Nature in Cities:
Design Thinking Lesson
Grades K-2
≅ 135 minutes
Primary Standards
Next Generation Science Standards
Supporting Standards
Common Core English Language Arts Standards
Essential Questions
Why do cities need nature?
01
What are heat islands and what kinds of problems do they cause?
02
What can we do to reduce the temperature in our cities?
03
Learning Outcomes
I can
describe the benefits of having nature in cities.
I can
explain heat islands and how nature can help to fix them.
I can
design a city that includes elements of nature.
Inquire
Investigate
Inspire
Agenda
Inquire
≅ 30 minutes
Think and then share with a partner!
What do you know about cities?
What are some things you might see in a city?
Think and then share with a partner!
What do you know about gardens?
Have you ever seen a garden in a city?
Let’s Read!
The Extraordinary Gardener by Sam Boughton
How do you think the people in Joe’s city feel when he shares with them?
How does Joe’s city look at the beginning of the book compared to the end of the book? Which do you prefer?
Have you ever seen nature in a city?
How do you feel at the end of the book when Joe’s city has been transformed?
How do you think the people in Joe’s city feel after their city has been transformed?
Investigate
≅ 45 minutes
Let’s look at some real cities and see what elements of nature they have in them.
What did you notice about these cities that is the same?
What did you notice about these cities that is different?
What do you think are some reasons having nature in our cities is a good thing?
Benefits of Having Nature in Cities
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Benefits of Having Nature in Cities
People feel happier and less stressed in nature.
Plants and trees make the air cleaner.
Shade from trees keeps people cooler in the heat.
Nature motivates people to exercise and be healthy.
Nature helps reduce flooding because water can be absorbed by soil.
Nature helps children concentrate.
Heat Islands
We will answer these questions…
What are heat islands?
Who are they a problem for?
What can we do to help?
What are Heat Islands?
Heat Islands are parts of cities that are hotter because roads and rooftops absorb and emit heat more than most natural surfaces.
Absorb:
to take in or soak up
Emit:
to send out or give off
Let’s explore!
What you are looking for:
Is there a difference in temperature?
What you will do:
Take temperatures of a natural surface area, like grass, and compare it to an artificial surface area, like concrete.
What you will need:
An infrared thermometer
Thermometer Results
Place | Temperature |
| |
| |
| |
| |
What did you discover?
There is a difference in temperatures between natural surfaces, like grass, and artificial surfaces, like concrete.
Cooler
Hotter
Why are heat islands a problem for people living in cities?
Hint: It has to do with what cities are mostly made of!
Who are Heat Islands a problem for?
Heat Islands are a problem for many people who live in cities, especially the elderly, poor, and young children.
Why do you think heat islands affect the elderly, poor, and young children most?
How do you feel knowing that certain types of people are affected more than others?
What can you do about Heat Islands?
Inspire
≅ 60 minutes
So, how can we make cities cooler to solve the problem of
heat islands?
Let’s look at some other real places that have been transformed by nature.
As you are looking, write down what you notice about these images. Have you ever seen places like this?
The Highline, New York City, NY
Little Island Park, New York
City Hall, Chicago, Illinois
Vertical Forest, Milan, Italy
Green Wall, London, England
What did you notice about the cities that were changed by nature?
Have you ever been to a place like this?
How have these cities used nature to help them cool down?
How do you think the people who live in these nature cities feel?
Would adding nature to cities help solve the problem of heat islands?
Design a nature city of your own!
First, think of a city. It could be real or imagined.
Then, think of three elements of nature that you will add to that city to make it better.
Share
Let’s take a look at each other’s designs!
Think and Share
classroom
school
community
Can we add elements of nature to our:
nature
Plants, animals, and all of the things in the world that are not made by people
artificial
Something created by human beings
heat island
Parts of cities that are hotter because roads and rooftops absorb and emit heat more than most natural surfaces
impermeable
When a liquid cannot pass through a material
Glossary
absorb
To take in or soak up
emit
To send out or give off
Share your journey with us!
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Creators & Collaborators
Please leave this slide for attribution.
Lisa Greenwood
Authors
Archibong Akpan, PhD
Scientist Reviewer
Image Resources