Subject: Practical Teaching Question

Posted by Tim Joy on 11/18/2010

Message:

I've long believed that Health education is a rich place for middle and high school introduction of systems concepts, our body being its own system and all. Drug or medication models, perspiration, fatigue, all manner of blood-related systems concerns. For middle school, the goopier and gooier the better: if you'll pardon the potty talk, nothing says STOCK like a full bladder. The flows in and out are stupidly funny, inherently engaging for young folks, and absolutely real. Nothing conceptual, all visceral. I've mentioned this before, students in my systems class do not ask to "go to the restroom" but rather ask, "Mr. Joy, may I empty my stock?"

Homeostasis seems at the core of all body-related function, regulating a body within a range of healthy functions and habits.

Those out there who teach Health . . . can we give Greg some direct assistance? What system resources are available for Health courses?

Tim Joy
Portland, Oregon
On Nov 17, 2010, at 3:18 AM, Greg Louie wrote:

> Hi folks,
>
> I'm wondering if anyone has practical experience in promoting systems thinking with seventh grade students studying the human body. There seems to be plenty of opportunities for exposing students to the fundamentals of system thinking through a topic they all love.
>
> Questions:
>
> 1. What systems thinking concepts would you teach first?
> 2. What are the first three body systems that would you apply these concepts to?
>
>
> Gregory Louie
> 7th grade Science teacher
> Duke School
> http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/mrglouie
>
> "Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." - Goethe
>
> ************