City Planning Through the Ages

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

City Planning Through the Ages

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to understand the history of city planning and its impact on modern cities.

Introduce the objective of the lesson and what students will learn.

What do you already know about the history of city planning?

What is City Planning?

City planning is the process of designing and managing the physical and social development of cities.

Introduce the concept of city planning and why it is important.

Ancient City Planning

The earliest known city planning was done by the Indus Valley Civilization over 5,000 years ago.

Discuss the earliest known examples of city planning and what they looked like.

Greek and Roman City Planning

The Greeks and Romans were known for their gridiron street patterns and public spaces like the forum and agora.

Describe the city planning of ancient Greece and Rome and what made them unique.

Medieval City Planning

Medieval cities were often built around a central church or castle and had narrow, winding streets.

Discuss the city planning of the Middle Ages and how it differed from ancient city planning.

Renaissance City Planning

The Renaissance saw a return to classical ideas of city planning, with a focus on symmetry and proportion.

Describe the city planning of the Renaissance and how it was influenced by classical ideas.

Industrial Revolution City Planning

The Industrial Revolution led to overcrowding and poor living conditions in cities, which prompted the need for urban planning.

Explain how the Industrial Revolution affected cities and the need for urban planning.

City Beautiful Movement

The City Beautiful Movement was a turn-of-the-century approach to urban planning that emphasized civic beauty, grandeur, and symmetry.

Describe the City Beautiful Movement and its impact on urban planning.

Modern City Planning

Modern city planning is focused on sustainability, livability, and community engagement.

Discuss the current state of city planning and what goals modern planners have.

Zoning

Zoning is a way to regulate land use and development in cities, often separating residential, commercial, and industrial areas.

Explain what zoning is and how it is used in city planning.

Transportation

Transportation is a key aspect of city planning, with options like public transit, bike lanes, and pedestrian walkways.

Discuss the importance of transportation in city planning and how it affects residents.

Green Space

Green space is important in cities for both environmental and recreational reasons.

Explain the importance of green space in city planning and how it benefits residents.

Case Study: Barcelona

Barcelona is known for its innovative and sustainable city planning, including the creation of pedestrian streets and green spaces.

Discuss a real-life example of innovative city planning and what can be learned from it.

Challenges in City Planning

City planning faces challenges such as the need for affordable housing, gentrification, and climate change.

Discuss the challenges that city planners face and what solutions they can pursue.

Activity: Design Your Own City

In groups, design your own city plan taking into account the principles of city planning discussed in this lesson.

Instruct students to work in groups to design their own city plan and present it to the class.

Quiz

Test your knowledge of city planning with this quiz.

Conclude the lesson with a short quiz to assess student understanding.

Sources

Here are some sources for further reading:

Provide a list of sources for students who want to learn more about city planning.

Thank You

Thank you for learning about the history of city planning!

End the lesson with a thank you message and a final opportunity for questions and comments.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.