Content Area(s): Social Studies, Language Arts, Math
Grade(s): 5, 6

Invitation
How can a teacher use the students' enthusiasm for the simulation software SimCity as a springboard for writing? How can he integrate the use of charts and graphs and their interpretation into the project? In what ways can this simulation be used as an experience in problem solving that can be applied to real life situations? This unit gives fifth graders the opportunity to express how they solve problems in their simulated cities through writing, graphs, tables and models.

Tools
Computers, printer, word processing software; Template: Planning Outline; SimCity 2000, milk cartons, glue, construction paper

Situations
The unit occurs in the classroom. Due to scope of the project, work schedules need to be flexible. Social Studies and Language Arts periods are used. Approximately four weeks are required to complete the project.

Interactions
The teacher divides students into "city councils" of five. Student groups interact and conference during the simulation, generating spreadsheets and graphs, building 3-D models of their cities, and writing their yearly reports. The students are planners, problem solvers and consensus builders. The teacher functions as a technical assistant and arbitrator. The teacher guides the students in developing their own answers to questions and solutions to problems.

Standards (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills)
The student determines possible outcomes in a given situation. The student determines solution strategies and solve problems. The student expresses or solve problems using mathematical representation. The student perceives relationships and recognize outcomes in a variety of written texts.

Tasks
The students complete a SimCity 2000 simulation that occurs over a year's time. The students conference as a "City Council", create a yearly report using information gathered from the simulation, analyze the data, and decide how to address issues for the next "year" of their simulation. The students create 3-D model cities based on their simulation. The students complete spreadsheet budgets and graphs for their city. The students write essays about what they like the best about their city using the Planning Outline template.

Assessment
The teacher assesses the yearly reports for structure, content, and layout. He evaluates the What I Like Best About My City essay based on whether the elements of outline were addressed.