Homeschool
Free homeschool resources
Six illustrated cities to explore, from ancient Egypt and Rome to a modern town and a settlement on Mars, with lesson guides, printables and games. All free for homeschool families and co-ops, with no sign-up, ads or tracking.
- Most of it suits ages 8 to 14, and the Bible lesson starts at kindergarten.
- Free to print and share, for one family or a whole co-op.
- The Heavenly City tells the story of Jesus, as the Bible tells it.
A week with one city
Spend a week in one city, about 30 to 45 minutes a day.
- Monday: exploreOpen one city and read three places your child picks: Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, Modern Town, Green World, Robotic Future, Heavenly City.
- Tuesday: take the tourOne of the city's people walks you through it, with a question at every stop, and Listen reads it aloud. Guided tours
- Wednesday: a lessonPick a guide below for the city's big idea, like how the pyramids were built or how a town gets clean water.
- Thursday: printThe city's vocabulary sheet and word search, with answer keys. Worksheets
- Friday: playA quiz, a map hunt or the city builder, then count the week's passport stamps. Games
Lessons by subject
History
- Explainer · Grades 3-8How were the pyramids built?How the Egyptians built the pyramids without machines: who the workers were, how giant stones were cut and moved on sledges, boats and ramps, and what is still unknown.
- Explainer · Grades 3-8What was daily life like in ancient Egypt?Daily life for ordinary people in ancient Egypt: mud-brick homes, bread and beer, farming by the Nile flood, clothes, school for scribes and games, with classroom questions.
- Explainer · Grades 5-12What was daily life like in ancient Rome?Daily life for ordinary people in ancient Rome: apartment homes, street food, water from fountains, public toilets and baths, with classroom questions.
- Explainer · Grades 4-12How did Roman aqueducts work?How Roman aqueducts carried water for kilometers using only gravity: the gentle slope, underground channels, arches, settling tanks and city pipes.
Bible
- Lesson · Grades K-6The story of Jesus for kids: a Bible lesson guideTeach the story of Jesus in 35 short parts, as the Bible tells it, using the illustrated Heavenly City: Bible references, a six-week plan, questions and activities.
- Story · All agesThe story of JesusEach place in this city tells one part of the story of Jesus, as the Bible tells it. Start with part 1 and follow the links from place to place.
Science and engineering
- Project · Grades 4-8Build a model Roman aqueduct: a hands-on STEM activityHow to build a working model Roman aqueduct in class with simple materials: the challenge, materials, steps, the science of slope and gravity, and questions.
- Explainer · Grades 4-12How do cities get clean water?How a city turns river or groundwater into safe tap water: coagulation, settling, filtration and disinfection, then water towers, pipes and drains.
- Explainer · Grades 5-12How could humans live on Mars?How humans could survive on Mars: making oxygen, finding water ice, growing food, shielding from radiation and building homes, with real NASA technology.
- Explainer · Grades 4-12Biomimicry examples for studentsBiomimicry examples for students: Velcro, the lotus effect, the kingfisher bullet train, termite-inspired cooling and more, plus a design challenge.
Civics and community
- Explainer · Grades 3-9What does a city need to work?The essential systems every city needs, explained simply: water, energy, transport, housing, food, health, schools, government and public space.
- Lesson · Grades 5-12How does local government work?A civics lesson on how local government works: mayors, councils and city managers, what they decide, and how students can take part.
- Lesson · Grades K-8Explore your town: a neighborhood walk and scavenger huntA printable neighborhood walk and scavenger hunt for classes and families: spot infrastructure, public spaces and nature, then talk about your town.
- Project · Grades 5-9Design a city: a project-based unit for grades 5 to 9A free, step-by-step design a city project for middle school: students plan a city that meets real needs, with roles, a timeline and a rubric.
Writing and art
- Guide · Grades 6-12How to design a fantasy city: a worldbuilding guideA worldbuilding guide for a believable fantasy city: geography, water, food, government, buildings and culture, with prompts for writing, art and games.
- Guide · Grades Teachers, 6-12Free images for the classroom: how to use and credit themHow to use free, openly licensed images in slides, worksheets and projects, how to credit them (TASL), and 371 free city illustrations.
Printables and games
- PrintablesPrintable worksheetsVocabulary, word searches, a compare chart, matching and a city planner, all with answer keys.
- ReferenceGlossary of 694 city wordsEvery key word from the building pages, with a simple meaning.
- DiscussionQuestion bank693 questions for warm-ups, discussions and writing, with a question of the day.
- GamesGames for classCity builder challenges, five quizzes, map hunts, memory match and word search.
Questions homeschool parents ask
Is it free for homeschool families?
Yes. Every page, lesson guide, worksheet, tour and game is free, with no account. The shop sells optional printable games and packs, and everything else stays free.
What ages is it for?
Most of it suits ages 8 to 14 (grades 3 to 8). Each lesson guide lists its grades: the Bible lesson starts at kindergarten, and a few guides go up to grade 12.
Does my child need an account or an email?
No. Nothing asks for a name or an email. Passport stamps, game scores and the city your child builds stay in your own browser.
Can we use it in a co-op?
Yes. The lesson guides and worksheets are free to print and share for teaching, for one family or a whole group. Please credit The Atlas of Cities.
Is there Bible teaching?
Yes. The Heavenly City tells the story of Jesus as the Bible tells it, in 35 parts from place to place, with verses from the Berean Standard Bible. The Bible lesson guide turns it into a six-week plan.
Does it work on a tablet or a Chromebook?
Yes. It runs in any web browser, on phones, tablets, Chromebooks and computers, with nothing to install.
Teachers Teaching in a public or private school? The same guides list grade ranges and class periods: all teacher guides.