Welcome! NASA-sponsored Project 3D-VIEW [Virtual Interactive Environmental Worlds], is releasing its final text and DvD of 3D content for Earth Science with units in Air, Life, Water, Land and Earth Systems. 3D-VIEW is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary Earth Science curriculum for students in Grades 5 & 6.

Using the simplest of interfaces, students explore, create, manipulate and navigate 3D stereo VIEWs, scenes and animations. Students use authentic NASA mission data as they explore and construct knowledge about the Earth's spheres: Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere and Lithosphere. The last unit, Earth Systems, explores 'cycles' and 'energy' and integrates human impacts on the Earth System. Students build their own web pages on environmental 'hot topics' The culminating activity engages students to build their Sustainable School.

What do I get?

• Standards-based, comprehensive, interdisciplinary Earth Science curricular materials including 736-page text comprised of 5 Units, and DvD for all school computers with assessments/rubrics.
  
  
• Live, online training for teachers.
  
  
• Follow up support and additional future programming including scientists, career development, etc.
  
  
• A way to incorporate technology as a tool to learn science.
  
  
• There is no fee!

The program is research-based and teaches students science content using a constructivist and visual approach with scientific inquiry. The program's aim is to increase student achievement in middle school science by enabling students to truly understand dozens of abstract concepts such as seasons, photosynthesis, and plate tectonics. A 2005 study conducted by collaborating partner Stanford University revealed that 3D visualizations increased student understanding of the mechanisms of plate tectonics.

Project 3D-VIEW and each unit stands alone and fits seamlessly into local curricula. It is standards-based, covering topics already taught at this level. In addition to the focus on science and technology, Project 3D-VIEW includes formal mathematics and literacy components. Each unit includes a fiction or nonfiction Reader with suggested literacy activities and mathematics activities built on science content, giving a practical context to math concepts. These components are meant to enhance literacy in the science content area, mathematics achievement and cross-curricular connections.

What will students learn?

Selected topic areas in the curricular materials include:

Life Science: Cells structures • Photosynthesis & Respiration • Food Webs • Tree of Life • Characteristics of Living Things • Ecosystems • Fossils • Food Chains & Food Webs • Habitat & Niche • Biomes & Conservation & Natural Resource Management • Nitrogen Cycle • Carbon Cycle

Earth Science: Plate Tectonics • Volcanoes • Earthquakes • Tsunamis • Layers of the Earth • Composition & Properties of the Atmosphere • Weather & Climate • Seasons • Highs & Lows • Weathering, Erosion & Deposition • River Systems • Glaciers • Ocean Circulation • Phases of Matter • Renewable & Nonrenewable Resources • Rock Cycle • Water Cycle

Physical Science: Electromagnetic Spectrum • Potential & Kinetic Energy • Conduction, Convection,& Radiation • States of Matter • Waves • Temperature • Density • Interactions of Matter & Energy

Science Process Skills: The Inquiry Process • Forming Research Questions & Hypotheses • Writing & Conducting Procedures • Making Observations • Using Tools & Models • Collecting & Organizing Data • Graphing • Interpreting Data & Imagery • Drawing Conclusions