Activity 2

Patterns - Observed patterns in nature guide organization and classification and prompt questions about relationships and causes underlying them.

• Macroscopic patterns are related to the nature of microscopic and atomic-level structures.

• Graphs, charts, and images can be used to identify patterns in data.

• Patterns in rates of change and other numerical relationships can provide information about natural systems.

• Patterns can be used to identify cause-and-effect relationships.

• In ELA classrooms patterns are seen in both grammatical and writing patterns as well as in literary genres. An example of this is evident in Missouri 7th grade Communication Arts Standard 3B: "Compare and contrast a fictional portrayal of a time, place, or character with realistic accounts of the same subject matter."

• In Social Studies classrooms, the patterns evident in historical decisions and events provide opportunities for students to evaluate the societal consequences of today’s decisions. An example of these standards is evident in Kansas 8th grade Social Studies Standard 4: "Outlining the study of how Societies experience continuity and change over time."

Cause and Effect - Events have causes, sometimes simple, sometimes multifaceted. Deciphering causal relationships and the mechanisms by which they are mediated are major activities of science and engineering.

• Cause and effect relationships may be used to predict phenomena in natural or designed systems.

• Phenomena may have more than one cause, and some cause-and-effect relationships in systems can only be described using probability.

• Relationships can be classified as causal or correlational, and correlation does not necessarily imply causation.

• In ELA classrooms, cause and effect is a recurring theme in both today’s and historical literature. This is evident in Missouri 7th grade standard 1A: "Comprehend and interpret text draw conclusions, infer, and analyze by citing several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text."

• In Social Studies classrooms, this theme can be found in Kansas’ Middle School Standard 1.1: "The student will recognize and evaluate significant choices and consequences that have impacted our lives and futures."

Scale, Proportion, and Quantity - In considering phenomena, it is critical to recognize what is relevant at a different size, time, and energy scale, and to recognize proportional relationships between different quantities as scales change.

• Time, space, and energy phenomena can be observed at various scales using models to study systems that are too large or too small.

• Proportional relationships (e.g. speed as the ratio of distance traveled to time taken) among different types of quantities provide information about the magnitude of properties and processes.

• Phenomena that can be observed at one scale may not be observable at another scale.

• The observed function of natural and designed systems may change with scale.

• Scientific relationships can be represented through the use of algebraic expressions and equations.

• In ELA and Social Studies classrooms, this concept might come up in literature that would give us an opportunity to compare civilizations or time periods to predict what might happen if the same scenarios happened today. This is reflected in MO 7th grade ELA Standard 3B: "Compare and contrast a fictional portrayal of a time, place, or character with realistic accounts of the same subject matter."

Systems and System Models - A system is an organized group of related objects or components; models can be used for understanding and predicting the behavior of systems. (Graphs are models of systems.)

• Models can be used to represent systems and their interactions—such as inputs, processes and outputs—and energy and matter flows within systems.

• Systems may interact with other systems; they may have sub-systems and be a part of larger complex systems.

• Models are limited in that they only represent certain aspects of the system under study.

• In ELA classrooms, systems are recognized in the writing conventions and in the impact a single word or sentence choice can have on a piece of written text as it functions as a system. This is reflected in Kansas 8th grade ELA standard RI.8.4: "Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts."

• In the Social Studies classroom governmental systems and environmental systems are just a few of the many systems analyzed during U.S. and state history courses. This is shown in Missouri 6-8th grade Social Studies standard 2.1 A: "Analyze laws, policies, and processes to determine how governmental systems affect individuals and groups in society in world history prior to c.1450."

Structure and Function - The way an object is shaped or structured determines many of its properties and functions

• Structures can be designed to serve particular functions by taking into account properties of different materials, and how materials can be shaped and used.

• Complex and microscopic structures and systems can be visualized, modeled, and used to describe how their function depends on the shapes, composition, and relationships among its parts, therefore complex natural structures/systems can be analyzed to determine how they function.

• In the ELA classroom, this is evident as students work to determine and understand how the structure of written text contributes to its understanding such as in Missouri standard RL.7.5: "Analyze how a drama’s or poem’s form or structure (e.g., soliloquy, sonnet) contributes to its meaning."

• In Social Studies classrooms, the structure and function of many systems are evaluated such as in the completing question from the Kansas Middle School Standard 5: "What tension exists between political, economic, and religious systems within a culture?"

Stability and Change - For both designed and natural systems, conditions that affect stability and factors that control rates of change are critical elements to consider and understand.

• Stability might be disturbed either by sudden events or gradual changes that accumulate over time.

• Explanations of stability and change in natural or designed systems can be constructed by examining the changes over time and processes at different scales, including the atomic scale.

• Small changes in one part of a system might cause large changes in another part.

• Systems in dynamic equilibrium are stable due to a balance of feedback mechanisms.

• In the ELA and Social Studies classrooms this concept fits in with the ideas and standards discussed for patterns and systems.

• Stability might be disturbed either by sudden events or gradual changes that accumulate over time.

• Explanations of stability and change in natural or designed systems can be constructed by examining the changes over time and processes at different scales, including the atomic scale.

• Small changes in one part of a system might cause large changes in another part. Systems in dynamic equilibrium are stable due to a balance of feedback mechanisms.

• In the ELA and Social Studies classrooms this concept fits in with the ideas and standards discussed for patterns and systems.