Module 2 – Thinking in Systems

Module 2 – Thinking in Systems focuses on how to understand our world, the natural and the man-made, and our relationship with the environment as interconnected systems. We start by defining and exploring systems thinking. Then, we move on to an in-depth examination of humanity’s relationship with the natural environment in cities, as a way to exemplify the power and importance of thinking in systems.

Sections

Systems Thinking

Here, we introduce systems thinking as a way of understanding our world and our relationship with the environment.

Humanity and Nature

Here, we use systems thinking to explore humanity’s relationship with the natural environment, in particular in cities.

Teaching Resources

Fiches

Activity 4 – Photovoice: The Beauty of Nature

This activity encourages students to identify elements of their environment that they feel represent the beauty of nature and to discuss their feelings toward nature.

Open Activity 4

Activity 7 – Photovoice: Climate Change

This activity encourages students to identify elements in their environment that remind them of climate change and the destruction of nature, then to discuss the idea of responsibility.

Open Activity 7

Module 1, Activity 1 – The Albedo Effect

This activity introduces the albedo effect and invites students to explore the impact that light and dark colours have on temperature.

Open Activity 1

Module 1, Activity 2 – Urban Heat Island Effect: Albedo in my Town or City

This activity allows students to apply their understanding of the albedo effect to their own towns and villages and explore how this concept affects climates on both a small and large scale.

Open Activity 2

Module 2, Activity 2 – Connecting Through Yarn

This activity encourages students to think about how they are connected to each other and how human actions affect the relationships between Earth’s inhabitants.

Open Activity 2

Module 2, Activity 3 – What’s in a T-shirt

This activity allows students to reflect on the life cycle of clothing by tracing the path taken by a single item of clothing from the country where it was made to the place it was purchased.

Open Activity 3

Module 3, Activity 1 – Waste Audit

This activity gives students the opportunity to conduct a waste audit, an important tool for understanding the quantity and composition of waste, as well as how it changes over time.

Open Activity 1