Design Challenge: Levels of Reality
The nested levels of reality
This design challenge will ask teams to explore the nature of matter and energy. We do this by disassembling matter into energy from the ecology to energy and every step in between. This is important because to reframe what we are exploring here at Mezzacello Urban Farm, It’s good to know what size or scale you are at!
From the visible to the Invisble
The goal of the design challenge is to introduce kids to the details of energy, atoms, molecules, compoundes, cemistry, and biology in nature, sustainability, and extending ecologies on an urban farm.
Each team will get a research station, clipboards, pens, empty and a nested level of reality card for a system at Mezzacello Urban Farm, posterboard and markers. The deliverables are listed under each section.
Running This Design Challenge (90 minutes)
Introduction to the Periodic Table (20 minutes)
Students must become familiar with NHCOPS on an interactive Periodic Table:
Nitrogen
Why does Nitrogen make up 80% of our atmosphere?
Hydrogen
Why is Hydrogen so common in the universe?
Carbon
Why is the Carbon hexagon so vital to all life on earth?
Oxygen
Why is Oxygen so very dangerous, corrosive, and essential to life?
Phosphorus
What role does Phosphorus play in DNA and Cell Membranes?
Sulphur
Why do humans perceive sulphur as stinky?
Supporting Cast:
Have students look at these four illustrations and ask them to describe what they think is happening in each.
Calcium
Sodium
Potassium
Magnesium
Iron
Understanding How Nitrogen, Hydrogen, and Carbon Work Together (30 minutes)
Each team must conduct research on one of the following three features of fertilizer Safety:
What role does Nitrogen-rich molecules play in warfare? In ecology? In the atmosphere?
Why is Hydrogen such a trouble maker?
Why does Carbon form the MOST stable molecules and compounds in the universe?
Deliverable: Each team must present a paragraph that describes their answer they have researched OR perform a skit that demonstrates mastery.
Putting It Together (30 Minutes)
In this section of the Levels of Reality Design Challenge, students will be given a section of Mezzacello Urban Farm to map on Paper. They will also be given the scale at which they are required to work (atomic and molecular, or cell, or organism level)
They must create a story that details the inner workings of their section of the garden. The story must have a theme, a beginninh, middle, and end, and it must be told from the viewpoint of a molecule, a cell or an organism. The story can be written, drawn on paper or a whiteboard, and it must be complete enough for another team to tell the story for the team that is writing the story.
We are looking for mastery of the biological systems, and creativity in how we relate its importance of these functional atoms, molecules, systems, and webs of life to plants, people and animals, or mechanical systems that rely on these nutrients.
Presentation
Have each team present their deliverable on a video and give a 30-60 second breakdown on what they learned and created. Have them write the script, film it, edit it and upload it to youTube.
