Curated OER
Creating My Own Rube Goldberg Machine
Students dissect simple machines. In this simple machines lesson, students gather simple machines from their home to dissect in class. Students investigate the working parts of simple machines and construct a machine based on the designs...
Curated OER
Exploring Ecosystems
Fourth graders investigate ecosystems. In this ecosystem instructional activity, 4th graders explore producers, consumers, and decomposers and study the interdependence of each.
NASA
Nasa: Model Rocket
A comprehensive tutorial that depicts the parts of a subsystem within a system. This tutorial dissects a rocket and explains how each part is integral to its actual functioning. Excellent links to otherresources dealing with aerodynamics.
Harvard University
Harvard Univ.: Project Zero: Agency by Design: Parts, Purposes, Complexities
This thinking routine helps learners slow down and make careful, detailed observations by encouraging them to look beyond the obvious features of an object or system. This thinking routine helps stimulate curiosity, raises questions, and...
Harvard University
Harvard University: Project Zero: Agency by Design: Parts, People, Interactions
This thinking routine helps learners slow down and look closely at a system. In doing so, young people are able to situate objects within systems and recognize the various people who participate - directly or indirectly - within a...
Harvard University
Harvard University: Project Zero: Agency by Design: Parts, Perspectives, Me
This routine helps students explore complexity by encouraging them to look closely at the details of something, considering its various viewpoints, users, and stakeholders, and reflecting on their own connections and involvement with it.
Harvard University
Harvard University: Project Zero: Agency by Design: Take Apart [Pdf]
Mechanical dissections are a practice that allows learners to discover the often hidden design of objects and how the parts work together as a system.
Harvard University
Harvard University: Project Zero: Agency by Design: Mapping Systems [Pdf]
The practice of mapping allows learners to build and demonstrate their understanding of the parts, people, and interactions that comprise a given system.