Computer
Modeling - Introduction to STELLA |
Students will be introduced to the STELLA computer
modeling program. |
Growing Grains: Behavior Over Time |
One Grain of Rice serves as a vehicle for explaining doubling and behavior
over time, in this introduction to basic systems thinking. |
Waging War: Feedback Loops |
After reading The War with Grandpa by Robert Kimmel Smith, students
discuss the dynamics observed in the story, learn what feedback loops are
and how they can be used to describe dynamics and solve problems. |
System Interactions: The Lorax and the Truffula Tree |
After reading The Lorax, students discuss the interrelationships of the characters
in the story and create a causal loop diagram, so as to further understand
the nature of systems interactions and their use in problem solving. |
STELLA and the Carbon Cycle |
Students will explore the carbon cycle and learn how to use STELLA software in this lesson. (NOTE: This lesson is separated into three sections. Each section can be completed as a separate classroom activity, or all three can be accomplished in one class period.) |
Stocks and Flows
Overheads:
Stocks and Flows
Population Model
Store Inventory |
Students are introduced to stocks and flows as modeling tools and draw a model of a current topic of interest. (NOTE: This lesson is the fourth in the series of Modeling Exercises. It should be preceded by “Growing Grains: Behavior Over Time,” “Waging War: Feedback Loops,” and “Systems Interactions: The Lorax and the Truffula Tree.”) |
