The future of cities
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore how cities may look and function in the future.
Key learning points
- Smart cities use technology to improve urban life.
- Urban planning will focus on climate mitigation and adaptation in future.
- Future cities will rely on renewable energy and green tech.
- Advances in transport will shape future city living.
- The function of cities may change as more of their traditional functions go online.
Keywords
Smart city - a city that uses digital technology to improve services and quality of life
Sustainability - meeting needs today without harming the future
Urban planning - designing and managing how cities grow and change
Common misconception
Cities can’t do much to stop climate change because it’s a global problem.
While climate change is a global issue, cities can make a big difference by reducing emissions and adapting their infrastructure to protect people and the environment.
Teacher tip
Encourage students to connect ideas about future cities with issues in their own local area—such as traffic, pollution, or green spaces—to help them see how global trends could affect their own lives.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions:
Area with lots of buildings and people
Parks, trees and natural areas in a city
Roads, electricity, water supply and transport
Q2.Which of these is most likely found in an urban area?
Q3.Why might people want to live in cities?
Q4.Which of these is a challenge of urban life?
Q5.Which of these describes green space in a city?
Q6.Some people think all cities are crowded and polluted. Which of these shows a better understanding?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions:
Uses digital tech to improve city life
Meets needs now without harming the future
Designing and managing how cities grow
Q2.What is a smart city designed to do?
Q3.Urban helps make decisions about how cities grow.
Q4.Which of these shows a sustainable city feature?
Q5.Some people believe cities can’t help stop climate change. Which statement shows a better understanding?
To help you plan your 8 geography lesson on: The future of cities, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 geography lesson on: The future of cities, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Cities: What are they like to live in? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.