The Iowa Science Literacy project is a collaborative endeavor between the content areas of science and literacy, studied with qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and in cooperation with two State of Iowa universities, three area education agencies, six school districts, 32 elementary teachers, and over 700 students. The participating teachers are involved in a three-year implementation and analysis cycle which involves a yearly summer institute that includes a science content update, critical reading experiences, and science inquiry teaching strategies. Embedded in this work is the Science Writing Heuristic (SWH), an exciting approach to teaching science in classrooms from primary to collegiate levels. Teachers and project staff work together during the year planning SWH units, implementing this curriculum in the classroom, and contributing to ongoing data collection and analysis.