How to Measure Grams and Kilograms

Zuri and Freddie are scientists for the day. They have their white coats on and are ready to collect data on some marine species. They need our help calculating how much several of them weigh. Before we start, we need to know "how to measure grams and kilograms". "Matter is anything that has weight or mass and takes up space". When we measure "mass, we are measuring the amount of matter that makes up an object". We measure mass in units called GRAMS and KILOGRAMS. A gram is "a unit used to measure mass". We use grams to measure smaller objects, like a small seashell. When we write grams, we can abbreviate using the letter . A "kilogram is a unit used to measure mass, and is made up of one thousand grams". We use kilograms to measure larger objects, such as this bird, known as a puffin. When we write kilograms, we can abbreviate using the letters . When we measure mass with grams and kilograms we use a tool called a SCALE. There are many different types of scales and you might recognize them from home, (...) school, (...) the doctor's office, (...) or even the produce section at the grocery store. Sometimes we need to convert, or change, KILOGRAMS to GRAMS and GRAMS to KILOGRAMS. One kilogram is equal to one thousand grams (...) and one thousand grams is equal to one kilogram. We can use a ratio table to write our conversions. To set up the ratio table, first label kilograms on one side (...) and grams on the other. One kilogram is ONE THOUSAND TIMES bigger than one gram. That means to convert KILOGRAMS to GRAMS, we multiply by one thousand. Write TIMES ONE THOUSAND next to the kilogram we are converting and solve. One times one thousand is one thousand, so there are one thousand GRAMS in (...) one KILOGRAM. Let's help Zuri and Freddie convert grams and kilograms so they can record how much each marine species weighs. First, they weigh a Galapagos penguin (...) and record three kilograms. How many grams is three kilograms? (...) Remember, one kilogram is one thousand grams, so we multiply three TIMES one thousand. Three times one thousand is (...) three thousand, so there are three thousand GRAMS in (...) three KILOGRAMS. Next, they weigh a sea otter and record fourteen kilograms. How many grams is fourteen kilograms? (...) Fourteen times one thousand is (...) fourteen thousand, so, there are fourteen thousand GRAMS in (...) fourteen KILOGRAMS. Last, they weigh a sea lion and record three hundred thousand grams. This time we need to calculate how many KILOGRAMS are in three hundred thousand GRAMS... by using the INVERSE or OPPOSITE operation. The inverse operation of multiplication is division, so we DIVIDE by one thousand. What is three hundred thousand divided by one-thousand? (...) Three hundred (...) there are three hundred KILOGRAMS in three hundred thousand GRAMS. Wow, sea lions have a lot of mass! Remember (...) A "gram is a unit used to measure mass ". When we write grams, we can abbreviate using the letter . Grams are used to measure smaller objects. A "kilogram is a unit used to measure mass, and is made up of one thousand grams". When we write kilograms, we can abbreviate using the letters . Kilograms are used to measure larger objects. Let's see what Zuri and Freddie are going to do with all the data they've collected! Whoa, that's a big whale! How many kilograms do you think it weighs (...) write your guesses in the comments!