Systems: Teach Students How Parts Interact to Create a Whole

A bicycle is an example of a system that students can think about to understand the the meaning of the words function and system.  The information provided below gives students an overview of a system as it relates to a bicycle.  Students can then use the Daily Written Reflection worksheet to reinforce what they’ve learned.  This worksheet is used as part of the  Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading® unit Digestion and Body Systems which uses a student book called Systems.  The activity below provides the content you need from this unit to bring this activity into your classroom.  

What Makes a Wheel a Wheel

Think about a bicycle wheel.  Have you ever thought about why a wheel is the way it is?  It’s the structure of a wheel – the way the wheel is shaped and built – that makes it a wheel.  The wheel is long and has long, thin spokes crossing in the middle.  The spokes keep the wheel from bending out of shape.

Why is the structure of the wheel important?  Its structure has to do with its function – what it does or what it is used for.  The function of this wheel is to roll so that the bicycle can move forward.  What if the wheel had a different structure.  Could it still do its function?  Could the wheel roll if it were shaped like a square?  What if the wheel were floppy like a noodle?

A Wheel Is Just One Part of a Bicycle.  

A bicycle is made up of lots of parts.  One bike could have more than 100 different parts.  Each part of a bicycle has a function and a structure that helps the part perform its function well.  Of course, bike parts don’t do much good unless they are all put together to make a bicycle.  You can’t ride just a wheel!  A bicycle with all its parts connected is a system.

A system is a group of parts that interact, or work together.  When the pedals on a bicycle move, they turn the gear.  When the gear turns, it moves