Global Goal 11

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Global Goal 11- Sustainable Cities and Communities

Themes: Nature Observation, Sustainable Design

Sustainability is meeting our needs in a way that allows others to meet their needs now and in the future. As our cities grow and our communities change, we need to live in a way that does not destroy the earth or the resources for future generations. Can you think of things that are part of our life now that hurt the environment and could make it hard for use to live in the future?

We will start with observing nature to understand the needs of living things.

Then we will think about how we meet our needs in cities and towns, and what we can learn from nature to help us solve our human problems.

We will use what we have observed and learned to develop a sustainable solution in our design project.

Guiding Questions

Needs of Living Things

  • What do living things need to stay alive?

  • What do animals need to eat?

  • How do plants get energy?

  • What are the structures that help animals and plants survive?

  • How are animal and plant structures like engineering and science structures?

Meet Our Needs in Cities and Towns

  • What makes a city or town sustainable?

  • What are some human problems related to sustainability?

  • What problems will you solve?

Develop a Sustainable Solution

  • What can we learn from animals and plants to help us solve our human problems?

  • How do City Planners and Engineers solve human problems?

  • What solution can you design for a problem in a city or town?

The activities of this section are divided into three groups. Click on the group title to find information, resources and descriptions of each activity.

  1. Nature Journal

  2. Basic Needs Poster

  3. Plant and Animal Diagrams

  4. Exploring Plant and Animal Body Parts

  1. Keyword Picture Match

  2. Before and After Comparison of Urbanized Areas

  3. Three BIG Problems

  1. Get Inspired by Nature

  2. Understand the Engineering Process

  3. Design Your Solution

Can you read a flow chart?

Following a flow chart can be like following a treasure map. Use the flow chart below to help you move through this activity. Start with the video at the top of this page, then move through 1. Observing Nature, 2. Human Problems and 3. Design Project. Find and complete the activities on the flow chart for each section before you move on.