Teaching Science With Three-Dimensional Learning | Stile Education

5E Instructional Model Phenomena-based Learning Three-dimensional Learning SOLO Taxonomy Universal Design for Learning Explicit Instruction Inquiry-based Learning Cognitive Load Theory Differentiated Instruction

Three-dimensional learning

Students use Science & Engineering Practices (SEPs) to build Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) and think with Cross‑cutting Concepts (CCCs)—exactly how NGSS frames science education.

Initially developed by

National Research Council, USA.

Effectiveness

A randomized control trial of 7th Grade classrooms found that students using three-dimensional curricula performed 7.3 percentage points better on an NGSS-aligned test than those that didn’t (Harris et al., 2022).

Further reading

NRC Framework for K‑12 Science Education (2012)

Where you'll find it in Stile

Students explain, explore, and elaborate on Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) through Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) and Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs). All three dimensions are interwoven in Stile's lessons, activities and assessment tasks.

Examples within Stile

Modeling compounds

Students develop and use models to understand the scale and proportion of atoms to explain how crystals of a compound form.

Modeling compounds lesson
in the Elements and Compounds unit

Text: Model the lithium mining process at an atomic scale. Image: Diagram showing evaporation ponds with labels describing how the Sun evaporates water until lithium salts form, resulting in solid lithium chloride.

Text: Model the lithium mining process at an atomic scale. Image: Diagram showing evaporation ponds with labels describing how the Sun evaporates water until lithium salts form, resulting in solid lithium chloride.

Continental drift

Students analyze and interpret data to identify patterns in fossil distribution and seafloor structures as evidence of past plate motions.

Continental drift lesson
in the Active Earth unit

Text: Compare the fossil evidence to piece together the puzzle and show how the continents once fit together. Image: Map showing fossil distributions of several animals and plant across South America, Africa, India, and Australia.

Text: Compare the fossil evidence to piece together the puzzle and show how the continents once fit together. Image: Map showing fossil distributions of several animals and plant across South America, Africa, India, and Australia.

Saving corals

Students design solutions focusing on stability and change to monitor and increase beneficial human influences on reef environments.

Strategies for saving corals lesson
in the Climate Change unit

Text: Design a replacement or solution for a plastic water bottle, sunscreen, or anchor. Image: Engineering challenge with illustrations of plastic and reusable bottles next to a photo of a coral reef with a turtle.

Text: Design a replacement or solution for a plastic water bottle, sunscreen, or anchor. Image: Engineering challenge with illustrations of plastic and reusable bottles next to a photo of a coral reef with a turtle.

Explore our core science curriculum

Stacked documents with celestial diagram showing sun and orbiting planets

Stacked documents with celestial diagram showing sun and orbiting planets

Inside Stile's Curriculum

How we make the best science lessons in the known universe.

What's Included

A complete, comprehensive curriculum — used, loved, and perfected by thousands of teachers.

Why High-Quality Instructional Materials make all the difference.