Instructions
- Read the instructions for each section carefully.
- Use a pencil to complete the activities.
- Think about the different places you've seen, like big cities, quiet neighborhoods, and the open countryside.
- Try your best and have fun exploring how land is used in California!
Part 1: Picture This!
Draw a picture for each type of place. What do you think it looks like?
An Urban Area (A City)
(Leave a large empty box here for drawing)
A Suburban Area (A Neighborhood)
(Leave a large empty box here for drawing)
A Rural Area (The Countryside)
(Leave a large empty box here for drawing)
Part 2: Word Match-Up
Draw a line to match the word to its description.
- Urban
- Suburban
- Rural
- An area with lots of open space, farms, and nature. Not many people live here.
- An area right outside a big city. It has houses with yards, schools, and shopping centers.
- A big city with many tall buildings, lots of people, and busy streets.
Part 3: Where Does It Belong?
Read the list of things you can find on land. Put a check mark (✔) in the box if you would likely find it in that area. Some things might be in more than one area!
| What's on the land? | Urban (City) | Suburban (Neighborhood) | Rural (Countryside) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example: Schools | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tall skyscrapers | |||
| Large farms with animals | |||
| Houses with big backyards | |||
| Busy highways and buses | |||
| Parks and playgrounds | |||
| Quiet roads with few cars |
Part 4: Think About It!
Use your chart from Part 3 to help you answer the questions.
-
What is one thing that is SIMILAR? Name one thing you can find in all three types of areas.
-
What is one thing that is DIFFERENT? Name one thing you would only find in an urban (city) area.
Super Thinker Challenge (Optional)
Imagine you are building a brand new town in California! To make it the best town ever, you want to include things from all three types of places.
What is one thing you would take from a rural area, one thing from a suburban area, and one thing from an urban area to put in your new town? Write or draw your ideas below.
(Leave a large empty box here for drawing/writing)
Answer Key
Part 1: Picture This!
- Urban: Drawings should show tall buildings, lots of cars, crowds of people, etc.
- Suburban: Drawings should show houses with yards, parks, schools, driveways, etc.
- Rural: Drawings should show farms, open fields, animals, forests, tractors, few houses, etc.
Part 2: Word Match-Up
- Urban → A big city with many tall buildings, lots of people, and busy streets.
- Suburban → An area right outside a big city. It has houses with yards, schools, and shopping centers.
- Rural → An area with lots of open space, farms, and nature. Not many people live here.
Part 3: Where Does It Belong?
| What's on the land? | Urban (City) | Suburban (Neighborhood) | Rural (Countryside) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example: Schools | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tall skyscrapers | ✔ | ||
| Large farms with animals | ✔ | ||
| Houses with big backyards | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Busy highways and buses | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Parks and playgrounds | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Quiet roads with few cars | ✔ |
Part 4: Think About It!
- SIMILAR: Schools, Parks and playgrounds. (Accept any answer that is checked in all three columns).
- DIFFERENT: Tall skyscrapers. (Accept any answer that is only checked in the urban column).
Super Thinker Challenge
- Answers will vary. Look for creative combinations. For example: A town with skyscrapers for work (urban), nice houses with yards (suburban), and surrounded by farms that provide fresh food (rural).