| Sim Town Communities |
| Grade: First/Second Ohio Standards: People in Societies World Interactions Decision Making and Resources Objectives: 1. Distinguish the difference and similarities of different types of communities. 2. Work collaboratively with peers. 3. Demonstrate spatial understnding by following directions to locate and place objects in a community. 4. Represent aspects of different types of communities through technology. 5. Create a virtual community using Sim Town software. Time: 2 week unit Materials: Sim Town CD-ROM Computers Projection system for completed communities (optional for assessment) Various support materials for concept (books, posters etc.) Overview of Project: Discuss differences and similarities between the three types of communities (countries, suburbs, and cities) Give demonstration of Sim Town CD-ROM on a screen or television monitor Place student into groups of three (may want to color-code groups) Each group is given stipulations as to what type of community the group will be responsible for (country, suburb, or city) Remind student of the characteristics that each have As groups come to the computer they will manipulate the mouse and use the menu options to place houses, streets, sidewalks, trees, grass and businesses onto the screen When objects are placed on the screen people will appear and the town will become active Students will watch as their town comes to life with moving objects and people Also discuss the need for balance between people, jobs and homes (If the numbers do not balance unexpected events will occur) Assess students based on the characteristics they are responsible for portraying Students may wish to show their community on a large screen and let the class assess their accomplishments Explanation of Sim Town Software The Sim Town software program allows students to create their own community. They can place such things as roads, houses, people, businesses, sidewalks, trees, flowers and places of entertainment. Once placed the people in the town move, cars drive down the streets and bicycles ride on the sidewalk. For the purpose of this activity student will stop at this point. However, Sim Town is capable of so much more. For more advanced students Sim Town can aid in teaching economics, environmental concerns, population etc. Once students have placed their homes and businesses they must make sure that they acieve balance in the community by tracking the number of people to the number of jobs available. They must also provide resources for the community and watch out for natural disasters. To make it even more exciting, add a disaster villian to the mix and watch as the students try to save their community from disaster. They can even place specially designed people to track what they do on a daily basis. Once a person is placed, he/she can talk to you and you can watch they as the work, walk through town or do household chores. Sim Town offers endless possibilities. For even more advanced students try Sim City and create a furturistic community based on how the world is growing and the events of the past. |