Date TBD: Workshop: Let’s Build a City

Duration: 2 Hours

Assigned Teachers: TBD

Location: TBD

Intro

Today we will learn about the components of city and design our ideal tropical city using cardboard tiles and blocks. At the end of the workshop, each student can take a part of the city home.

Materials provided:

Each student will receive some:

  • Printed handout and role cards for icebreaker game

  • 1’ x 1’ grid boards to assemble your city

  • You will also get some tiles that look like this:

  • Colored paper laser it into building shapes

 
 

Guide

10:00am: icebreaker game (10min)

1 .Pass cards

  • Pass a stack of role cards around the group.

  • Each student picks one role (or is randomly handed one)Example roles: Street cleaner, a school child, Ice cream seller, River, Musician, Park bench, Cloud, Construction worker, Stray dog, Street Vendor, Driver, Teacher, Gardener

2 .Roleplay

  • Pass a stack of role cards around the group.

  • Put yourself in the shoes of the person who’s role you will play. Quickly write or draw one thing you would add to the city from that role’s perspective on a sticky note or small paper. Encourage playful or thoughtful ideas!

  • ex: A cloud might add “a floating shade for sunny days.”

  • A child might say “a trampoline path to school.”

  • A street cleaner might add “a street cleaning robot that I can direct.”

3. Rapid Fire

  • Go around the group in a lightning round.
    Each student says: “I’m a [role], and I added [idea] to our city!”

  • Keep the energy high and fast-paced—no deep explanations, just joyful sharing.

What kind of city do you want to build? Colorful? Green? Fun? Weird?

10.10am (5 mins): Introducing the task of the day

Today we are going to build a city using these laser cut tiles. While building your neighborhood, keep the role card in mind. how am I making this city better for them?

Example: The Gardener would probably not have room for a garden in a big city - but maybe trees on the pavements and rooftop gardens?

10.15am: Build your City! (45 mins)

  1. Assemble tiles

  2. Add Buildings

  3. Streets, infrastructure

  4. Civic life: parks, rivers, restaurants, Street vendors

  5. What makes your neighborhood special?

10.45: Build your cit


11: 45 Reflection

Here’s some inspiration!