New
New
Year 8

Sustainable cities

I can explain how cities can be made more sustainable.

New
New
Year 8

Sustainable cities

I can explain how cities can be made more sustainable.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Sustainable cities prioritise environmental and social well-being.
  2. Renewable energy reduces a city's carbon footprint.
  3. Sustainable transport reduces emissions and congestion.
  4. Green spaces improve urban health, climate resilience, and enrich society.
  5. Urban waste management is more sustainable if more people reduce, reuse and recycle.

Keywords

  • Sustainability - meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

  • Carbon footprint - a measure of the total amount of greenhouse gases that are released as a result of our actions

  • Green space - parks, trees and nature in cities

Common misconception

Sustainability is only about protecting the environment.

Sustainability also includes improving people’s lives and meeting their needs fairly.


To help you plan your year 8 geography lesson on: Sustainable cities, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Emphasise that small actions, like using public transport or recycling, are part of wider sustainable city strategies. This helps students feel their actions matter.
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

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions:

Correct Answer:urban,related to towns or cities

related to towns or cities

Correct Answer:population density,number of people living in a certain area

number of people living in a certain area

Correct Answer:services,facilities provided for people's needs (e.g. schools, hospitals)

facilities provided for people's needs (e.g. schools, hospitals)

Correct Answer:residential area,area where people live

area where people live

Q2.
Cities often have a high population .

Correct Answer: density

Q3.
Which of these is an example of a service in a city?

A mountain
Correct answer: A hospital
A desert
A forest

Q4.
What is a residential area in a city?

Correct answer: A part of the city where people live
A place with only factories
A national park
A road with only buses

Q5.
Which of these statements is true about cities?

Cities never have green space.
Cities always have fewer people than rural areas.
Correct answer: Cities often have busy transport systems.
Cities don’t need any services.

Q6.
Which of these is a challenge of city life?

Plenty of wildlife
Correct answer: Overcrowding
Few buildings
Long distances between homes

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions:

Correct Answer:sustainability,meeting today's needs without harming the future

meeting today's needs without harming the future

Correct Answer:carbon footprint,total greenhouse gases released by actions

total greenhouse gases released by actions

Correct Answer:green space,parks, trees and nature in urban areas

parks, trees and nature in urban areas

Q2.
Which of the following is a benefit of green space in cities?

Correct answer: Improves air quality and mental wellbeing
Makes room for more roads
Stops people walking or cycling
Increases noise and traffic

Q3.
Why is sustainability important in cities?

Cities don’t need to plan for the future
Correct answer: Cities must support people now and in the future
Cities don’t affect the environment
Cities should focus only on money

Q4.
Some people believe sustainability is only about the environment. Which of these shows a fuller understanding?

It’s just about saving trees and oceans
It only matters in rural areas
It means stopping all development
Correct answer: It includes fairness, health and planning for the future