New
New
Year 5

Making cities more sustainable

I can research, identify and give examples of some ways in which cities can become more sustainable.

New
New
Year 5

Making cities more sustainable

I can research, identify and give examples of some ways in which cities can become more sustainable.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Most people now live in cities and by 2050, it is estimated more than two-thirds of the world will live in urban areas.
  2. People generally have better access to energy, jobs and food in urban areas but human activity also causes pollution.
  3. Cities can become more sustainable in their use of energy, transport, building and waste disposal.
  4. Tiny, dense ‘Miyawaki’ forests are part of a movement aimed at restoring biodiversity and fighting the climate crisis.

Keywords

  • City - A city is a settlement that is usually larger than a town and has local government.

  • Sustainable - If something is sustainable it is able to continue over a long time.

  • Sustainable Development Goals - The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 aims created for nations to adopt in order to work towards "peace and prosperity for people and the planet".

Common misconception

Believing that sustainability is only about the environment.

It relates to the social, economic and environmental impact of a city. This lesson focuses mainly on environmental issues but a city would not be judged to be sustainable if its citizens did not have their basic economic or social needs met.

Task A could be conducted as fieldwork in the nearest city. Or a representative from your local city council could come into school to discuss sustainability measure and future plans.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), 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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6 Questions

Q1.
Globally, biodiversity is .
increasing
staying the same
Correct answer: decreasing
Q2.
Which of these are pollinators?
Correct answer: bees
Correct answer: beetles
worms
Correct answer: butterflies
Q3.
What has been found to improve biodiversity?
Correct answer: conservation
deforestation
Correct answer: rewilding
Q4.
Why are pollinators important to biodiversity?
Correct answer: plant species could decline
there will be less honey available
Correct answer: farmers will be able to produce less food
Q5.
allows an area to restore itself to a natural state in which wildlife can return without human intervention.
Correct Answer: Rewilding, re wilding
Q6.
Which of these would help rewilding?
Correct answer: connecting habitats by providing wildlife bridges
keeping the grass cut short
Correct answer: setting aside large areas for nature
Correct answer: creating wildlife friendly gardens

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keyword to the definition.
Correct Answer:sustainable,it is able to continue over a long time

it is able to continue over a long time

Correct Answer:city,a settlement that is usually larger than a town

a settlement that is usually larger than a town

Correct Answer:Sustainable Development Goals,17 aims created by the UN

17 aims created by the UN

Q2.
Where do most people live now?
villages
towns
Correct answer: cities
Q3.
Even though cities only cover 3% of the Earth’s land, they produce what percentage of global carbon emissions?
10%
50%
Correct answer: 75%
Q4.
Which of the following is Copenhagen doing to improve sustainability?
not using energy
Correct answer: using more renewable energy
Correct answer: encouraging people to walk or cycle
Q5.
Why do ‘Miyawaki’ forests and Tiny Forests improve a city's sustainability?
Correct answer: they encourage biodiversity
they reduce a city's carbon footprint
they create renewable energy
Q6.
Sustainable cities should try to greenhouse gases produced by burning of fossil fuels for transport.
Correct Answer: reduce, lower