Weekly science instruction in the Discovery Porthole Science Lab and computer lab instruction is brought to you by parent donations from the Tritt Tiger Foundation. See where your Foundation Investment is going!

Kindergarten
Dead or Alive?
During March, the kindergarteners will be learning about living and non-living organisms. The terms living and non living are used in a special way by biologist. Living things are organisms in nature that are currently alive or have been alive at one time (often termed once living). Nonliving things are things that have never been alive. This concept is not an easy one for young children to grasp since they naturally want to classify dead things as non living. Your children will explore these concepts by listing observable physical attributes of items found on a nature walk, discussing characteristics, sorting by those characteristics and classifying each organism. They will delve further into their study of living organisms by studying plants and their root systems. Check out picture & more at http://tritt.typepad.com/sciencelab/

Computer Lab
In the Computer Lab, the Kindergarteners have finished their unit on drawing and will be moving to keyboarding (yes, typing!) and inserting images to go along with their writing. This takes what the Kindergarten teachers are doing in the classroom one step further. More computer news is available at: http://tritt.typepad.com/computerlab/

1 st Grade
Science Lab: Leaf Safari and Animal Necessitates
During March, the first graders will be studying the characteristics and basic needs of plants and animals. They will start by studying plants (including using the magnifying glasses) and later on in the month, they will move on to animals. They will compare and describe various animals through an up-close and personal analysis of animals in the Tritt zoo. What are the specific needs of Petey, Shelley, the spider or our snake? Be sure to ask your child. Check out picture & more at http://tritt.typepad.com/sciencelab/

Computer Lab: It’s Still All about Money
The first graders are continuing their lessons in money by getting ready to show what they know about fair trades in money. They will be creating a picture of 3 different ways to show the same amount of money. More computer news is available at http://tritt.typepad.com/computerlab/

2nd Grade
Science Lab
During March, your 2nd grader will be investigating the life cycle of different organisms. They will start by studying the changes in a ladybug. Later in the month they explore how a frog changes during its life cycle. They will conclude their study by studying the metamorphous of butterflies. They will get to experience it first hand as they observe the butterfly larvae will live in their classroom! Check out more at:  http://tritt.typepad.com/sciencelab/

Computer Lab
In Computer Lab, your Second grader has been graphing all sorts of things as well as working on their keyboarding skills.  They will continue to work on math and writing skills throughout the remainder of the year. More computer news is available at: http://tritt.typepad.com/computerlab/

3rd Grade
Science Lab: Kids & Magnets – A Strong Attraction
During March, the third graders will be studying Magnets during the beginning of the month. They will investigate magnets and how they affect other magnets and common objects. They will investigate how magnets attract and repel each other and discuss polarity and the strength of magnets. Later in the month, they will move onto the study of heat, heat energy and investigate how heat is produced. Be sure to ask them about the 5 different heat-producing stations: 1) hand sanitizer, 2) hair dryer, 3) desk lamp, candle, match and foil, 4) a block of wood and sandpaper and 5) a wire hanger!   Check out picture & more at: http://tritt.typepad.com/sciencelab/

Computer Lab: Power Point Continues
Third graders continue their use of PowerPoint. They have produced some wonderful PowerPoint Presentations using the research they have conducted in the Media Center and using Cobb Virtual Library in the computer lab.  More computer news is available at:  http://tritt.typepad.com/computerlab/

4th Grade
Science Lab: Ecosystems growing at Snail’s Pace?
During March, the fourth graders will be studying ecosystems. They will be learning the parts of an ecosystem, the role of organisms, the flow of energy and how they work together to keep a community alive. Then they will create their own ecosystem, complete with live snails! This is a favorite activity so be sure to ask you kids all about it.Check out picture & more at http://tritt.typepad.com/sciencelab/

Computer Lab: Perfecting their Writing Skills

In the Computer Lab, students will be publishing more of their writing, some even publishing a newspaper about events they’ve been studying in Social Studies and finishing up their writing on the OlympicsMore computer news is available at: http://tritt.typepad.com/computerlab/

5th Grade
Science Lab: Cells – A Smelly Matter?? A Little Cheeky??
During March, the fifth graders will be studying cells. They will diagram and label parts of various cells (plant, animal, single-celled, multi-celled organisms) and then study them. Finally they will discuss the structural function of a cell – generalized and specialized. The lessons start off by studying an onion! Kids will create slides with onions cells and examine them under a microscope. Then they will move on to the examining a slide they will make of a cheek cell so they can compare the differences in structure and functions. Check out picture & more at: http://tritt.typepad.com/sciencelab/

Computer Lab: Perfecting Their Writing Skills
In the Computer Lab, students will be publishing more of their writing, some even publishing a newspaper about events they’ve been studying in Social Studies. They will incorporate the Winter Olympics into lessons over the next month. More computer news is available at: http://tritt.typepad.com/computerlab/