Geogra3: Three urban case studies to use in Geography lessons

In this week’s Geogra3 blog, I’m sharing three useful documentaries to help with teaching about megacities.  We will look at resources for Mumbai, Mexico City and Moscow.

1. Mumbai: From slums to skyscrapers

DW is one of my favourite documentary makers on Youtube.  They have created a documentary called “Megacity Mumbai: From Slums to Skyscrapers” which offers an in-depth yet accessible look at the city and its contrasts.  

The Dharavi slum that found fame from the film “Slumdog Millionaire” is featured, along with a consideration of the slum clearance programmes currently happening.  It looks at how the lives of the residents have been completely altered as they are forced to relocate to one room apartments with three generations of family, and also having to change jobs often with much less pay.  

The documentary also explores the contrasting quality of life for the wealthy living on the top floor of skyscrapers with those who make a living delivering lunches to office workers.

Finally, it considers the impact of Mumbai’s continued sprawl into surrounding conservation areas and sees residents come face to face with some unwelcome wildlife.

Image credit: Photo by Ikshit Patel on Unsplash

2. Mexico City: one of the World’s Busiest Cities

The BBC has made some cracking documentaries recently and this is another!  In this programme, the presenters explore the seemingly chaotic bus system and sees how open source GPS is being used to help residents, but particularly visitors, to navigate the city.  Another of the presenters also visits the informal settlement of Neza and sees first hand how residents live in this neighbourhood.  

Mexico City also experiences huge environmental challenges, largely due to its site on a former lake.  The programme explores the issue of fresh water access, removal of sewage as well as the risk from earthquakes.  

Towards the end of the programme, we see how residents enjoy a traffic free Sunday as part of the efforts to reduce city congestion, highlighting the image of the city as one of spontaneity and friendliness.

Image credit: Photo by Daniel Lloyd Blunk-Fenandez on Unsplash

3. Moscow: another of the World’s Busiest Cities

In another episode of this series, Moscow features and it makes a fascinating programme.  Moscow is home to one of the most amazing metro systems architecturally but we also see the problems of the epic commutes faced by city residents.  In an attempt to escape the hustle and bustle many Muscovites have a separate home in the countryside known as a dacha that was gifted to them by the Soviet state.  

We also get a rare glimpse inside the Kremlin and explore the physical geography that has helped elevate its importance.  There is also a brief look at Russia’s Communist past and reference to Russia’s occupation of Crimea.  

To finish, the documentary looks at efforts some of the residents are making to ensure the city os more friendly and provide more communal spaces in the form of Ziferblat.  

This is a really fascinating documentary and definitely worth a watch!  (There is a better quality version available on Clickview if your school has access to it).

Image credit: Photo by Astemir Altov on Unsplash

All of the documentaries mentioned in this article have complete, ready-to-go lessons linked to them, available in the GTB vault.  This includes Powerpoints/Google slides as well as student question sheets and answer keys.  The GTB vault is a growing resource bank full of lessons linked to geographical documentaries, so that you’ll never be stuck for an engaging Geography lesson again!  Simply click the link to be taken straight there or watch the preview of the resources here:

And remember, keep being curious - there’s a whole world out there!

I love nothing more than supporting Geography teachers as we are a pretty awesome bunch.  

So here are five ways that I might be able to help you….

• The FREE question and answer booklet - 15+ Q and A worksheets linked to documentaries 
• The GTB Vault - Classroom-ready powerpoints and worksheets so you never need to feel guilty about showing a video in class again! New pick up and go lesson resources added every month.
• The Geography Teacher Box bookstore - boost your subject knowledge while supporting local independent bookshops
• Tote-ally Geography - A newly created store with tote bags designed specifically for geography teachers.
• Connect with other like-minded Geography teachers and share resources (suitable for teachers of students aged 11-18) - The GTB Facebook Group