Thank you and Happy 2016!

Post date: Jan 5, 2016 10:23:15 PM

Welcome to the new year with new starts, renewed hope, and the excitement of the unknown! While I enjoyed the break, my heart warmed as I greeted each smiling student Monday morning. The kids always make it better! We began this new year with a new conceptual focus. Our new inquiry will be:

The efficiency of a system determines the effectiveness of the system.

An inquiry into:

• The organization of systems (Function: How does it work?)
• Interdependence within a system (Connection: How is it connected to other things?)
• Factors that affect the efficiency of a system. (Change: How is it changing?)

The students will be learning about systems by examining:

• The ways we use systems in our own lives.
• Body systems
• Systems created by the colonists to help their communities thrive.

The summative assessment for this unit will be:

• Research a body system. Write a research report describing the way the system works, the interconnectedness of the parts of the system, and factors that affect the efficiency of the system.
• Work with others who also researched your body system to determine ways you can take action. How can you help others to understand the system and take action to keep the system effective? This might include researching diseases or environmental factors that affect the system and ways to eradicate the disease or prevent a breakdown in the system.
• Take action! Do something! Then reflect on your action.
• Present your knowledge, understanding, and actions to the school and community. These presentations will take place on the evening of March 29th from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. Families and community members will be invited to attend and learn about several projects. Please Save the Date!

How can parents be involved?

• If you work with systems thinking, are a health care professional, or have experience treating or preventing disease, volunteer to come in and speak to the students. Tell us what you do and how knowledge of systems helps you be more efficient or effective.
• Volunteer to mentor a group of students as they share ideas, plan for and take action, and prepare their presentation. This is a weekly commitment and will begin right after the February break. We will determine a time together. Go to Volunteer Spot to sign up to be a mentor. There will be a meeting on Thursday February 4th at 5:30 pm in room 20 for more information regarding the process of mentoring.
• Read about systems thinking and include your child in family decisions based on this method.