Critical questions for systems and systems models-
What are the limits of this system?
What other systems affect this system? How?
What parts and sub-systems make up this system? How do they work together?
What are the inputs and outputs of this system?
What interactions and processes involve this system?
What are the advantages to thinking about this as a system?
In what ways is this system like others I have learned about? How is it different?
Engineering- How can we improve the function of the system?
What is accurate and inaccurate about our model of this system?
How can our systems model be made more accurate?
What other crosscutting concepts apply to this system?
Based on what I've learned, what other symbol could be used to represent Systems and Systems Models?
Questions that connect to the Science and Engineering Practices-
Asking Questions- How does this system work?
Defining Problems- How can I design a system to solve a problem?
Models- How can I model this system? Can we model how this system functions?
Investigations- How can we change variables to test this system?
Data- What kind of data can help us understand this system? What does the data tell us about the system?
Using Math- How can we use math to model how this system works?
Computational Thinking- How can we use computer models to understand this system?
Explanations- How can I explain the function of this system?
Solutions- Will this system solve the problem? Has the system been improved?
Argument- What evidence do we have to support our model of this system?
Information- What is already known about this system? How can I best communicate what I know about this system?
Why is the beetle the symbol for systems? The idea of systems is an abstract concept and is one of the hardest crosscutting concepts for young students. Living things are the most complex systems that science studies and at the same time accessible to young students. They can understand that living things are complex and are made of many parts. Living things have various inputs and outputs and interact with their environment and other living things. much of student's study of life science will be to understand the many systems involving living things. The beetle is easy and fast to draw and is cute.