Project-based science (PBS) provides opportunities for students to engage in sustained inquiry in meaningful contexts. Science teachers want their students to attain scientific literacy for applications beyond the classroom. Unfortunately, many students view school, and especially school science, as disconnected from their lives and interests. PBS is a powerful way to help students make connections between school science and the community. While PBS is a wonderful teaching tool, it can be difficult to enact in the high school classroom. Scaffolding students' efforts as they undertake literature and field research, make contacts with community members, and design and carry out projects tests both the teacher's and students' organizational skills. In this article, the author developed a focus sheet to guide students through the complexity of PBS. Using focus sheets in the classroom ensures greater success for students participating in PBS. The students' understanding increases as they find scientific information and synthesize and apply it in contexts. (Contains 1 figure.)