Middle School Competition Blends Engineering, Creativity and Collaboration with Hands-on Learning
When COVID-19 disrupted the school year in 2020, Michigan educator Susan Solomon was determined to keep her gifted and talented students engaged. Teaching at a Bureau of Indian Education school, Susan loves sparking her students’ curiosity with hands-on, project-based learning. Susan’s search led her to the Future City Competition—a program that challenges middle schoolers to imagine, design and build futuristic cities while solving real-world problems.
Future City inspires students around the world to solve complex problems through engineering, creativity and teamwork. In 2023-2024, the competition welcomed 1,707 educators and 67,480 students across the United States—all at no cost to participants.
That first year, Future City sparked a passion for engineering in Susan’s class and quickly became a student favorite.
Building Connection During Lockdown
The 2020 Future City theme—designing a city on the moon—captivated both Susan and her students.
In that first year, Susan’s students collaborated virtually, supported by their mentor, David Bussell. The team of five created a model city from recycled materials. Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, students were isolated in cohorts, so the team couldn’t work together in the same room. To overcome this challenge, Susan used greenscreen technology to record each student presenting their part. The team then added photos of the moon model to the video footage, making it appear as though the students were presenting from within the model itself. Leaning into Future City’s spirit of creativity, they brought their virtual presentation to life.
“Future City was engaging and a distraction from the pandemic,” Susan recalls. “It was a way for the kids to connect and be together, working on a common project they were really excited about.”
They were thrilled to place second in the Michigan state competition. From then on, Susan’s students were hooked on Future City.
A User-Friendly Experience for Educators
Susan was surprised at how easy it was to register for Future City, with responsive regional coordinators to answer questions along the way. Every year, Future City releases a comprehensive handbook that’s packed with rubrics, worksheets and step-by-step instructions. The handbook simplifies the process for educators, ensuring they are supported throughout the process.
While Future City focuses on engineering, the project incorporates a variety of subjects for a well-rounded learning experience.
“Future City is interdisciplinary. It covers writing, public speaking, math, engineering—it’s all there. And it’s creative and fun,” says Susan. “It’s my favorite kind of project because it hits all the marks and I would highly recommend it for other educators.”
A Program That Grows with Students
Since that first year, interest in Future City at Susan’s school has soared. This year, she’s mentoring three teams, including a returning group that competed at nationals and won the prize for best model. Susan’s classroom hums with energy as students brainstorm ideas, build scale models and work on their project essays.
A champion of project-based learning, Susan integrates Future City into her curriculum, devoting five class hours a week to the program. While the process is rigorous, she emphasizes its impact. “My students learn to think like engineers, solve problems and collaborate,” she says. “The project management skills they gain are something they’ll carry throughout their lives.”
“All my kids get so into the project,” Susan says. “Class periods fly by. They even ask to come in before school, during lunch breaks and on Saturdays.”
Broadening Horizons for a Future in Engineering
Before participating in Future City, many of Susan’s students didn’t know what engineers did. Now, they see the profession as exciting and attainable. “My kids come out thinking engineers play all day—like it’s the best job ever,” Susan says. “One of my former students from that first team is now a sophomore and wants to be a nuclear engineer. His younger brother is considering architecture because it combines engineering and art.”
Beyond engineering, Future City builds essential life skills like teamwork, resilience and conflict resolution. It pushes students outside of their comfort zone, which is where they grow. “When kids realize they can do hard things, they feel accomplished. They learn to stick with things even when it’s difficult. If they can succeed in Future City, they have the tools to succeed anywhere.”
Susan recalls one year when a team struggled to agree on a model concept, leaving one student discouraged. But as the model came together, he rejoined the effort, presented at the competition, and even returned to compete the next year. “I was worried he was going to quit,” says Susan. “It took a minute, but he showed such persistence, had a great time at the competition and grew from the experience.”
Making Connections and Solving Real-World Problems
As an educator at one of Michigan’s Bureau of Indian Education schools, Susan seeks out opportunities to integrate cultural identity into her lessons. During the 2023-2024 Future City competition, Susan’s students considered the issue of reclaiming Indigenous spaces, drawing on Anishinaabe teachings. They designed a narrative where communities used Indigenous knowledge to combat climate change.
“The kids thought about what it means to reclaim an Indigenous space,” Susan says. “They envisioned a future where people grew native foods and followed traditional teachings to restore balance.” The project resonated deeply, blending cultural pride with forward-thinking solutions.
A Legacy of Learning
When Susan thinks back upon on her own years as a student, she remembers the projects she worked on most vividly. That’s why she prioritizes hands-on, real-world learning in her classroom. “Future City shapes kids in so many ways,” she says. “They work harder because they have a real audience and a purpose. They carry those skills into everything else they do.”
Susan wholeheartedly recommends Future City to educators. “Middle schoolers are amazing—smart, compassionate, and ready to solve the world’s problems. This program gives them the tools to do that and so much more.”
Ready to Inspire the Next Generation of Innovators?
Join educators like Susan in shaping young minds and fostering a love of problem-solving, teamwork and creativity.
Future City is more than a competition. It’s a transformative experience that equips students with skills that last a lifetime.
Getting started is simple: visit Find Your Future City Region to find your local Future City Coordinator.