Opportunities to “see systems” are all around us, from the classroom and the playground to the car, the library, the garden, the dinner table, the bath, and the grocery store. Here’s a simple activity we call hidden connections that you can do anywhere (for instance, driving in the car or at the supper table). In this game, we imagine the hidden connections that surround everyday objects, for instance, the pasta we’re having for supper, the car in our driveway, or the book we brought home from the library.
Here’s a hidden connections conversation and exercise we had at our supper table not long ago:
Me: Guys, how many connections helped bring this pasta to our table?
T: Well, what about the farmer? He grew the wheat.
J: The sun that helped the wheat grow. And the ground and water too.
T: The man who drove the truck to the grocery store.
J: What about the people who work at the grocery store? Yeah! Them too!
Me: We used gas to get to the store right?
T: No, Mommmmm! We biked, don’t you remember? (He was right). But I bet they used gas in the tractor or to get the pasta to the grocery store!
Me: Where did the gas come from?
At that point, we left the table and found our standing globe, the hot pasta dish left to cool until we returned 15 minutes later. As subtly as I can, I say the connections we’ve imagined are all part of the pasta network and then ask “Who’s part of your network?” At this point, one son yells, “Cool! “ pointing the spider web under our table. “There’s a giant stink bug in that that web, and it’s DEAD!” Lesson over, at least for the day.
Extensions of this activity include creating influence diagrams using over-sized Post-It notes, drawing connection diagrams, making mind maps, and using software such as Inspiration. This activity can be made developmentally appropriate for older children by picking two seemingly unrelated people or objects and searching out possible interconnections. For instance, your tuna fish sandwich, the Mayor of San Francisco, and the sneakers in your closet. Awareness of networks is a skill available 5-year-olds and 15-year-olds alike.
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Linda Booth Sweeney is the author of Collected Wisdom, a collaborative effort with two first-class artists - Milton Glaser, recipient of the National Medal of Arts is the book designer, and Guy Billout is the award-winning illustrator. Funding for Connected Wisdom was provided by SEED. It is currently translated into seven languages including English, Portuguese, French, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish or Russian. It will be available in Dutch in March of 2011.
7 comments:
Awareness of networks is a fun, thought provoking, challenging activity. Thanks for all of the ideas Linda! I foung myself thinking about the hidden connections with my everyday activities at home...your blog challedged me to go a few steps beyond what I was already thinking..very fun!
Thanks Linda! I really enjoyed this post. I always have the feeling that we are all more connected than we ever realize. Your exercise is a great way to discover those connections.
I think these discussions and exercises are so important to help children (of all ages) to realize the interrelatedness of things. It also really helps them to understand actions and consequences. Thank you for this insight, Linda.
That activity is better that I Spy! Can't wait to play it with my little people. Thank you!!!
Trying to get people to think outside of their own backyards and tribes is incredibly challenging - you'd think our global communications systems would help, but we still tend to view life in a very ego-centric manner. What's happening in our worlds is what it's all about. In reality - so NOT the truth!
Definitely will play this game with my daughter. Great food for thought!
This is a great activity! Children don't often realize what makes their life as easy and simple as it is. from dinner to clothing the the gas we put in our cars. Cant wait to play it.
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