The Future City Competition is a national, project-based learning experience where students in 6th, 7th and 8th grades imagine, design and build cities of the future.

Students work as a team with an educator and engineer mentor to plan cities using SimCity 4 Deluxe software; research and write solutions to an engineering problem; build tabletop scale models with recycled materials; and present their ideas before judges at regional competitions in January. Regional winners represent their region at the National Finals in Washington, D.C. in February.

This flexible, cross-curricular educational program gives students an opportunity to do the things that engineers do – identify problems; brainstorm ideas; design solutions; test, retest and build; and share their results. This process is called the engineering design process. Future City is an engaging way to build students’ 21st-century skills. Students participating in Future City:

  • apply mathematics and science concepts to real-world issues
  • develop writing, public speaking, problem-solving and time management skills
  • research and propose solutions to engineering challenges
  • discover different types of engineering and explore careers options
  • learn how their communities work and become better citizens
  • develop strong teamwork skills

For more information on the program in Kentucky, contact Joe Percefull.