• This inquiry-based lesson, designed to take four to six sessions, focuses on land use changes, how we change the environment to form communities, the different ways land is used, and the positive or negative results of that change. 
• Students will engage in class discussions, watch a time lapse SimCity video, create a community map and chart, and create a pictorial essay throughout their learning experience.

Positives

• This short unit is engaging and can be adjusted to be about where your students live and go to school.
• A range of activities and collaborative learning opportunities exist within the plans.

Additional Prerequisites

• Ads play before linked video.
• The second video is no longer linked but there are a number of videos available about the bridge on YouTube.
  
• Students should have some familiarity with maps.
  

Differentiation

• Cross-curricular connections can be made in science classes by discussing how humans impact the environment and the effect on ecosystems.
  
• For increased student engagement, have students find pictures of their environment (state, province, town, neighborhood) to add to the charts or essay.
• Consider having students pair up and work together for the pictorial essay.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.