and

Teach Like A Gamer,

a division of Canis Learning Systems
(canislearning.com)

presents

Alternative Energy Science Lesson Plan

Using Electronic Arts’ SimCity™ Societies

© 2008 AlternativeEnergy.com, All Rights Reserved

Written by Azam Khan

SimCity Societies © 2008 Electronic Arts Inc. SimCity is a trademark or registered trademark of Electronic Arts Inc. in
the U.S. and/or other countries. All Rights Reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Screenshots of SimCity Societies used with permission.

Distribution Relationships Include:

 “SimCity Societies is in the unique
position of educating while
entertaining. BP Alternative Energy's
“Using the popular SimCity Societies
sponsorship of the SimCity Societies
video game to introduce alternative
game provided us with the technical
power to our children is a good idea
expertise to build 'energy choices and
and alternativeenergy.com has done a
consequences' into the gameplay, so
very fine job with the lesson plans.”
that youth around the world can be
better informed. We welcome
---- Marilyn Nemzer, Director, Energy
AlternativeEnergy.com's efforts
Education Group
towards our 'educating while
entertaining' philosophy.”

---- Steve Seabolt, VP, Global Brand

Development, Electronic Arts Inc.

“AlternativeEnergy.com has created a

“The proposed educational game is
exactly the kind of media tool needed
now for engaging the upcoming
generation in ecologically informed
decision making. Future leaders in all
fields will benefit from testing alternative
scenarios with the quickness that games
provide. Fast feedback that comes from
gaming is a top notch approach to proving
what works, and what doesn't - in
simulating real world issues that matter
more every day as we move into the
future of energy transformation. Given
the superior experience that hands on,
heads up gaming provides, this proposal
to engage educators in green gaming is
a winner, for sure.”
highly innovative approach to teaching
students about alternative energy.
From its engaging in-game challenges
to the informative and practical real
world assignments, this curriculum
presents leading edge science in a way
that students will find fun and
memorable. I look forward to trying
this with my students.”
---- Lucia Moritz, 6th grade math
teacher, Foshay Learning Center

---- Allen Green, greenplanning.org

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 Introduction
SimCity Societies is a highly dynamic city-constructing simulation game that allows a
player to create a civilization in a myriad of ways. Ultimately shaped by the choices of
the creator, cities can embody the characteristics of green, futuristic, industrial and lots of
other societal models.

All the elements of the city are connected, whether cultural or environmental, thus
making a novel approach to city-building. The city is shaped by the decisions that affect
the main attributes:

 Productivity
 Prosperity
 Creativity
 Spirituality
 Authority
 Knowledge

The socio-political freedom allotted to the player is complemented by abilities to

implement over 500 unique objects on the micro scale, ranging from workplaces to
residential buildings and venues. With the availability of such diverse aspects such as
architectural aesthetics, SimCity Societies provides students a dazzling and holistic
learning experience.

This will help students learn about alternative energy in the fun game environment that
students love by allowing them to build a simulated city while learning about the impact
of alternative energy. The curriculum has 10 lessons, each one is divided into two main
parts:

 Game play
 Real-world applications

Students will learn the basics in the tutorial, and then commence their own city. They will
also do research at home that will expose them to various aspects of alternative energy
and how it can be applied in their own school.

The students should record everything in a journal or whatever format the teacher feels is
best.

Author’s Bio

Azam Khan is a curriculum developer with Canis Learning Systems. He is also a

freelance program designer who creates study programs that accompany popular video
games. His upcoming projects will continue exploring the frontiers of progressive
learning. Updates can be found on his blog at virtualstudent.com.

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User Requirements

To get the most out of these lesson plans, you will need:

 SimCity Societies - from Amazon.com

 Computing Platform Requirements
 Journal (to record class questions and homework
assignments)

Intended Audience

GreenCity is intended for students in grades 6-12, but it is fun for

all ages. Each lesson plan contains game play and real world
homework or assignments that can be applied across several
grade levels.

Time Frame

GreenCity is created around 10 lesson plans that may be distributed according to your
own time frame. The SimCity Societies game play elements do take some time to
develop, so it may be best to plan on X weeks to completely finish the lessons.

Resources

 AlternativeEnergy.com home page

 Best energy educational sites
 Teachers Group to share ideas
 Kids fun activities – rate the best activities on the web
 awea.org - General industry news and links for Wind Energy
 windpower.org - Understanding how to setup a wind turbine
 windustry.org - Understanding wind energy
 solarenergy.org - Understanding solar energy
 solarexpert.com - Solar installation
 alliantenergygeothermal.com - Geothermal Resource
 epa.gov - Emissions Calculator
 dsireusa.org incentives for renewable energy projects in your state
 bpalternativenergy.com alternative energy facts

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 Contents
Lesson 1 - LEARN THE BASICS OF CITY DEVELOPMENT
Game Play
Real – World Assignment

Lesson 2 - APPLY ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE TOWARDS CREATING A CITY

Game Play
Real – World Assignment

Lesson 3 - CONTROL HOMELESS AND UNEMPLOYED POPULATION

Game Play
Real – World Assignment

Lesson 4 - IDENTIFY AND MEASURE THE EFFECTS OF POLLUTION

Game Play
Real – World Assignment

Lesson 5 - ANALYZE CITY BEFORE BEGIN THE "GREENING PROCESS"

Game Play
Real – World Assignment

Lesson 6 - GREENIFY CITY

Game Play
Real – World Assignment

Lesson 7 - IDENTIFY THE EFFECTS ON CARBON AND POLLUTION

Game Play
Real – World Assignment

Lesson 8 - SIMILAR ECONOMY DESPITE INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLES

Game Play
Real – World Assignment

Lesson 9 - MEET THE ACHIEVEMENTS

Game Play
Real – World Assignment

Lesson 10 - MISSING FORMS OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Real – World Assignment

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 Lesson 1
Objective: Students will learn the basics of city development by following the tutorial
and laying out the foundations of a fun city.

In Game:

1. Start Game
2. Pick Name
3. Play Tutorial

Tutorial focuses on creation of Fun City:

Setup Power -> Residential buildings -> Workplaces -> Transit system -> Happiness &
Venues -> Expansion

Home Activity:

Research basic information pertaining to your locale

1. What is the population of your city? How many students at your school? How
many staff?
2. What utility companies are supplying electricity to your city and what energy
sources are they using?

Subject area - Technology

Standard - Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems,
and operations.
Benchmark - Understand and use technology systems.

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 Lesson 2
Objective: Students will apply acquired knowledge from tutorial towards creating a city
from scratch that will initially use polluting power sources

In Game:

Start new city on normal difficulty and buildings unlocked as game progresses.

Begin by choosing an achievement to work towards. Click achievements on the lower left
hand side. Pick one of the 7 that you want to achieve.

Choose the game speed on the lower left hand side. There are 5 to choose from. It is
recommended you start off at 2 and then increase to 3 or 4 after the basics of your city are
laid out.

Create city:
1. Implement a polluting fossil fuel power source (for example, coal and natural gas)
2. Setup residential area
3. Setup transit (roads)
4. Setup workplaces, venues and decorations

Home Activity:

Research the basic science behind coal. Coal is the most abundant electricity generating
resource used today. Answer the following questions as best as possible:
1. How is coal formed?
2. Where is coal found and how do you get it?
3. How is coal processed?
4. How does coal generate electricity?

Subject area - Technology

Standard - Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems,
and operations.
Benchmark - Understand and use technology systems.

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 FOR ALL 10
LESSONS VISIT
Visit GreenCity
http://www.alternativeenergy.com/notes/GreenCity

You must Sign Up to

AlternativeEnergy.com
(FREE) to Access All 10
Lessons

LINK TO SIGN UP
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