Urban Geography Lesson Plans

Day One
A) Correct Previous Quiz
B) Handout out maps for Top Twenty Urban Areas (World Wide) and Top Twenty Urban Areas (USA)
C) Handout out Urban Geography Reading One and accompanying worksheet

Day Two
A) Practice quiz using overhead on Top Twenty in USA
B) Handout Site Selection Activity
1) Discuss with students the some of the qualities in a good city site
2) Give students time to work on their selection
3) Ask Students to announce their selection and give two reasons why they chose the site they did.
C) Handout Urban Geography Reading Two and accompanying worksheet
C) Practice quiz using overhead on the Top Twenty in the World

Day Three
A) Review with students the earliest locations of cities and some reasons for their development
B) Have students take notes on the factors that affect city size
C) Discuss with students how the changes in transportation technology changed the shape and size of US cities. Use stages of intraurban chart.
D) Handout Urban Geography Reading Three and accompanying worksheet
E) Review with students the factors that affect city size

Day Four
A) Review with students how changes in transportation technology affected the shape and size of cities.
B) Discuss with students the the major terms found in Urban Geography Reading Three (ie Range, Threshold, Hinterland, ) Ask the students how far they might travel for a loaf of bread, chewing gum, purchase a new car, to watch a rock concert or major league sporting event.
C) Show students the urban Hierarchy Slides. Discuss the terms hamlet, village, town, city, primate city.
D) Show students the hierarchy in major league sports. Ask students to think of countries that have a primate city. Use the Mpls/Stp Hinterland map and the Twins Radio network map to discuss the concept of hinterland and market region.
E) Review the major terms of the day's lesson

Day Five
A) On the overhead, conduct a practice quiz or review of the major terms from Day Four's lesson.
B) Discuss with the students Van Thuen's model for a city. Discuss the term CBD.
C) Handout the "Creating Your Own City" Guidelines and instructions.
D) Discuss with the students the guidelines for Creating your own City.
E) Give the Students time to work on their projects

Day Six
A) Review with students the key terms and concepts from Urban Reading One
B) Have students work on their projects. Answer questions and help students having difficulties
C) Review with students the key terms and concepts from Urban Geography Reading Two

Day Seven
A) Review with students the locations of the Top Twenty US Cities and the Top Twenty World Wide Cities.
B) Have students work on their projects. Answer questions and help students having difficulties
C) Review with students the key terms and concepts from the Urban Geography Reading Three

Day Eight
A) Collect Creating Your Own City project materials
B) Quiz on Urban Geography