Day 7: Open & Closed Systems & Landscapes, Take I

This morning, we discussed how systems can be open or closed.  We watched two short videos on YouTube: the first 2 minutes of:Open & Closed Systems, and also Open Systems 30 Second Breakdown.  We then brainstormed ideas for open & closed systems:

Open
car
this room
room 
water bottle
sewer system
water
desk
cardboard box
human body
toilet

Closed
tree
wall
car
toilet
room
water bottle
cardboard box
zipped-up space suit

Many systems were placed in both categories as their status is dependent on how they are used.


Students were given 15 minutes to plan how they would use the technologies we have explored to keep our pollutants out of their rivers. Then, they were given 20 minutes to build their pollution reducing technologies.  

Dishwashing liquid represents gasoline, food coloring represents chemicals & bacteria, sprinkles represent trash, and sequins represent oil. 

All the urban landscapes were quite successful!

Tomorrow, students will be given time to improve their designs.