Urban Growth in America is a lesson plan (9-12) from the Discovery Channel's Discovery School website.

Used in conjunction with the Discovery Channel's Urban Growth in Americavideo, the lesson covers the early history of modern US cities in the 1800s, with a focus on New York City.

Students discuss the important elements of a city, watch segments of the video, and then collaborate in small groups to design their own cities using poster board or newsprint. They must include certain elements, such as street design, infrastructure, housing, employment, recreation, and open spaces.

"Urban Growth in America" gets students thinking about some of the things we take for granted in cities, and combines planning skills with a historical perspective.