This chapter focuses on the mission of the science department of Hilo Intermediate School—to ensure that the Hawaii State Standards and Benchmarks are addressed through the seventh-grade life science and eighth-grade Earth and space science classes, including a focus on material that was not considered in the upper grades of the feeder elementary schools. The department feels strongly about their vision that every student who exits eighth grade will be able to think critically, solve problems creatively, be self-directed learners, and develop inquiry skills that serve them through their high school years and beyond. This will be accomplished through the development of a variety of short- and long-term, research-based inquiry science projects.