This activity was modifed from Teaching Tips " A city that relates" by James T. Fornaciari
in the NCGE Newsletter from a few years ago....

Instructions for Creating Your Own City:

Directions: On the blank piece of paper provided you will construct a city. Before you actually begin to create your city it is important to think about relative location. You should begin by creating relative location questions for each of the required features below. Such as, "Where would an elementary school best be located to serve the local children?" "Where would an interstate highway best serve a town?" It is important to think in terms of relative location when you create your city.

Your Creating a city project will include:
A rough draft of your city plan
A final copy of your city plan
Your city map will follow TODALS: It will have a Title, Orientation, Date, Author, Legend, and Scale.

Your final copy will cover two sheets of paper and include, but is not limited to, the following features:

Feature Quantity
housing subdivisions 3
elementary schools 3
junior high schools 2
downtown shopping area 1
heavy industrial area 1
light industrial area 1
high school 1
railway 1
parks 2
golf course 1
major highway 1
waste dump 1
shopping mall 1

Based upon the Creating a City reading, locate the features of your city as best as you can.

Stapled along with your rough draft and final copy of your map work will be a written description of your city:

On a separate sheet of paper, you will write a three paragraph description of your city.

Paragraph One
The climate and landscape of your city
Where your city is located in the world and its relative location to other major cities
Paragraph Two
Describe some of the major features that you feel make your city special.
Paragraph Three
Explain why your city works so well for your citizens.
Use the reasons why a city is success from your Creating a City reading

If you get stuck on what to write, try answering the following questions..... It may help
1) How is the layout of your city affected by the geography of the region?
2) How is the layout of your city affected by the climate of the region?
3) What is the major industry or industries of your city?
4) How does your city serve the needs of its citizens?
5) Why would someone want to move to your city to live there?
6) What advantages does your city have over other cities?
7) What will make your city last for a long time?