Curriculum

Systems and Change

6th Grade Challenge:

“Where Systems Thinkers Seek the Bird’s Eye View”

Ancient Civilizations: Is the End Foretold in the Beginning?

Content

  • Time, Perspectives and Ambiguity
  • Caves and Shadows: Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
  • Geologic Timescale
  • Early Man
  • Are  We  Our Heros?An exploration of the Hero Cycle through  Gilgamesh
  • Mesopotamia: First Civilizations
  • Ancient India
  • The Beginning of Western Civilization: Egypt, Greece, Rome

 

Themes

  • Climate Change and Extinction
  • Evolution and Adaptation
  • Social Adaptation
  • Story or Truth: Oral Tradition vs. Scientific Method
  • Mental Models
  • Heroes Over Time

Skils

  • Perspective/ Interpretation
  • Thinking Processes or Framework Thinking
  • Discussion
  • Collaboration
  • Connective-Metaphoric Thinking
  • Writing:
    • Story
    • Argument
  • Trend and Event Analysis and Prediction
  • Interpersonal/Intrapersonal
  • Presentation

Systems Thinking Allegories

Shadows of the Neanderthal

Experiences

Students will:

 

Formative Assessments

  • Participate in class discussions: whole class, fishbowl and small group.
  • Investigate Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and create a metaphoric interpretation of the “Cave” in his or her life.
  • Develop timelines marking events for each content area in order to visualize history.
  • Memorize and be able to “tell the story” of man’s history through “Landmark Dates.”
  • Analyze and evaluate maps for each content area.
  • Work collaboratively to research and use systems tools to analyze ancient accomplishments and participate in simulations.

Performance Assessments

  • Write narrative of Early Man evolution to provide evidence of comprehension and metaphoric thinking.
  • Create products to compare/ contrast and connect the heroic traits of various characters. (“Allegory of the Cave,” Shadows of the Neanderthal, Gilgamesh,”Ramayana”)
  • Demonstrate lower and higher order thinking through traditional assessments (multiple choice, matching, short answer, argument and expository essays ).

Creative Experiences

  • Explore abstract concepts (time, perspective, ambiguity, metaphoric thinking, historical thinking skills) with an open mind.
  • Create a Timeline of the Future to connect all “big ideas” learned throughout the year.
  • Contribute to Class Blog

 

Systems of Historical Thinking

  • Visualize History (The Big Picture
  • Mental Models: Geographic Determinism; Origins Determine Mental Models; stories/beliefs/religion/philosophies
  • Built and Underlying Systemic Structures:survival strategies; rules/ laws/ government; art/culture/architecture; economics; understanding of unknown
  • Patterns and Trends of Behavior within and throughout the Natural World and Civilizations:
  • Events as Tipping or Turning Points

 

Systems Thinking Tools

  • Ladder Of Inference
  • Iceberg Diagram
  • Behavior Over Time Graph
  • Causa/Feedback Loops:
  • Balancing
  • Reinforcing
  • Stock and Flow
  • Habits of a Systems Thinker
  • Complex Systems Thinking
  • System Archetypes

Allegories

  • Shadows of the Neanderthal

 

Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions

Systems Thinking and Change

  • A system is a set of specifically organized, interdependent parts which serve a purpose.
  • Understanding the behavior of one system creates a framework to understand other systems.
  • Systems serve specific purposes within larger systems.
  • Systems thinkers use particular vocabulary and tools to understand the short-term and long-term impact of patterns and events. They observe, discuss and connect information in order to understand systems.
  • Systems seek stability.
  • Change in one system causes change in another system. The real world often operates in circular causality, not just cause and effect. (Feedback)
  • Designing effective change requires understanding of systems thinking.

Interpersonal/Interpersonal Knowledge

  • Becoming knowledgeable about yourself gives you the power to make choices and decisions about personal actions.
  • Collaboration, communication, and contribution are necessary in order to be an effective self advocate, learner and citizen.

Producing and Presenting

  • To communicate a message it must be received.
  • Presenting your knowledge in organized, insightful, and engaging ways purposefully informs and educates your audience