Sustainable City: Design for the Future
Inquiry Framework
Question Framework
Driving Question
The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we design a sustainable city that honors its history, promotes the health of its citizens, and responsibly uses its geographical resources?Essential Questions
Supporting questions that break down major concepts.- How can we balance technological innovation with the preservation of historical landmarks in our city design?
- What are the key indicators of a sustainable city, and how can we measure our city's performance against these indicators?
- How do historical events and cultural values shape a city's identity and influence its approach to sustainability?
- In what ways can urban planning promote the health and well-being of all residents, including access to green spaces, clean air, and nutritious food?
- How does geographical location impact the resources available to a city and the challenges it faces in becoming sustainable?
Standards & Learning Goals
Learning Goals
By the end of this project, students will be able to:- Students will be able to evaluate the impact of urban planning on environmental sustainability.
- Students will be able to analyze the relationship between a city's history, culture, and its approach to sustainability.
- Students will be able to design a sustainable city model that integrates green technologies and historical preservation.
- Students will be able to assess how geographical location impacts resources and sustainability challenges.
- Students will be able to investigate how urban planning can promote the health and well-being of residents.
Entry Events
Events that will be used to introduce the project to studentsTime Traveler's Dilemma
A mysterious time traveler arrives, seeking the students' help. They explain that their future city is on the brink of collapse due to unsustainable practices, challenging students to design a city that avoids these pitfalls, blending historical wisdom with futuristic tech.Sustainability Scandal!
Present a fictional news report exposing a major sustainability failure in a well-known city (e.g., a massive water contamination event, a collapse of the public transportation system). Students become investigative journalists tasked with uncovering the root causes and proposing sustainable solutions to restore the city.Portfolio Activities
Portfolio Activities
These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.Green Technology Explorer
Students explore various green technologies applicable to urban environments, assessing their feasibility and impact.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA presentation or infographic detailing the feasibility and impact of selected green technologies in an urban setting.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will be able to evaluate the impact of urban planning on environmental sustainability, and design a sustainable city model that integrates green technologies.Geographical Resource Audit
Students investigate the geographical resources available to their chosen city and how these resources can be sustainably managed.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA resource management plan outlining sustainable strategies for utilizing the city's geographical resources.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will be able to assess how geographical location impacts resources and sustainability challenges.Citizen Health and Urban Design
Students investigate how urban planning impacts the health and well-being of city residents.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA proposal with recommendations for improving urban planning to promote the health and well-being of city residents.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will be able to investigate how urban planning can promote the health and well-being of residents.Historical Landmark Hunt
Students research significant historical landmarks in a chosen city and analyze their cultural and environmental impact.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA report detailing the historical and cultural significance of selected landmarks and their impact on the city's sustainability.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will be able to analyze the relationship between a city's history, culture, and its approach to sustainability.Rubric & Reflection
Portfolio Rubric
Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolioSustainable City Design Challenge Rubric
Green Technology Integration
Evaluates the student's ability to research, select, and integrate appropriate green technologies into their city design, considering feasibility and impact.Technology Research and Selection
Assesses the depth and breadth of research into various green technologies and the rationale behind the selection of specific technologies for the city design.
Exemplary
4 PointsDemonstrates comprehensive research on a wide range of green technologies and provides a compelling rationale for selecting technologies that are highly relevant and innovative for the city's context.
Proficient
3 PointsDemonstrates thorough research on several green technologies and provides a clear rationale for selecting technologies that are relevant and suitable for the city's context.
Developing
2 PointsShows emerging research on a few green technologies and provides a basic rationale for selecting technologies that are somewhat relevant to the city's context.
Beginning
1 PointsShows limited research on green technologies and provides a weak or unclear rationale for technology selection.
Feasibility and Impact Analysis
Assesses the student's ability to analyze the feasibility (cost, space, resources) and potential impact (environmental benefits, energy efficiency) of the chosen green technologies.
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides a sophisticated and detailed analysis of the feasibility and potential impact of the chosen technologies, considering multiple factors and presenting compelling evidence to support claims.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides a thorough analysis of the feasibility and potential impact of the chosen technologies, considering key factors and presenting clear evidence to support claims.
Developing
2 PointsProvides a basic analysis of the feasibility and potential impact of the chosen technologies, considering some factors and presenting limited evidence to support claims.
Beginning
1 PointsProvides a weak or incomplete analysis of the feasibility and potential impact of the chosen technologies, with little or no evidence to support claims.
Geographical Resource Management
Evaluates the student's understanding of the city's geographical resources and their ability to propose sustainable strategies for managing these resources.Resource Identification and Analysis
Assesses the student's ability to identify the key geographical resources available to the city and analyze their current use and management.
Exemplary
4 PointsDemonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the city's geographical resources, providing a detailed and insightful analysis of their current use and management practices, including potential challenges and opportunities.
Proficient
3 PointsDemonstrates a thorough understanding of the city's geographical resources, providing a clear analysis of their current use and management practices.
Developing
2 PointsShows an emerging understanding of the city's geographical resources, providing a basic analysis of their current use and management practices.
Beginning
1 PointsShows a limited understanding of the city's geographical resources, providing a weak or incomplete analysis of their current use and management practices.
Sustainability Strategies
Assesses the student's ability to propose alternative, sustainable strategies for managing the city's geographical resources.
Exemplary
4 PointsProposes highly innovative and practical sustainable strategies for managing the city's geographical resources, demonstrating a deep understanding of environmental principles and considering long-term impacts.
Proficient
3 PointsProposes effective and practical sustainable strategies for managing the city's geographical resources, demonstrating a good understanding of environmental principles.
Developing
2 PointsProposes basic sustainable strategies for managing the city's geographical resources, demonstrating some understanding of environmental principles.
Beginning
1 PointsProposes weak or impractical sustainable strategies for managing the city's geographical resources, demonstrating a limited understanding of environmental principles.
Historical and Cultural Preservation
Evaluates the student's ability to research historical landmarks and analyze their cultural and environmental impact on the city's sustainability efforts.Landmark Research and Significance
Assesses the depth of research into the selected historical landmarks and the understanding of their historical and cultural significance.
Exemplary
4 PointsDemonstrates in-depth research on the selected historical landmarks, providing a comprehensive and insightful analysis of their historical and cultural significance to the city's identity.
Proficient
3 PointsDemonstrates thorough research on the selected historical landmarks, providing a clear analysis of their historical and cultural significance.
Developing
2 PointsShows emerging research on the selected historical landmarks, providing a basic analysis of their historical and cultural significance.
Beginning
1 PointsShows limited research on the selected historical landmarks, providing a weak or incomplete analysis of their historical and cultural significance.
Impact on Sustainability Efforts
Assesses the student's ability to analyze how the selected landmarks reflect the city's past and influence its present sustainability efforts.
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides a sophisticated and nuanced analysis of how the selected landmarks reflect the city's past and significantly influence its present sustainability efforts, considering both positive and negative impacts.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides a clear analysis of how the selected landmarks reflect the city's past and influence its present sustainability efforts.
Developing
2 PointsShows a basic understanding of how the selected landmarks reflect the city's past and influence its present sustainability efforts.
Beginning
1 PointsShows a limited understanding of how the selected landmarks reflect the city's past and influence its present sustainability efforts.
Health and Well-being Promotion
Evaluates the student's ability to investigate how urban planning impacts the health and well-being of city residents and develop recommendations for improvement.Urban Planning and Health Analysis
Assesses the student's research and analysis of the impact of urban planning on public health, considering factors like air quality, green spaces, walkability, and food access.
Exemplary
4 PointsDemonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between urban planning and public health, providing a detailed and insightful analysis of various factors and their impact on residents' well-being.
Proficient
3 PointsDemonstrates a thorough understanding of the relationship between urban planning and public health, providing a clear analysis of key factors and their impact.
Developing
2 PointsShows an emerging understanding of the relationship between urban planning and public health, providing a basic analysis of some relevant factors.
Beginning
1 PointsShows a limited understanding of the relationship between urban planning and public health, providing a weak or incomplete analysis of relevant factors.
Recommendations for Improvement
Assesses the quality and feasibility of the student's recommendations for improving urban planning to promote healthier lifestyles for residents.
Exemplary
4 PointsDevelops highly innovative and practical recommendations for improving urban planning to promote healthier lifestyles, demonstrating a deep understanding of public health principles and considering diverse community needs.
Proficient
3 PointsDevelops effective and practical recommendations for improving urban planning to promote healthier lifestyles, demonstrating a good understanding of public health principles.
Developing
2 PointsDevelops basic recommendations for improving urban planning to promote healthier lifestyles, demonstrating some understanding of public health principles.
Beginning
1 PointsDevelops weak or impractical recommendations for improving urban planning to promote healthier lifestyles, demonstrating a limited understanding of public health principles.