Welcome to Our Science Lab See why our students love it! New Albany Elementary prides itself in remaining on the edge of seeking and implementing innovative programs. In 2006, a new science program was adopted and structured to serve as an additional and supplemental component to the reading program. The curricula is based on Mississippi benchmarks and correlated to the National Science Education Standards. The Houghton Mifflin Science program includes two components: The classroom and the mobile science unit. The Classroom: The classroom teacher utilizes many tools such as the new textbook, leveled readers, colorful overhead transparencies, interactive CD ROMs, science videos, and hands-on activities to engage and introduce the science concepts to the students. The Mobile Unit/Living with Science: Students and their teachers will spend 50 minutes a week using interactive simulations, practical hands-on experiments, and continuous assessment to prepare the students for success in science. The students work in pairs, one is given the job of laptop monitor and the other is the equipment monitor. Students use computers equipped with tutorial software as well as supplied manipulatives as they are walked through the experiments with the help of Lenia, the helpful computerized alien. She never tells them that they are wrong, but instead, she suggests different answers and explains hard ideas to them. Class rotations started in January 2007. The weekly trip to the Science Lab has quickly become a favorite activity.