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Measurement League: Guardians of the SI Superhero Card Set
| Keywords: | Ampere, candela, electric current, error, SI, kelvin, kilogram, length, mass, meter, metric, mole, temperature, time, second, uncertainty |
| Audience: | Students, educators, parents, public, technology coordinators, outreach ambassadors, formal, informal |
| Grade Level: | 3rd to 8th |
| Subjects: | Art, biology, chemistry, life science, Earth science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, physical science, physics, STEM, technology |
Summary
This digital resource features profiles for each of the Measurement League: Guardians of the SI superheroes, dedicated to the fight against uncertainty, imprecision, and inaccuracy and to improving the quality of our lives and the things we build. The superheroes include the following: Mole, Professor Second, Monsieur Kilogram, Ms. Ampere, Dr. Kelvin, Meter Man, and Candela. Each card in the set lists a different superhero’s name, picture, symbol, and the measurement unit they represent. The card set provides an entertaining way to learn more about the International System of Units (SI).
Did you know that you can obtain a free set of metric education resources for use in your classroom? Contact the NIST Metric Program at TheSI [at] nist.gov (TheSI[at]nist[dot]gov) and include your name, school, subject, grade level, phone number, and U.S. mailing address. Publication requests may also be made using the OWM Contacts System. The NIST SI Teacher Kit contains a curated collection of instructional measurement resources. A metric conversion card is a valuable tool for science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) classrooms.
Learning Objectives
- Describe the seven SI base units.
- Recognize SI base unit definitions.
Materials
- Digital file.
Safety
- Use caution when handling paper edges and scissors to prevent injury.
Teaching Tips
- Use the Top 10 Tips for Teaching the Metric System.
- Make measurements with metric tools. Measurement concepts are meaningfully established through hands-on activities. Application, not memorization, is the key to success! The SI is easy to learn when taught using metric tools.
- Practice building proficiency and confidence in making measurements. Measurement involves doing.
- Develop reference points. How long? How big? How small? It’s important for students to gradually develop an intuitive feeling for the magnitude of commonly used metric units, including the millimeter (mm) and centimeter (cm).
- Use an interdisciplinary approach. Bring the SI into classrooms at every opportunity, including during instruction in language arts, fine arts, social sciences, industrial arts, vocational technologies, consumer studies, and physical fitness.
- Explain the SI base units, unit definitions, and prefixes.
- Discuss how each base unit is derived from a combination of defining constants.
Classroom Connections
- Videos. Comic book-style video animations are available on the NIST YouTube Channel.
- Episode 4: Two Truths & a Lie. After rescuing Monsieur Kilogram and capturing Major Uncertainty, our Superheroes take a break and play a game of "Two Truths & a Lie."
- Episode 3: Mass Hysteria! The nefarious Major Uncertainty has kidnapped Monsieur Kilogram, putting the world’s measurements of mass in jeopardy.
- Episode 2: Running Out of Time! The SI Superheroes battle archvillain Major Uncertainty in a race to keep the world's satellite navigation system "on time."
- Episode 1: Desperate Measures! The SI Superheroes use the power of measurement to help a stranded soccer player get home.
- Companion Resources:
- SI Measurement System Chart
- Superhero Profiles
- Coloring Pages (ideal for young students)
- Valentine’s Day Cards
- GIPHY Channel
- Artist Spotlight: Jenny Wang, NIST Multimedia Specialist
- SI Units
- SI Redefinition Constants
- Redefining the World’s Measurement System
- SI Prefixes
- Metric Bookmark
- Metric Children's Activity Card
- Metric Conversion Card (SP 365)
- Metric Pyramid (LC 1140)
- Metric Ruler (SP 376)
- SI Base Units Relationships Poster (SP 1247)
- SI Units Card Deck (SP 1297)
Additional Resources
Contacts
-
Metric Program