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Why Live Near Water?

Bodies of water have always played a significant role in the development of cities. Students will explore the reasons and create a model of a waterfront city.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Paper
  • Recycled Cardboard

Steps

  • Step 1

    Have students investigate why cities have historically been built near water. How would this impact trade and transportation? Why is it important for resources? How is land near water better for agriculture? Were ancient cities located near water?

  • Step 2

    Have students create 3D art that portrays a city near water. They can use recycled cardboard as a base, then sculpt features out of Model Magic and add other embellishments in the form of paper cut-outs. They might also add labels to the model. 

  • Step 3

    Have students present their cities and discuss some of the many reasons a city needs access to water.

Standards

SS: People, Places, and Environments: Use data to analyze human behavior in relation to its physical and cultural environment.

SS: People, Places, and Environments: Learn where people and places are located and why they are there. Examine the influence of physical systems such as climate, weather and seasons, and natural resources, such as land and water, on human populations, such as the causes, patterns, and effects of human settlement and migration. 

Adaptations

Urbanization, the process of population movement from rural areas to urban centers, increased significantly during the Industrial Revolution. Have students investigate this period of scientific and technological development. What were some of the notable inventions? How did the factory system affect labor and lifestyle? How did it affect production of products and agriculture? What social and economic changes occurred?

Water pollution has greatly impacted urban areas. Have students investigate some of the threats and how they impact a community, as well as what cities can and are doing to address the problem.