Creating the Systems Thinking Web
Lesson Plans
Grades6, 7, 8Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by New York DEP
What it is
- In this lesson, students learn about systems thinking by modeling an ecosystem web and exploring how components of that system impact each other.
- Students will use string and organism interactions to demonstrate the interdependence in systems.
Teaching tips
Positives
- Students will love being up and moving around in this activity, and the yarn web is an impactful visual to help students understand systems.
- Students can explore how scenarios like climate change impact the food chain system.
Additional Prerequisites
- Teachers will need a spool of string or yarn for this activity.
- Students should take time to learn about their organism in the activity to participate.
Differentiation
- Biology teachers can use this activity to introduce food webs.
- If you have a large class, split into two groups for the activity and come back together to discuss and reflect at the end.
- The lesson includes a few optional extension activities that can further student learning.
- This lesson is intended for New York students; however, it is easy to apply anywhere by choosing a local ecosystem. The yarn activity can also model other systems, such as the water or carbon cycle.
- Given a climate change-influenced disruption to the web, students can discuss solutions to reduce the impact on the rest of the system.
From the scientist review
This resource from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection is a classroom activity that introduces students to systems thinking. The activity helps students quickly see the interconnectedness of each part of an animal food chain system, and the included extension guides students to see how climate change impacts each part of the system. The included instructions are clear, and the linked Teacher Friendly Guide to Climate Change chapter provides background and clearly answers why climate change education is so important. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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Hosted on nyc.gov
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