Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Geography
Lesson Topic: Primate cities: causes and consequences for countries
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the defining characteristics of a primate city.
  • Explain the main historical, economic and policy causes of primate city development.
  • Analyse the economic, social, political and spatial consequences of primate cities.
  • Compare primate‑city systems with more balanced urban hierarchies using case examples.
  • Propose strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of primate city dominance.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector or interactive whiteboard
  • Printed handout with the comparative table
  • Case‑study worksheets (Bangkok, Paris, Johannesburg)
  • World map showing urban hierarchies
  • Markers and chart paper for mind‑maps
  • Student laptops or tablets (optional)
 Introduction:

Show a striking image of Bangkok’s skyline and ask, “Why does this city dominate its country?” Connect to students’ prior knowledge of their own largest city’s role. Explain that today they will identify the causes, consequences and possible solutions for primate cities, and they will be assessed on their ability to describe, compare and propose policies.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5'): List three features of the largest city in your country.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Define primate city, present key characteristics and diagram the hierarchy.
  3. Causes activity (10'): In groups, analyse cause cards (historical, economic, policy) for Bangkok, Paris, Johannesburg.
  4. Consequences discussion (10'): Whole‑class mind‑map of economic, social, political, spatial impacts.
  5. Comparative analysis (10'): Complete a Venn diagram comparing primate‑city systems with balanced systems using the provided table.
  6. Mitigation brainstorm (5'): Groups suggest one policy to reduce negative effects; share ideas.
  7. Exit ticket (5'): Write one cause and one consequence of a primate city for a chosen country.
Conclusion:

Recap the defining traits, main drivers and wide‑ranging impacts of primate cities, highlighting the strategies discussed to create more balanced urban systems. Collect exit tickets as a quick retrieval check. For homework, students will research another country's urban hierarchy and write a short paragraph describing whether it is a primate‑city system or a balanced one and why.