Slums & Informal Settlements | Geography Lessons, Slides & Workbook

Help students understand why informal settlements develop, how people live and work within them, and why improving housing can involve difficult choices.

The Informal City explores housing affordability, informal employment and approaches to improving settlements. It forms part of the Towns and Cities unit framed around Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but uses Dharavi in Mumbai as its main informal settlement case study. Supporting examples from Kuala Lumpur help students compare different experiences, with background information included for both places.

What students will learn

• How a shortage of affordable housing contributes to informal settlement growth.
• The conditions used to define slum housing and the importance of secure tenure.
• The living conditions and economic activities found in Dharavi.
• How informal work provides livelihoods while leaving workers with limited protection.
• How settlements can improve over time through self-help and upgrading.
• The benefits and drawbacks of redevelopment for different groups.

What’s included

Choose between a Full Lesson presentation for more detailed teaching and a shorter Essentials presentation focused on the core ideas.

The student workbook follows the Full Lesson presentation and comes in full colour, black and white, and an online-ready version for typed answers. The Essentials presentation has a matching booklet in student notes and completed versions, including a Knowledge Organiser.

Exam-style questions, model answers, a separate exam practice pack with a mark scheme and a short assessment are included. A full answer key supports marking and feedback. Access to the module’s interactive activities on Geography Oasis is included as a bonus.

In The Dharavi Decision, students represent groups affected by a redevelopment proposal. They prepare arguments using evidence, respond to other viewpoints and reconsider their position when further details are revealed. A vote in role and a personal vote encourage students to distinguish a stakeholder’s priorities from their own judgement. A separate presentation and printable materials are supplied for the activity.

Curriculum and format

Designed for students aged 14-16, this module covers Cambridge IGCSE Geography 0460 (2027), statement 7.2.2. It is also suitable for AP Human Geography, World Geography, and other units on urbanisation and settlement.

Supplied as two ZIP downloads: Essentials and Full Lesson. Together, these contain the complete module as PowerPoint (.pptx) and Word (.docx) files with a START HERE guide. Written content is editable; diagrams and illustrations are supplied as images.

If you find this resources useful, please consider reviewing.