Celsius and Fahrenheit Conversions Made Simple
Grade Levels: 3 - 8
Objectives
- Students will learn to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit (or vice versa).
- Students will practice their addition, subtraction, and multiplication skills.
Materials
- Pens, paper
- Calculator (optional)
Procedure
Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius:- Ask students to think of a temperature in Fahrenheit.
- Have them add 40 to that number.
- Multiply the new number by .55555 (a decimal point followed by five 5s).
- Subtract 40.
See example below:
32° Fahrenheit = ?° Celsius
Step #1: 32°F + 40 = 72.
Step #2: 72 x .55555 = 39.9996 (round to nearest whole number).
Step #3: 40 - 40 = 0°C.
Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius:
- Ask students to think of a temperature in Celsius.
- Have them add 40 to that number.
- Multiply the new number by 1.8.
- Subtract 40.
0° Celsius = ?° Fahrenheit
Step #1: 0°C + 40 = 40.
Step #2: 40 x 1.8 = 72.
Step #3: 72 - 40 = 32°F.
