Mixed customary units are the units of measurement that combine two or more different customary units to measure a single quantity. For instance, miles per hour, feet and inches, and pounds and ounces are all examples of mixed customary units. Teaching students mixed customary units can be challenging, but it can also be a lot of fun if you engage your students in hands-on activities. Here are a few activities that you can use to teach students mixed customary units:

1. Measuring ingredients:

Baking is a great way to teach students about mixed customary units because it requires precise measurements. Ask your students to gather different ingredients and measure them using mixed customary units. For example, they can measure flour in cups, sugar in ounces, and butter in tablespoons.

2. Distance conversions:

Teach your students how to convert mixed customary units of distance. For instance, have students work in pairs to measure the distance between two points using both feet and inches. Then ask them to convert their measurements into yards and feet.

3. Speed races:

Conduct a race where students need to measure the distance of the race in miles and the time in hours. Then ask each student to calculate their speed in miles per hour.

4. Weighing objects:

Provide your students with different objects and have them weigh them in pounds and ounces. This activity can be extended by asking the students to calculate the total weight of the objects.

5. Field trip measurement:

Take your students on a field trip and have them measure different objects in mixed customary units. For example, they can measure the height of a tree in feet and inches or the width of a stream in yards.

6. Classroom scavenger hunt:

Hide objects around the classroom and ask students to find them using clues that provide measurements in mixed customary units. For instance, a clue might read “Find the object that weighs 5 pounds and 8 ounces.”

Conclusion:

Teaching mixed customary units can be challenging, but these hands-on activities can make the learning process engaging and fun for students. By providing students with opportunities to work with mixed customary units in different contexts, you can help them develop a deeper understanding of these units and how they are used in the real world.