Design the City of the Future
The mayor of a large American city is organizing a roundtable with younger citizens to help design a better future. In order to prepare for the roundtable, you will work in groups to imagine and present anew American City of the Futurewhere transport is clean, efficient, and sustainable.
Worksheet 1 - Expert Groups
Step 1. Expert Groups
Explore One Topic
1.Each group picks one transport innovationto focus on and becomes “experts” on that idea. Here are some examples:
- Solar-powered cars
- Modern tram or high-speed rail systems
- Smart bike- and scooter-sharing
- Underground delivery drones
- Car-free zones
- Free, electric public transport
2. Each group answersthe following questions:
a.What is the innovation?
b. How does it work?
c. Who benefits and how?
d.What challenges might there be?
Worksheet 2 - City Council Groups
Step 2. “City Council” Groups
Building a City Together
With one student from each expert group, form new groups which represent “City Councils.” As a new group, do the following activities.
1. Share your original ideasin 1-2 minutes each.
2. Choose the best two or three ideasto include in your city.
3. Invent your “City of the Future.”
a.Design a slogan.
b. Decide which transport systems it uses.
c. Explain what makes life better for the people living there.
d.In order to present your city layout or key ideas, you can use a poster, a digital slide, or a drawing.
Worksheet 3 - Final Presentation
Final Presentations – Welcome to Our City
Each group presents their “City of the Future” to the class.
Presentation should include:
- A short introduction to the city
- The chosen transport solutions and why they work well
- A visual element
- A strong conclusion or slogan
Optional:
Classmates vote for:
- Most creative city
- Most realistic city
- Most convincing city
- Most eco-friendly city