This project began when one of the parents donated a Grow Your Own Triops Kit to our classroom.  Technological tools (the Internet) were first used to find out what a triops was and how to care for it.  After researching various sites on Google, we discovered that the triops are part of the crustacean family.  They live in desert climates and are found in temporary pools of water.  As a result of their dry environmental conditions, their eggs remain in suspended animation until they have contact with water.  In their natural habitat, this incubation period could be many years.  This is the main reason their eggs are able to be packaged and hatched at a later date.  By searching the Internet, we also discovered sites displaying others' results of growing their own triops.  These sites and the information gathered were shared with parents to keep them informed of classroom activities.  Each day, the children and their families observed the triops' growth. The digital camera was used to record their growth and our experiences during the activities.

     While doing additional reading, we learned that the triops' origins could be traced back to prehistoric times.  The children were fascinated to discover that the triops and the dinosaurs were alive at the same time.  This led to discussions on why the triops have survived for so long but the dinosaurs did not.  A Power Point presentation was created pertaining to the various scientific extinction theories.  Each theory was represented by a picture downloaded from various sites (Clip Art or Web Shots).  During a whole group instruction period, the children were able to click on each of the pictures and discuss how this theory might have led to the demise of the dinosaurs. 
     Unfortunately, the life span of a triops is only 20 to 40 days.  When the triops died, we began to follow the children's interest in other areas of prehistoric life (especially dinosaurs).  Software was introduced to help us learn about the different classifications of dinosaurs and the various stages of life during the Mesozoic Era.  Dinosaurs websites were examined.  We even took a pictorial field trip to a local museum using scanned photographs.  Furthermore, the children represented their experiences and what they learned through work samples created on Kid Pix.