Contextualization

The study of city growth is a fascinating and highly relevant topic in our Geography discipline. This process, also known as urbanization, is a fundamental characteristic of contemporary society, and it is crucial to understand its causes, consequences, and implications for people's lives. From the emergence of the first cities in antiquity to today's highly populous metropolises, the history of cities is the story of how humanity continues to find new ways to organize and live in community.

This process of city growth and expansion involves many dynamics and factors. Issues such as migration (people moving from one place to another), economy (how economic activities influence city growth), urban planning (the design and planning of how cities are built and organized), gentrification (the process of urban space renewal and restructuring), among others, contribute to the formation and functioning of cities.

We live and experience the impact of city growth in our daily lives. Cities are places where most people work, study, and live. They are centers of culture, economy, and politics. Understanding city growth is essential to better comprehend the world we live in and how we can contribute to making it a better place. Furthermore, it is an opportunity for us, as citizens, to participate more actively in the decisions and urban planning of our city.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "The City in Our Hands"

Project Objective:

The project's objective is to provide students with a real understanding of the causes and consequences of city growth through a practical and playful activity, where they will be the architects and planners of their own cities.

Detailed Project Description:

Students will work in groups of 3 to 5 people to plan and build a physical model of a city, taking into account the concepts learned about city growth. They will create a story that explains the development of their city, what factors drove its growth, and how it influenced the layout and organization of urban spaces.

Required Materials:

• Shoebox or styrofoam tray (as a base for the city)
• Cardboard, popsicle sticks, plastic, fabrics, styrofoam, paper, or any other recycled materials to build city elements (houses, buildings, roads, parks, etc.)
• A4 paper and colored pens to create the city map and record the city's development stages.

Step by Step:

Step 1: Planning

Students should start by discussing the city they intend to build. They need to consider aspects such as predominant economic activities, presence of natural resources, geographical location, among other things.

Step 2: Structuring

After planning, students should begin creating a city map, drawing the organization of spaces on paper.

Step 3: Construction

Using the available recycled materials, students will physically build the city on the styrofoam or shoebox, using the map as a reference.

Step 4: City's Story

While building the city, students should document the city's story. For example, when and why did people start moving to the city? What were the biggest challenges the city had to face during its growth? How were these problems solved?

Step 5: Presentation

Finally, students will present their city to the class, telling the story of its development and explaining the design decisions they made during the process. This is a great opportunity for students to work on their public speaking skills.

Project Deliverables:

In addition to the physical model construction of the city, students must submit a Project Report divided into four parts:

1. Introduction: Description of the city, its location, and the reason for choosing the location.
2. Development: Discussion of the planning and construction stages, along with the city's development history.
3. Conclusions: Reflection on the learning acquired from the activity, highlighting the challenges and solutions found during the city's growth.
4. Bibliography: List of sources consulted to acquire information about city growth and urbanization.

The report can be prepared throughout the week as students work on the activity, with the final version of the report being submitted one week after the project's start.