Celsius and Fahrenheit Conversions Made Simple

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

1. Ask students to think of a temperature in Fahrenheit.
2. 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:

1. Ask students to think of a temperature in Celsius.

2. Have them add 40 to that number.

3. Multiply the new number by 1.8.

4. Subtract 40.

0° Celsius = ?° Fahrenheit
Step #1: 0°C + 40 = 40.
Step #2: 40 x 1.8 = 72.
Step #3: 72 - 40 = 32°F.