Sustainable City Designers: Meeting Needs, Protecting Our Earth.
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Sustainable City Designers: Meeting Needs, Protecting Our Earth.

Grade 2Social StudiesMath8 days
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Second-grade students become city planners in this project, designing a sustainable model city that balances the needs of its citizens with environmental protection. They begin by assessing community needs and researching how those needs are met, then create city blueprints incorporating various buildings and infrastructure. Math concepts are applied to plan and measure different city elements, and sustainable features are integrated to minimize environmental impact. Students present their eco-friendly city designs, explaining the benefits to both the community and the environment.
Community NeedsCity PlanningSustainabilityMeasurementGeometryData AnalysisEco-Friendly Design
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we design and build a model city that meets the needs of its citizens, uses math for planning, and protects the environment?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What are the basic needs of people in a community?
  • What different types of buildings and infrastructure are needed in a city?
  • How can we use math to plan and measure the different parts of our city?
  • How does the environment impact a city and its residents?
  • How can we design a city that is good for people and the environment?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will be able to identify and describe the basic needs of people in a community, such as housing, food, water, and safety.
  • Students will be able to design and construct a model city that includes different types of buildings and infrastructure, such as homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and parks.
  • Students will be able to use mathematical concepts, such as measurement, geometry, and data analysis, to plan and measure the different parts of their model city.
  • Students will be able to explain how the environment impacts a city and its residents, and how a city can be designed to be environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

The "Perfect City" Design Competition

Launch a school-wide "Perfect City" design competition, inviting students to submit their vision for an ideal city that meets specific criteria (sustainability, community, innovation). This creates excitement and a real-world purpose for their project.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Community Needs Assessment: Detective Work

Students become detectives to discover the basic needs of a community. They will explore different aspects such as housing, food, water, and safety through discussions and research.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Engage in a class discussion about what people need to survive and thrive in a community.
2. Create a list of essential needs, like housing, food, water, safety, education, and healthcare.
3. Research examples of how these needs are met in different communities using books, online resources, and interviews with local community members.
4. Categorize the information gathered and discuss why each need is important.
5. Reflect on which needs are most critical and how they interrelate.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed list of community needs with examples and explanations for each.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will be able to identify and describe the basic needs of people in a community, such as housing, food, water, and safety.
Activity 2

Blueprint Bonanza: Designing Our City

Students will design their own city blueprints, incorporating different types of buildings and infrastructure. They will consider the function and placement of each element to ensure the city meets the needs identified in Activity 1.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Review the list of community needs created in Activity 1.
2. Brainstorm different types of buildings and infrastructure needed to meet those needs (e.g., homes, schools, hospitals, parks, roads).
3. Sketch a blueprint of their ideal city, including different zones for residential, commercial, and recreational areas.
4. Label each building and infrastructure element and explain its purpose.
5. Present their blueprints to the class and discuss the rationale behind their design choices.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed blueprint of a model city with labeled buildings and infrastructure elements.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will be able to design and construct a model city that includes different types of buildings and infrastructure, such as homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and parks.
Activity 3

Mathville Measurement Mania

Students use mathematical concepts to plan and measure different parts of their model city. They'll apply measurement, geometry, and data analysis to ensure their city is accurately planned and proportionate.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose specific buildings or areas from their city blueprint to focus on.
2. Use rulers and other measuring tools to determine the dimensions of these buildings and areas.
3. Calculate the area and perimeter of different zones in their city.
4. Create a scale model of one building or area, ensuring accurate proportions.
5. Analyze data related to population density and resource allocation in their city using graphs and charts.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA scale model of a building or area in their city, along with calculations of area, perimeter, and data analysis related to city planning.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will be able to use mathematical concepts, such as measurement, geometry, and data analysis, to plan and measure the different parts of their model city.
Activity 4

Eco-City Planners: Environment and Sustainability

Students explore how the environment impacts their city and how they can design it to be environmentally friendly and sustainable. They will research different eco-friendly solutions and incorporate them into their city design.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research the impact of cities on the environment (e.g., pollution, resource depletion).
2. Brainstorm ways to make their city more environmentally friendly (e.g., green spaces, renewable energy, waste management).
3. Incorporate sustainable features into their city design, such as solar panels, green roofs, and recycling centers.
4. Explain how these features will benefit the environment and the community.
5. Present their eco-friendly city design to the class, highlighting the sustainable features and their impact.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA presentation of their eco-friendly city design, explaining how it benefits the environment and the community.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will be able to explain how the environment impacts a city and its residents, and how a city can be designed to be environmentally friendly and sustainable.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Model City Design Project Rubric

Category 1

Community Needs Assessment

Understanding and identifying the essential needs of a community and providing relevant examples.
Criterion 1

Identification of Needs

Accurately identifies and describes the essential needs of a community (housing, food, water, safety, education, healthcare).

Exemplary
4 Points

Identifies and describes all essential community needs with detailed examples and insightful explanations, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of their interrelationships.

Proficient
3 Points

Identifies and describes most essential community needs with clear examples and explanations, demonstrating a thorough understanding.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies some essential community needs with basic examples and explanations, showing emerging understanding.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify essential community needs, providing limited or unclear examples and explanations, indicating initial understanding.

Category 2

City Planning and Design

Effective design and planning of a model city, including different types of buildings and infrastructure.
Criterion 1

Blueprint Design

Creates a detailed blueprint of their ideal city, including different zones and labeled buildings with explanations of their purpose.

Exemplary
4 Points

Creates a highly detailed and innovative blueprint with well-defined zones, clearly labeled buildings, and comprehensive explanations of their purpose, demonstrating exceptional critical thinking.

Proficient
3 Points

Creates a detailed blueprint with clear zones, labeled buildings, and explanations of their purpose, demonstrating effective planning skills.

Developing
2 Points

Creates a basic blueprint with some zones and labeled buildings, but explanations of their purpose may be incomplete or unclear, showing emerging design skills.

Beginning
1 Points

Creates an incomplete or poorly organized blueprint with few zones, unclear labels, and minimal explanation of building purposes, indicating initial design skills.

Category 3

Mathematical Application

Using mathematical concepts to plan and measure different parts of the model city.
Criterion 1

Measurement and Data Analysis

Applies mathematical concepts (measurement, geometry, data analysis) to accurately plan and measure different parts of their city.

Exemplary
4 Points

Accurately and innovatively applies mathematical concepts to plan and measure the city, providing insightful data analysis and demonstrating advanced problem-solving skills.

Proficient
3 Points

Applies mathematical concepts effectively to plan and measure the city, providing clear data analysis and demonstrating sound problem-solving skills.

Developing
2 Points

Applies mathematical concepts inconsistently or with some errors, providing basic data analysis and showing emerging problem-solving skills.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to apply mathematical concepts, providing limited data analysis and indicating initial problem-solving skills.

Category 4

Environmental Sustainability

Understanding the impact of cities on the environment and incorporating sustainable features into the city design.
Criterion 1

Eco-Friendly Design

Incorporates sustainable features into their city design, explaining how these features will benefit the environment and the community.

Exemplary
4 Points

Incorporates a wide range of innovative and sustainable features with detailed explanations of their environmental and community benefits, demonstrating exceptional awareness and creativity.

Proficient
3 Points

Incorporates sustainable features effectively with clear explanations of their environmental and community benefits, demonstrating thorough understanding.

Developing
2 Points

Incorporates some sustainable features with basic explanations of their environmental and community benefits, showing emerging understanding.

Beginning
1 Points

Includes limited or unclear sustainable features with minimal explanation of their benefits, indicating initial awareness.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

What was the most challenging part of designing your city, and how did you overcome it?

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Question 2

Which aspect of your city design are you most proud of, and why?

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Question 3

How well do you think your city meets the needs of its residents while also protecting the environment? Explain your answer.

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Question 4

If you could redesign one thing about your city, what would it be and why?

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Question 5

What is one thing you learned about city planning or sustainability that you didn't know before this project?

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