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.
One area that I am always trying to make better is math instruction. A few years back, during one of these winter breaks, I came up with something that I really feel has made ALL the difference in the world in my upper grade classroom. I started doing Calendar Math...and I don't regret it for a second. In fact, it is THE thing that I feel really cements my math block and helps my kids succeed.
