One of the aims of our software endeavor is to understand better how software can help young learners grasp difficult scientific concepts. Students in Learning by Design (LBD) classrooms build devices and test them to learn science content, but the noise inherent in the workings of their devices and/or the impossibility of building something of the right scale or materials makes it hard in some instances for them to fully experience the concepts they are learning. In this project, we are working on designing software to support LBD's earth science units, in particular the Tunneling unit, a unit that focuses on geology. It is difficult to grasp many of the concepts in geology because of the long time periods under which rocks and rock formations develop and the largeness of those formations. Research on this project includes identifying the difficulties students are having learning geology, identifying software that is available through the professional community that can help with these understandings and the functions that provide that help; then designing and building software with that functionality and an interface that makes it easy for young teens to use it; trial of the environment to understand its usability, if it has the proper functionality, and how to best integrate it into a learning environment; analysis of data; redesign; and drawing out principles about design of modeling/simulation authoring tools and integration of digital modeling/simulation tools with exploration using hands-on manipulatives. During the first semester, we will explore the functionality and availability of professional software, draw up requirements for the software they will design based on the needs of the learners who will be using it, and conceptual design of the system to be developed. During second semester, a prototype will be implemented and trailed and an evaluation document written.