Interactive Resources

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
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
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
What's Going on in This Graph? - Nebraska Edition graphic

What's Going on in This Graph? - Nebraska Edition

Looking for a flexible way to practice noticing and wondering with your middle school or high school students? Check out this collection of graphs, maps, and charts! Each highlights a FEWSS (food, energy, water, and societal systems) topic and can be used as a focal point for students' sense-making discussions. You can use these as a bell-ringer, anchoring or investigative phenomenon, exit ticket, etc. Additional resources (notice and wonder t-chart template and class slide deck template) are provided to help you and your students get started!

Middle School
High School
Classroom Instruction
At-Home Instruction
Life Sciences
Physical Sciences
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Technology
Engineering
Tool
Phenomena
Food
Energy
Water