How Creating A 3D Community Helps Kids See How Different Communities Work

You've taught your children about communities and you've done activities to explore how communities vary and what each type of community might need or contribute to the areas around them. Now what?

Try building a 3D community. Building a 3D community model is a fantastic way to engage kids in learning about urban, suburban, and rural communities. This project is a unique combination of teamwork, creativity, and real-world application. By involving families, kids get a chance to connect their learning at school with their experiences at home, resulting in a truly collaborative effort.

The Project Framework

I have had great success with this project over the years and it was always a favorite for my students. The best part is that my students were the planners and designers so they took ownership from the very beginning.

Check out Types of Communities: Urban, Suburban, Rural Communities & Creating A Community Model. This resource includes detailed lesson plans and templates to help guide the process from start to finish.

It's class-designed, so each student takes responsibility for working on the design and type of community chosen. They are also responsible for their own parcel of land.

Students work in pairs to create essential service buildings, while families provide support by helping design and construct individual properties.

​For homeschooled kids, the family members would share those responsibilities.

Step 1: Choosing a Community Type

Begin by discussing the three main types of communities: urban, suburban, and rural. Use your lessons to review the characteristics of each, including population density, common types of buildings, and services. Encourage kids to decide as a group which type of community they want to create for their model. This decision can be made through a class vote, ensuring everyone feels included in the process. Once the decision is made, collaboratively brainstorm the community’s overall design, including zones for housing, services, and recreation.
This resource may help. Types Of Communities|Urban Suburban Rural Communities|What Is A Community Bundle

Step 2: Identifying Key Buildings and Services

Once the type of community is chosen, brainstorm what buildings and services are essential. For example:

• Urban: Skyscrapers, apartment buildings, bus stations, hospitals, banks, city hall, schools, libraries, and parks.
• Suburban: Houses, schools, shopping malls, libraries, hospitals, and parks.
• Rural: Farms, barns, small schools, post offices, and local markets.
• Don't forget the police and fire services and where they might need to be located

Divide children into small groups to research and design specific buildings, considering their purpose and importance to the community.

Beyond their homes, kids work in pairs to create vital community buildings, such as:

• Schools
• Hospitals
• Police Station
• Fire Hall
• Libraries
• Grocery stores
• Transportation hubs (e.g., bus stops, train stations, airport)

Pairs should research their assigned building to understand its purpose and importance in the community. For example, kids creating a school might decide to include a playground area. 

Step 3: City Planning

City planning is where creativity and strategy come into play. Start with a discussion about why certain buildings need to be placed in specific locations. For instance:

• Schools should be centrally located for accessibility.
• Hospitals should be near major roads for emergency access.
• Parks and green spaces should be distributed to provide recreational areas.

Create a blueprint of the community on the whiteboard, marking where each building and service will go. Encourage students to think critically about transportation, accessibility, and land use.

​Once the plan is finalized, assign groups to start constructing their buildings using materials such as cardboard, clay, or other craft supplies.

Step 4: Assigning Parcels of Land

Each child receives a parcel of land—a small piece of the community to call their own. Their task is to create their home, incorporating features they feel are important. Encourage them to think about:

• The style of their house (e.g., modern, traditional, farmhouse).
• Landscaping elements like gardens, driveways, or fences.
• Personal touches that reflect their interests or family life.

This element lets kids bring their individuality into the project while still contributing to the community model.

Step 5: Collaborating with Families

This project extends into the home, giving families an opportunity to get involved. Encourage families to:

• Help brainstorm and sketch ideas for the child’s parcel of land.
• Assist with gathering materials, such as cardboard, paint, and craft supplies.
• Work together to construct and decorate the home or service building.

By involving families, kids gain additional support and fresh ideas, making the project even more meaningful.

Step 6: Building the 3D Model

With the blueprint as a guide, children can bring their vision to life. Provide materials like recycled boxes, craft paper, paint, and glue. Assign each group a section of the community to build. As the model takes shape, encourage collaboration between groups to ensure the pieces fit together seamlessly.

Step 7: Assembling the Community Model

Once all individual parcels and service buildings are completed, it’s time to assemble the community! Bring everything together on a large base (like a piece of plywood or cardboard) and arrange the parcels according to the class design. Discuss as a group how to ensure roads, pathways, and other shared spaces connect seamlessly.

Note: I used a section of the classroom and marked off the area with tape. The different parcels of land and service buildings were fitted into the area. I cut out pieces of cardboard for each parcel of land and placed it on the floor area ahead of time to ensure that all of the parts would fit within the given space when it was assembled. Then I handed out the pieces of cardboard to each student to use as their base.

Check out some photos from some of my previous classes' 3D communities

Step 8: Culminating Celebration

The highlight of the project is a community celebration where students and families come together to showcase their work. Ideas for the event include:

• Guided Tours: Students explain their parcels and service buildings to guests.
• Interactive Activities: Create games or challenges, to practice and share some of the skills learned during the unit.

This celebration allows students to reflect on their hard work, share their learning, and enjoy a sense of accomplishment.

By giving each child ownership of their parcel and involving families in the process, this 3D community model project becomes a rich learning experience. It teaches children about the functions of communities, encourages collaboration, and bridges the gap between home and school. With teamwork, creativity, and celebration, your class can create something truly special!

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