Walking into their own backyard with Ms Chain’s guidance allowed her 7th grade life science students to connect to the ecosystem that surrounds them daily! By defining a research plot just outside of their bedroom windows, they began their ecological exploration by establishing a small grid. There they observed, described, counted, and identified the organisms present. Expanding their research area to the rest of their home ecosystem, students were counting new species, describing habitats, and identifying trends. Sacred Heart life science students only need to look outside to think about the science that surrounds them.