A thematic and hands-on approach to learning ensures that students develop a deeper understanding and retain information longer. Bouillion and Gomez (2001) argue that real-world problems and school-community partnerships help engage students to connect with school science. When there is a disconnect between the activities of school science and children's own experiences, there are both cognitive and affective consequences. This project was designed to engage middle-grade students in an authentic task involving the study of an endangered species, the eastern box turtle ("Terrapene carolina carolina"). It emphasizes learning by doing and promotes character growth, teamwork, reflection, and literacy. This article describes the process of coming together under these theories to study a population of eastern box turtles. (Contains 5 figures.)