The resource unit in urban studies is designed to be used by suburban social studies classroom teachers in grades 7-9. The unit aims at developing a positive attitude in suburban students toward the central city. Students are introduced to the social dynamics and cultural resources unique in large urban centers. They recognize that solving urban problems should be a priority for all citizens. The learning activities require students to identify problems for study, gather information, propose solutions, and present them to the class in imaginative ways. Each unit lists objectives, learning activities, preparation for field trips, learning resources, and evaluation strategies. Students are involved in a wide variety of activities, including writing paragraphs describing new facts; showing the lines of operation of a cultural or entertainment center; interviewing celebrities; organizing groups; formulating suitable study topics; viewing and critiquing media; and, preparing bulletin boards, newspaper reports, scrapbooks, video tapes, and photo essays. Suggested field trips to the city under study, which serve as a focal point for the unit, include: city council meeting, zoning commission meeting, water and sewage treatment plants, and the municipal court and jail. Selected reference sources for teachers and students are included. (Author/DB)