Make it Meaningful! Teaching Math With Real-World Applications

Gone are the days of rote memorization, worksheet after worksheet, and students learning math concepts without knowing how they apply to the real world. As teachers, we know that making math apply to real-world problems is crucial because it makes learning more relevant and engaging, helping students see the value of what they’re studying. It improves problem-solving skills by challenging students to think critically in real-life contexts. It also builds confidence, creates independence, and prepares them for future careers and everyday tasks where math is essential. 

Happy Tails Animal Shelter – Metric Conversions Math Project

This printable resource pack includes everything you need to engage your students and help them practice converting metric units of length, volume, and more! 

In this math task, students are introduced to a scenario in which they have been chosen to manage the Happy Tails Animal Shelter, which includes the need for supply purchases, ordering, and more. Students will use their metric conversion knowledge to complete the following tasks:

• Animal Food: Given a list of animals and their daily food requirements in grams, convert the total food needed for a week into kilograms.
• Medicine Dosages: Given a medication dosage in milliliters, convert it to liters and ensure the correct dosage is administered over a certain period.
• Comfortable Spaces: Given the measurements in centimeters, convert them to meters to determine whether the animals have enough space or need a new enclosure.
• Ordering Supplies: Given a list of supplies in various metric units, convert them to the required units and use the data collected to place a supply order for the week.
• Cost Analysis:  Use all calculations and conversions to create a comprehensive cost list for running the shelter for one week.

Through this engaging math task, your students are sure to have fun applying their knowledge to the real world!

Download and Print!

This resource is available as an easy-to-use Google Slides or Printable PDF Resource file. To get your copy, click the dropdown arrow on the download button to select your preferred file format. Make your copies, pass them out to your students, and you’re ready to begin!

This resource was created by Kaylyn Chupp, a teacher in Florida and Teach Starter Collaborator.

Even More Ways to Practice Metric Conversions!

Before you go, don’t miss out on a world of educational possibilities! Explore these metric conversion resources to enhance your teaching toolkit.

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5th & 6th Grade Metric Conversions Worksheets - Length

Practice converting, comparing, and ordering metric measurements with Metric Conversions practice sheets for 5th and 6th grade.

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Converting Units of Length - Math Mazes

Strengthen measurement conversion skills while converting units of length with this set of math mazes.

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Metric Units of Measurement – Poster Pack

Use this set of metric conversion posters when learning about units of length, weight, and capacity.