The 7th graders have been looking at planet Earth and all of its inhabitants from the bigger picture as they study the natural wonders of ecology and the environmental earth sciences. In this lab, our young scholars have been studying and understanding the effect of Habitat Fragmentation (the process in which a large habitat is broken down into smaller sections due to human activity and structures, such as the construction of roads). The students were each given a color of construction paper in which they measured the total area and total perimeter. This piece of paper represents the “untouched” habitat or the habitat that remains fully intact. Next, the students cut the paper into small sections; these smaller sections represent the smaller fragmented habitats due to human activity. The students would then measure the total area and total perimeter of each smaller section they have cut. Finally, the students would compare the totals from the “untouched” habitat and the sectioned habitat; to further the comparison they calculated a ration known as the interior-to-edge ratio (the larger the ratio the less negative effects to the ecosystem) and compared. In the end, students were able to actually calculate the benefits of having a large habitat vs a bunch of smaller sectioned habitats.