Students investigate city management and government by creating a fictional city in groups.  In this civics activity, students create rules and a mascot for their fictitious city which they create from poster board cubes....

Learners construct a small city on a table in the classroom. Each student is given a lot to develop. They give directions from one location to another, and write letters with correct addresses to their classmates.

Students identify the characteristics of a city including infrastructure, architecture, location, transportation, air quality, and suburbs. They recognize how cultures and the environment shape cities. They then identify the needs of a...

Students research information about China's capital and the area known as The Forbidden City. They identify real and imaginary sculptures displayed on Beijing's streets and rooftops and sculpt and paint replicas of these sculptures. They...

Your class members will get up close and personal with the Big Apple in this fantastic lesson, which introduces learners to not only the concept of a city, but also provides a thorough overview of New York City itself and its...

Students read a news article about the most dangerous cities in the United States. In groups, they develop a plan to present to the city council to improve the situation in their own community. They examine how the media presents the...

Students read a report about the most dangerous cities in America. Using the internet, they research their own community in regards to how safe it is. They interview local law enforcement and determine the degree of local danger. They...

Explore the Fifth Amendment by examining the meaning of "public use" as learners read a scenario and role play their assigned parts to determine "public use." They also read Supreme Court Cases regarding the amendment and present their...

Here is an interesting plan for introducing your pupils to the workings of the local city council. The teacher must go videotape a city council meeting in it's entirety. Learners watch the tape, and discuss what they observed from the...

Young scholars examine U.S. Census figures. In this urban centers lesson, students compare city populations across the span of 50 years. Young scholars create line graphs based on the data.

The best laid plans can lead to meeting renewable energy goals. A culminating project for the unit has pupils research the amount of solar and wind energy at their locations. They set renewable energy goals and use the information they...

Eighth graders examine the reasons for the growth of cities in North American. Using the internet, they research the causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution and determine if the growth of cities is a sign of progress. They...

Young scholars generate plans for a fictitious road trip.  In this time management lesson, students investigate the most effective way to travel the country arriving at specific cities.  Young scholars create their plans based...

Scholars investigate a local city (Sunderland) by participating in a discussion. They explore the different elements of the UK city by identifying the industrial and economic aspects. They also read an interview of two people speaking...

Define the term "urban forestry"; discuss several problems facing urban forests today and both government and public efforts centered on developing and maintaining sustainable urban forests. Develop a feasible action plan for alternative...

Students make two T charts, one for Sparta and one for Athens, showing pros and cons for living in either city-state. They use the physical information from the map and the cultural captions given for Athens and Sparts to come to their...

Young scholars explore the Forbidden City of ancient China. In this world history lesson, students examine China's history and its dynasties. Young scholars research symbols embedded in China's Forbidden City.

Students discover how European values dominated colonial life. They also examine the effects of slavery in the Americas. Students compare the planning of their home town with that of colonial Williamsburg. They locate key sites such...

Middle schoolers research various planned communities and consider the pros and cons of such a development. They realize that planned communities have advocates and detractors and use these considerations when planning their own community.

Students read a story called Mayor Puts City on Diet to Lose a Million Pounds and answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this current event Lose a Million Pounds lesson plan, students respond to literature by...

Students explore the concept of architectural heritage. In this architecture lesson, students visit selected websites to compare and contrast the architectural features in world cities.

Jazz and the City, Jazz and the Civil Rights Movement, Jazz and Gender, Jazz and Literature, Jazz and the Arts, Jazz and Film. Here's a packet of unit plans organized around themes that reflect American culture. Each unit examines how...

Fourth graders read A Cricket in Times Square and examine the essence of living in New York City. They examine subway maps and other resources concerning NYC and then complete several writing activities about the city. They also create...

Students explore colonial history, the antebellum era and the cotton economy and the rise of cities in the U.S.