Soaking Up Math

As this is my first post, let me take a second to introduce myself.  My name is Heidi Raki and I teach grades 3 & 4 at the International School of Morocco in Casablanca.  I also write a blog called Raki’s Rad Resources where I give out tips for teaching English Language Learners, Technology Integration, and Using Board Games in Your Classroom, as well as lots of cool activities that I do with my own kids and a bunch of freebies thrown in for the mix.  Please feel free to stop by and see what I’m up to at Raki’s Rad Resources, but first, scroll down for a cool integrated math and science activity.

This is a cool activity that combines science and math.  My students did this last week and it was a hit!  We got in all of our math and added in some great science observations all at the same time.

Step 1:  Collect a variety of items, including: rice, beans, corn and potatoes. Choose some items that will expand when soaked and some items that won’t.  (My class also did pasta, but it made for a stinky classroom – so be warned if you choose to use pasta, they look cool but they don’t smell cool.)

Step 2:  Have students weigh each item and record the weight on a table. 

Step 3:  Place each item in a bowl and cover with water.  Let the bowls sit overnight.

Step 4:  The next day, strain all of the items and and have students   re-weigh the items. 

Step 5:  Talk about why some items absorb water and others don’t.

Grab this free sheet to use with your class – exclusively here at Tips for Top Teachers.