Human Systems
Teacher Resources
Driving Question: How might human systems increase complexity?
Over time, humans have developed more complex human systems, or ways in which we interact with others. These human systems impact things like our communities, states, economies, and belief systems. But how will these systems impact our future?
Learning Objectives:
- Evaluate how changes in human social organization transform life on Earth.
- Explain how human systems might impact our future.
Vocab Terms:
- Anthropocene
- fossil fuel
- globalization
- population
- social
- system
Opener: Human Systems
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of the Lesson 7.5 Teaching Guide.
Over the past few lessons, we’ve worked to understand natural and technological systems. But to really get to any insight about our future, we have to understand ourselves.
How Will We Change the World?
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of the Lesson 7.5 Teaching Guide.
Check out the blog “Human history and the environment” to learn about the relationship between human activity and the Earth.
Can we change the world? It should be clear by now that we already have, many times over. But can we change it for the better? This article and activity help you think through this serious question.
-
Guiding Questions
-
Before you read
Preview the questions below, and then skim the article. Be sure to look at the section headings and any images.
While you read
Look for answers to these questions:
- How does the human body work as a system?
- What does systems thinking mean?
- What are the benefits of combining futuring and systems thinking?
- What type of things should we consider when building systems of the future?
After you read
Respond to these questions:
- What are other examples of systems in our world today that are not mentioned in the article?
- Choose one of the examples you gave for the question above. What is one change that might occur to this system in the future?
Closer: Human Systems
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 7.5 Teaching Guide.
Our Writing Guide shares our approach to both formal and informal writing, including Unit Notebooks—check it out!
Unit Notebook time? Unit Notebook time.
