Understanding Systems

Students in my 3rd/4th grade science/social studies class will be focusing on the concept of systems all year. In order for them to learn about the different types of systems throughout the year, it is important to me that they understand what a system is, how systems work, and be able to understand how all the parts of a system affect the outcome of the task.

To introduce systems I proposed the following scenario to the students..

You have a baby brother that will not stop crying.

Think...

How can the objects below work together to entertain him?

The students had fun figuring out how the objects can work as a whole to solve the problem. The students came up with some outstanding solutions! For example, I had one group of students use the objects to create a catapult as a form of entertainment for the baby. 

We discussed similarities between the different creations and characteristics they noticed within their designs. Students recognized that their solutions were organized, followed a process, were made up of parts, involved a cycle, and much more! I explained that all the characteristics they named were those of a system. We then created a definition for the word system based on the characteristics we brainstormed. (a set of objects that follow a pattern to complete a task). 

We then began analyzing systems. I explained how not only machines are systems, but services can also be systems, just like a library. As a class we closely investigated a library and how it works as a system. We identified the objects within a library, the attributes and/or properties of the objects, the internal relationships between the objects, and environment or space where the objects interact. The chart gave the students a visual of how a library works as a system. The students then analyzed other systems in groups. These activities gave the students a deeper understanding of what a system is, how they work, and an understanding of different types of systems.