Sociology & You

Chapter 16: Population and Urbanization

Web Activity Lesson Plans

"Suburbanization and Decentralization"

Introduction
In this chapter, students learned about the population processes, population trends, and the development and growth of modern cities. They learned that the shift from rural, agricultural societies to industrial, urban cities began with the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s. Unlike cities in the developing world, however, cities in the United States today are losing population, not gaining. Since 1950 the proportion of the United States' population living in the suburbs has more than doubled. In this activity students will take a closer look at the impact of suburbanization on the San Francisco Bay area and how New York City has developed over the years.

Lesson Description
Students will visit a Web site about the suburbanization of the United States . They will read about the effects of suburbanization on cities and their surrounding communities, using the certain cities as examples of suburbanization. They will also learn about the reasons for the migration to the suburbs. After reading the articles, students will make their own informed decision concerning their choice to live in the city or the suburbs.

Instructional Objectives

1. Students will be able to describe how and why the suburbanization of the United States is taking place.
2. Students will learn the benefits and detriments of both urban and suburban living and apply this knowledge to their own lives.