Kathy Cadden, teacher-librarian at the Nathaniel Alexander Elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina, used some information she heard at the Grade 4 team meeting as a catalyst for collaboration. The teachers were voicing their growing frustration at trying to fit science into their very hectic day, even with the hands-on science kits provided by the district. Kathy offered to set up a Grade 4 science lab unit on simple machines in an empty classroom. As Kathy describes it," We previewed the kits, weeded out lessons to fit the unit in the time frame allowed, set a bi-weekly schedule for the six fourth-grade classes, set up and broke down materials for each lesson taught, and co-taught as many of the lessons as we could. It was a huge success. The students love the science lab. Parent volunteers, thrilled with their children's new-found enthusiasm for science, have offered their time to decorate the lab. Fifth-grade teachers, hearing of our success, have asked us to help them set up a science lab as well. Our principal and assistant principals are excited about the lab and our media/classroom collaborative efforts. The district science specialist has come out to observe our lab and a dialogue has begun at our school about beginning a K-5 science lab with dedicated science teachers. As for academic benefits to students, only the fourth-grade End-of-Grade science test will really tell, I guess. I know I have students checking out a lot of simple machine, electricity and magnetism books just for fun!"