CBC Archives

Discuss with students the meaning of urban, rural, and suburb. Ask: What do you think the key features of each of these communities are? Have students work in pairs to discuss and record the similarities and differences between suburbs and urban centres and between suburbs and rural areas. Have students share their results. Record the main similarities and differences using two Venn diagrams: urban/suburbs and rural/suburbs.

Direct students to the topic So Long Cities, Hello Suburbs on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Students should review Clips #1, 3, 6, 7 and 8 to consider further the pros and cons of living in the suburbs. Have students work with their original partner. Give students a copy of the download sheet Paradise or the Pits? and explain that they will use this Plus, Minus, Interesting chart to identify the positive, negative, and interesting features of suburbs.

Gather the class and ask each pair of students to share its chart. Ask students to reach a decision about living in the suburbs. Explain that they need to take their interesting comments into consideration as they make their decision. Ask each student to write a short statement (on a sticky note) about how they feel about the idea of living in the suburbs. Place two pieces of chart paper on the wall (plus and minus) and have students place their statements on the appropriate chart. Discuss which view is in the majority.

Students can view additional clips and do further research to identify ways they feel suburbs could be improved. Have students write a letter to a planner for a suburb outlining their ideas for improvement.