(gr. 6-8)

In this grade 6–8 PBL unit, students study how ancient civilizations rose and fell and use those lessons to answer the essential question: How can we use lessons from ancient civilizations to design a sustainable and innovative city that would thrive for centuries?

They complete a “civilization autopsy,” then design and build a 3D city model/blueprint with evidence-based justifications, weighing trade-offs among growth, infrastructure, equity, and environmental impact as they present their plan to an authentic audience. 

Core Disciplines:

• History: Understanding how civilizations rise, thrive, and fall

• Engineering: Applying design and structural principles

• City Planning: Creating systems that sustain communities

🌍 Essential Question

How can we use lessons from ancient civilizations to design a sustainable and innovative city that would thrive for centuries?

🔧 Design Thinking Framework

Phase Focus  ||  Student Tasks

Empathize Study how people lived & what they valued in ancient civilizations. || Research ancient cities (Rome, Athens, Alexandria, Machu Picchu, or Chang’an) — focus on needs: safety, water, food, shelter, culture.

Define Identify why these civilizations succeeded or collapsed. || Write a “civilization autopsy” outlining 3–5 critical causes of rise and fall.

Ideate Brainstorm features of a city that could solve ancient problems using modern ideas. || Create sketches and design concepts for sustainable infrastructure, housing, and governance systems.

Prototype Build a 3D city model (LEGO, CAD, or mixed materials). || Apply engineering and planning principles to create zones, systems, and transport.

Test & Present Share model with authentic audience. || Present design with evidence-based justifications and sustainability data.

📚 Depth & Complexity Icons Integration

Icon Application

Big Ideas Civilizations rise when innovation meets human need.

Patterns What cycles repeat across civilizations (growth → expansion → collapse)?

Rules What engineering and social “laws” govern successful cities?

Ethics How can planners balance progress with equity and environmental impact?

Multiple Perspectives How would different social classes experience life in your new city?

Trends How did technologies and ideas evolve from ancient to modern urban planning?

🧩 Learning Objectives

Students will:

1. Analyze the causes and consequences of historical urban systems.

2. Apply engineering design to model sustainable infrastructure.

3. Evaluate trade-offs between growth, innovation, and ethics in planning.

4. Create and justify a blueprint for a city that integrates ancient wisdom with modern needs.

5. Reflect on design and societal systems as interdependent forces.

🧱 Phase Breakdown with DOK & Bloom’s Alignment

Phase 1: Empathize — Learning from the Past

Goal: Understand the function and failures of ancient cities.

Activities:

• Analyze city maps of Rome, Athens, or Babylon.

• Research engineering marvels (aqueducts, amphitheaters, road systems).

• Create a visual timeline showing innovation → impact → decline.

DOK 3 / Bloom’s: Analyze

• How did engineering innovations shape the growth and identity of a civilization?

• What recurring needs and values drove ancient city designs?

Phase 2: Define — The Problem of Collapse

Goal: Identify why great civilizations fell.

Activities:

• Conduct a “civilization post-mortem” case study.

• Write a one-page problem statement: “How might we design a city that avoids the mistakes of the past?”

• Map historical causes (resource use, social class divide, infrastructure failure).

DOK 4 / Bloom’s: Evaluate

• Which failure points were preventable?

• What modern parallels exist that we should address in future design?

Phase 3: Ideate — Designing for the Future

Goal: Brainstorm features of a resilient civilization.

Activities:

• Use SCAMPER to redesign existing city systems.

• Sketch a city plan including transportation, housing, governance, and culture.

• Collaboratively rank ideas based on sustainability, accessibility, and innovation.

DOK 4 / Bloom’s: Create

• What systems or innovations could prevent collapse or decline?

• How might your design address both environmental and social equity?

Phase 4: Prototype — The City Blueprint

Goal: Build a functional city prototype or digital simulation.

Activities:

• Construct a scale model (LEGO, Minecraft Education, or CAD).

• Include essential zones: governance, water systems, food supply, energy grid.

• Apply physics/engineering tests for efficiency or stability.

DOK 4 / Bloom’s: Create

• How can structural and social engineering work together for long-term survival?

• What design trade-offs did you make, and why?

Phase 5: Test & Reflect — The Civilization Showcase

Goal: Present the “New City” to an authentic audience.

Activities:

• Present city model with supporting data and historical rationale.

• Host a “Civilization Expo” where guests vote on sustainability, design, and innovation.

• Reflect in a portfolio on learning connections between history, engineering, and planning.

DOK 4 / Bloom’s: Evaluate–Create

• How would your civilization adapt over 500 years?

• What did you learn about balancing innovation and tradition?

🧠 Culminating Products

• City Design Portfolio — includes sketches, blueprints, models, and written rationales.

• Sustainability Report — evaluates environmental, social, and economic balance.

• Presentation Pitch — 5-minute argument defending why their city would thrive over time.

• Reflection Journal — Depth & Complexity icons used for weekly reflection prompts.

🧮 Assessment Rubric (Condensed)

Criteria (4-Exceeds, 3-Meets, 2-Approaching, 1-Beginning)

Historical Understanding

4 - Synthesizes multiple civilizations’ lessons into modern design

3- Accurately describes historical influences

2 - Identifies limited examples

1 - Minimal connection to history

Engineering Design

4 - Innovative systems modeled accurately with tested prototypes

3 - Functional model demonstrates sound design

2 - Model incomplete or untested

1 - Model lacks structure or purpose

Systems Thinking

4 - Deeply connects interdependent systems (social, environmental, tech)

3 - Shows clear awareness of connections

2 - Basic links between ideas

1 - Fragmented or missing systems

Creativity & Innovation

4 - Novel, well-justified ideas supported by evidence

3 - Unique approach evident

2 - Some creative thought

1 - Minimal originality

Presentation & Reflection

4 - Clear, persuasive, evidence-based argument with metacognition

3 - Organized, supported ideas

2 - Basic summary without analysis

1 - Limited reflection

💬 Reflection Prompts (Depth & Complexity Integrated)

• Ethics: How did your city address fairness, equity, and sustainability?

• Rules: What new laws or structures support long-term success?

• Multiple Perspectives: How would citizens from different backgrounds experience your city?

• Patterns: What repeating mistakes from history did you aim to prevent?

• Big Idea: What truly makes a civilization endure?

🏗️ Optional Extensions

• Partner with a local engineer or urban planner to critique designs.

• Use SimCityEDU or Tinkercad for digital modeling.

• Include AI-assisted urban planning (students use ChatGPT or CoPilot to test ideas).

• Turn the final presentation into a “Future City” competition.