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
Science Lab: Colored Celery?
During April, the kindergarteners will continue their study of plants, both in the lab and in their classroom. They will study the similarities and differences in plants and examine the root systems in various plants. NOTE: Be sure to ask about their predictions and the actual results with the celery! Check out picture & more at http://tritt.typepad.com/sciencelab/

Computer Lab: Learning the Keyboard
In the Computer Lab, the Kindergarteners will continue to work on keyboarding skills, finding letters on the keyboard and drawing. We will also cover games to practice counting using addition and subtraction. Our big finale for 2010 will be creating a graph with data the students will have collected in their classr More computer news is available at: http://tritt.typepad.com/computerlab/

1 st Grade
Science Lab: Exploring the Tritt Science Lab Zoo
During April, the first graders will continue their study of animals by comparing their appearance, motion, growth and basic needs at live animal stations (spider, snake, turtle and cockatiel.) This hands-on learning experience is a big hit with the kids. CRCT testing will affect the science lab schedule, so several of the experiments this month will take place in the classroom and in the computer lab where they will do science experiments on the computer. . Check out picture & more at http://tritt.typepad.com/sciencelab/

Computer Lab: Using the Web to Learn Testing Strategies
The first graders have been reviewing for the CRCT using many online sites as well as an application that shows the many types of strategies used for answering multiple choice questions. We will also begin to work on typing, paying close attention to capital letters, punctuation and spelling. More computer news is available at http://tritt.typepad.com/computerlab/

2nd Grade
Science Lab: The Life Cycle Continued – from Butterflies to Fungi!
During April, your 2nd grader will continue their investigation of the life cycles of different living organisms. They will watch and chart the development of the butterfly chrysalis in their classrooms. In the lab, students will create a chart categorizing living things and non living things. Then students will put the items sorted into living things category and use them to construct a chart separating them into plants, animals, and other. They will explore different types of fungi and examine it under the microscope. Check out more at:  http://tritt.typepad.com/sciencelab/

Computer Lab: Perfect Formatting
In Computer Lab, Second graders have been introduced the online CRCT practice site provided by the Georgia Department of Education. It allows them to familiarize themselves with the questioning techniques used on the CRCT. We will cover formatting text that they have typed over the last weeks of school. Most children are familiar with this concept of changing font, font size, color and position. This will help them when they start typing more of their written work in Third Grade.. More computer news is available at: http://tritt.typepad.com/computerlab/

4th Grade
Science Lab: Survival and Extinction
During April, the fourth graders will continue their study of ecosystems by examining what factors be studying what factors affect the survival or extinction of organisms such as adaptation, variation of behaviors (hibernation), and external features (camouflage and protection). They will work in small groups to discuss and manipulate environments for various living organisms to ensure their survival. CRCT testing will affect the science lab schedule, so several of the experiments this month will take place in the classroom and in the computer lab where they will also do science experiments on the computer. Check out picture & more at http://tritt.typepad.com/sciencelab/

Computer Lab: Tritt Tiger Publishing

In the Computer Lab, many students will be typing their Tiger Publishing at school. This introduces the concept of typing in a certain format, creating page breaks, formatting with font and position and printing a complete product. Some fourth grade teachers will be working on Westward Expansion as part of a Social Studies lesson. More computer news is available at: http://tritt.typepad.com/computerlab/

5th Grade
Science Lab: A Question of Kingdoms
During April, the fifth graders will be learning about the classification of organisms into groups and relate how they determined the groups with how and why scientists use classification. To test their investigative skills they will each be assigned a particular organism (it will be taped to their back) and they must figure out what the organism is by asking “yes” and “no” questions. CRCT testing will affect the science lab schedule, so several of the experiments this month will take place in the classroom and in the computer lab where they will do science experiments on the computer. Check out picture & more at: http://tritt.typepad.com/sciencelab/

Computer Lab: An Assortment of Learning Activities
n the Computer Lab, Our oldest children are working on advanced keyboarding skills, Tiger Publishing, presentation materials, and finishing up decimals, fractions, data analysis, percent and algebra in Mega Math. Fifth grade is the last year students use Mega Math. In middle school, math games are replaced by more traditional repetition: worksheets and chapter reviews. More computer news is available at: http://tritt.typepad.com/computerlab/