New
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Urban structure and land use
I can compare different urban land use models and apply them to real-world cities.
Lesson 3 of 12
New
New
- Year 8
Urban structure and land use
I can compare different urban land use models and apply them to real-world cities.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Urban land use models help explain how cities are structured and how different areas serve different functions.
- The Burgess and Hoyt models are examples of urban land use models.
- Land use models often don’t match the land use of cities due to physical geography and local context.
- Comparing urban land use models to cities such as Sheffield can help us understand the layout and function of the city.
Keywords
Central business district - CBD - the centre of a town or city with the highest land value
Land use - how different parts of land are used (e.g. residential, commercial).
Commuter - a person who travels somewhere else to work
Common misconception
Cities grow randomly without any structure or planning.
In reality, urban land use is often influenced by models (like the Burgess or Hoyt models), and factors such as history, economics, transport links, and the environment shape how cities develop and function over time.
Although this lesson uses Sheffield, pupils could investigate a city close to them and compare it with urban land use models. The Geography Visualiser is a perfect tool to do this.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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.Which of the following best describes urbanisation?
Which of the following best describes urbanisation?
People moving from cities to rural areas
More people working in factories
The construction of rural roads
Q2.Which city feature is part of its infrastructure?
Which city feature is part of its infrastructure?
A city park
A historic monument
A shopping mall
Q3.Which statement is true about informal settlements?
Which statement is true about informal settlements?
They are always legal and planned
They are found only in rich countries
They are tourist destinations
Q4.Why might people move to a city?
Why might people move to a city?
To grow food in the countryside
To escape from traffic
To avoid services like healthcare
Q5.What is one environmental issue faced by many cities?
What is one environmental issue faced by many cities?
Too few cars
High air quality
No rubbish collection
Q6.Which of these helps improve city life for residents?
Which of these helps improve city life for residents?
Fewer schools
Narrower roads
Fewer bins
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the terms to their definitions.
Match the terms to their definitions.
Q2.Which of these is most likely found in the CBD?
Which of these is most likely found in the CBD?
Farmland
Motorways
Detached houses
Q3.Which of the following is an example of land use?
Which of the following is an example of land use?
The colour of buildings
The size of a car park
A city's population
Q4.Which best explains why cities are not completely random in layout?
Which best explains why cities are not completely random in layout?
Cities avoid using land
They are shaped only by tourism
All cities are planned exactly the same
