." There is no mention of SI.
These are all the measurement related statements I have found to data.
The failure to even mention SI is a serious omission in my opinion. I
expect to more formally call attention to this major deficiency.
Gene Mechtly
--
James R. Frysinger
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