- Definition
Converting means changing something from one form or unit to another, like changing minutes into hours.
Converting 2 metres into centimetres means multiplying by 100 to get 200 centimetres.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Converting is like trading four quarters for a dollar bill — the value stays the same, just in a different form.
Ask your child: If your favourite movie is 120 minutes long, how many hours does it last?
Common mix-up: Kids might think that when the number changes, the actual amount changes too. It helps to remind them that converting just changes how we measure it, but the total amount stays exactly the same.
Examples
- Measuring a 3-metre rug and knowing it is the same as 300 centimetres.
- Recognizing that a 120-minute movie lasts exactly 2 hours.
- Changing the fraction 1/2 into the decimal 0.5.
converting is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
