New
New
Steel cities: Tangshan and Sheffield
I can compare how the cities of Tangshan and Sheffield have changed over time.
Lesson 9 of 12
New
New
- Year 8
Steel cities: Tangshan and Sheffield
I can compare how the cities of Tangshan and Sheffield have changed over time.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The changing global economy can lead to radical changes in cities.
- Sheffield was once a global centre of steel, but has now transitioned to a post-industrial economy.
- Tangshan is a major steelmaking city in modern China.
- Industrial activities shape the landscape, environment, and identity of cities.
Keywords
Industry - the business of turning raw materials into finished products usually in factories
Globalisation - the interconnection of countries worldwide, over time, through trade and industry
Post-industrial - term used to describe a city after it has changed from being centre of manufacturing to a place where most people work in services
Common misconception
All industrial cities decline once their factories close.
Some cities, like Sheffield, adapt by developing new industries, services, and cultural attractions after industrial decline.
Encourage students to make links between the cities and their local area—for example, ask if any local industries have changed over time, or if old factory buildings have been repurposed. This helps them see industrial change as something real and relevant.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions:
Match the keywords to their definitions:
Q2.What is meant by “urban”?
What is meant by “urban”?
A quiet farming village
A forested natural region
A small island with few people
Q3.Which of these is an example of a city with high population density?
Which of these is an example of a city with high population density?
A small rural village
A mountain resort
A national park
Q4.Why might quality of life be low in some city areas?
Why might quality of life be low in some city areas?
Good schools and clean air
Quiet streets and low traffic
Plenty of green space
Q5.Which of these best addresses the idea that “all cities offer a high quality of life”?
Which of these best addresses the idea that “all cities offer a high quality of life”?
Cities are all designed by the same people
Every city has the same number of hospitals
All cities are in developed countries
Q6.Which is most likely to affect daily life in cities?
Which is most likely to affect daily life in cities?
Distance from the sea
Number of volcanoes nearby
Number of farms
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions:
Match the keywords to their definitions:
Q2.Which of these is an example of globalisation?
Which of these is an example of globalisation?
A local food shop selling only home-grown vegetables
Farming vegetables in a rural village
Walking to work in a small town
Q3.What happened to cities like Sheffield after factories closed?
What happened to cities like Sheffield after factories closed?
Everyone moved away permanently
It became a farming village
It remained exactly the same
Q4.Which of the following best challenges the idea that “all industrial cities decline once their factories close”?
Which of the following best challenges the idea that “all industrial cities decline once their factories close”?
Most cities cannot survive without factories
Cities never close their factories
Cities don’t need services to survive
