For a lesson rooted in mathematics and character education, Nassakeag Elementary School third-grade students in Maureen MacDowell’s class teamed up with fourth-graders in Kathryn Comiskey’s class to make dozens of loaves of Irish soda bread for the St. James Soup Kitchen, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.

Working in teams, the students measured, poured and mixed batter using traditional measuring tools. They were then challenged with making equivalent measurements when one of the tools the recipe called for was removed. They worked together to problem solve and deploy their classroom lessons to complete the recipe.