After School Instruction

Prairie Protector logo

Prairie Protector - Video Tutorial

Need a quick start guide before playing the Prairie Protector digital game? Watch the video below to see a quick walk-through tutorial to learn a bit about the game and some useful tips.

Middle School
High School
Classroom Instruction
After-School Instruction
At-Home Instruction
Life Sciences
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Engineering
Video
Systems Thinking
Informed Decision Making
Food
Loopy graphic logo

Nicky Case

LOOPY - Video Tutorial

This 6-minute video tutorial introduces the basics of getting started with the LOOPY tool for modeling systems. This tutorial is targeted at students in grades 6 and up and can be used with undergraduate students or the general public.

Middle School
High School
Post-Secondary
General Public
Classroom Instruction
After-School Instruction
At-Home Instruction
Video
Systems Thinking
LOOPY model of the impact Covid-19 has had on a person

Systems Thinking for Resilience - Digital Lesson

Looking for a way to get started with the LOOPY tool? The Systems Thinking for Resilience learning module will provide a short video introduction to systems thinking and a quick LOOPY tutorial to help you start modeling a system that is personally meaningful to you. Participants will be asked to engage in reflective practice as they create a system model that answers the question, "How might a big change send ripple effects through your life and what actions can you take to build or maintain resilience during uncertain times?".

Middle School
High School
Post-Secondary
Classroom Instruction
After-School Instruction
At-Home Instruction
Lesson
Video
Systems Thinking
Illustration of 14 habits of a system thinker cards

Waters Center for Systems Thinking

14 Habits of a Systems Thinker - Card Set

Practicing systems thinking habits can change the way you see the world and influence the actions or decisions you make. This card set from the Water Center for Systems Thinking introduces 14 habits of a systems thinker that you can start practicing today!

Elementary
Middle School
High School
Post-Secondary
General Public
Classroom Instruction
After-School Instruction
At-Home Instruction
Tool
Systems Thinking
Garden vegetables, student notebook, and environmental sensor on a picnic table

Garden TOOLS - How-To Coding Guides

The Garden TOOLS how-to coding guides provide step-by-step instructions on how to program the BBC micro:bit in various ways to gather data in a school garden or other outdoor learning space.

Elementary
Classroom Instruction
After-School Instruction
At-Home Instruction
Technology
Engineering
Systems Thinking
Informed Decision Making
Food
Water

BBC micro:bit FAQ

The Garden TOOLS program supports students in grades 3-5 to use and program the BBC micro:bit microcontroller to gather data on environmental conditions and create technology-rich solutions to a variety of garden challenges. This FAQ will provide some basic information about the most common questions regarding the BBC micro:bit.

Elementary
Classroom Instruction
After-School Instruction
At-Home Instruction
Technology
Engineering
Systems Thinking
Informed Decision Making
Food
Water
Garden vegetables, student notebook, and environmental sensor on a picnic table

Garden TOOLS - Project Cards

The Garden TOOLS project cards provide guided instructions for BBC micro:bit coding projects that can be used to extend student learning. Project cards include will guide students to... design a soil moisture sensor to match different plant root depths, design a button to count garden visitors, and design an animated scarecrow to scare away pests.

Elementary
Classroom Instruction
After-School Instruction
Technology
Engineering
Lesson
Systems Thinking
Informed Decision Making
Food
Water
Garden vegetables, student notebook, and environmental sensor on a picnic table

Garden TOOLS - Lesson Set

The Garden TOOLS lesson set is an agricultural technology and engineering curriculum designed for use with students in grades 3-5.

Elementary
Classroom Instruction
After-School Instruction
At-Home Instruction
Technology
Engineering
Lesson
Systems Thinking
Informed Decision Making
Food
Water
Science Standard:
Garden vegetables, student notebook, and environmental sensor on a picnic table

Garden TOOLS - Video Tutorials

The Garden TOOLS video tutorials provide a guided introduction to getting started with the BBC micro:bit microcontroller including introducing the MakeCode for micro:bit coding platform and how to hook up the battery pack.

Elementary
Classroom Instruction
After-School Instruction
At-Home Instruction
Technology
Engineering
Video
Systems Thinking
Informed Decision Making
Food
Water
Prairie Protector logo

Prairie Protector - Video Game

The Sandhills and other grasslands in the Great Plains are currently threatened by what is being called "the green glacier"-- a slow but steady encroachment of invasive tree species into ecosystems which have traditionally been dominated by grasses and wildflowers. These invasive species not only threaten the habitat of native wildlife but also threaten the livelihood of ranchers who depend on the vast grasslands to feed their livestock. In Prairie Protector, test your skills at defending the High Plains from this threat!

Middle School
High School
Classroom Instruction
After-School Instruction
At-Home Instruction
Life Sciences
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Engineering
Game
Systems Thinking
Informed Decision Making
Food
Beyond the Box graphic logo

Beyond the Box - Interactive Career Exploration

Beyond the Box is an interactive career exploration resource that leverages Museum-in-a-Box technology to bring to light the achievements of Black scientists in Agriculture and Natural Resource fields.

Elementary
Middle School
High School
Classroom Instruction
After-School Instruction
At-Home Instruction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tool
Video
Diversity Equity and Inclusion

AgPocalypse - Tutorial Videos

Need a quick start guide before playing the AgPocalypse digital game? Watch the video tutorials below led by game developer, Chloe Lehnert, in which she explains a bit about the game and provides some useful tips.

Middle School
High School
Classroom Instruction
After-School Instruction
At-Home Instruction
Life Sciences
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Technology
Engineering
Video
Systems Thinking
Informed Decision Making
Food
Energy
Water
Loopy graphic logo

Nicky Case

LOOPY: A Digital Tool for Thinking in Systems

LOOPY is a tool for thinking in systems created by Nicky Case. It allows you to quickly sketch system components (as circles) and their interactions (as arrows) and press play to simulate how a system behaves. In no time at all, you will be experimenting with negative and positive feedback loops, testing predictions, and, most importantly, having fun playing with your system creations.

Elementary
Middle School
High School
Post-Secondary
General Public
Classroom Instruction
After-School Instruction
At-Home Instruction
Tool
Systems Thinking
AgPocalypse digital game graphic

AgPocalypse - Video Game

Farming is a balancing act. Are you ready to take on the challenge of maximizing production while using limited resources like land and water? Play AgPocalypse to test your skills!

Middle School
High School
Classroom Instruction
After-School Instruction
At-Home Instruction
Life Sciences
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Technology
Engineering
Game
Systems Thinking
Informed Decision Making
Food
Energy
Water
AgPocalypse digital game graphic

AgPocalypse - Lesson Set

The following lessons are provided to connect the Agpocalypse gameplay scenarios with broader learning objectives.

Middle School
High School
Classroom Instruction
After-School Instruction
At-Home Instruction
Life Sciences
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Technology
Engineering
Lesson
Systems Thinking
Informed Decision Making
Food
Energy
Water