Project Based Learning:

SimCity

Project Overview:
The project is based on the SimCity game by EA Games, available to download from the
internet. It is an open-ended city-building videogame series in which the player, acting as mayor,
is given a blank map to start with. Players start from an undeveloped greenfield. Cars are the
default form of transportation. Earthquakes happen, zoning separates residential, commercial,
and industrial land uses, and the player must expand their city with the budget they have.

The player is given the task of founding and developing a city, while maintaining the happiness
and health of the citizens and keeping a stable budget.

Objectives:
 Motivates students to participate in systemic changes that will create a more
sustainable future (changing society not just personal behaviors).
 Engage students in civil discourse/ communications that lead to more effective
decisions
 Encourage self-reflection and personal and development of their voice for solving
societal challenges.
 Learn about city-related vocabulary.

Requirements/Task(s):
Task 1: Develop their own cities.
Task 2: Keep an up-to-date journal/diary of the student’s gameplay
Task 3: Upload their cities development and advances using the specific vocabulary
every fortnight.

Materials Needed:
 SimCity by EA Games available online
 Word documents
 Internet access
Vocabulary:
 Cycles & Systems
 Design & Planning
 Ecosystem Health
 Energy
 Ethics
 Food Systems & Agriculture
 Future Studies & Visioning
 Human Impact & Environmental
Footprint
Teacher initials: MSC
 Health
 Lifestyles & Consumption
 Natural Resources
 Pollution & Waste
 Social & Environmental & Well-
being
 Climate Change
 Sustainability Concepts & Practices
 Water & Watersheds