THIRD GRADERS: Third graders will be focusing on "Bats, Shadows of the Night". This is an interdisciplinary unit on bats designed to give students an understanding of this unique mammal. Students will explore bat habitats and experiments will be conducted to explore the concept of flight, sound and echolocation. We’ll have fun going batty! Essential Questions: UNIT E.Q.: 1.How do bats impact our environment? 2.Why do you think it is important to learn about bats? 3.How do the special characteristics of bats help them adapt to their environment? 4.How are bats and humans alike, yet different when comparing diet, physical features, and habitat? 5.How do bat myths and literature affect a human's perception of bats? FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADERS: Through the study of the unit “Ultimate Connections”, students will gain an understanding of the technological development of bridges and the impact bridges have had on society throughout history. Students will work in teams to design and construct toothpick bridges from specifications and bridge codes given in contest rules. Speaking of contests… we are going to have a contest with another Cobb County Target class. Our goal is to get the most bridge photo postcards from cities around the U. S. and/or the world sent to our homes or East Side. I’ll appreciate your help and suggestions to help East Side win this contest. Just imagine all the geography and bridge facts we’ll learn as we read our mail! Do you think we can get at least 200 postcards? Essential Questions: UNIT E.Q.: 1. What impact have bridges had on society throughout history? 2. What are the different types of bridges, and where would each type best be used? 3. How can one build a longer, stronger, lighter bridge using the smallest amount of resources?