Why People Move

Contributor: Brian Anthony. Lesson ID: 11578

Have you or your family members moved to or from another location, or even country? If so, why? You may have read about refugees and immigrants. Study where and why people move using interactive maps!

1To2Hour
categories

Geography

subject
Geography
learning style
Visual
personality style
Otter, Golden Retriever
Grade Level
High School (9-12)
Lesson Type
Dig Deeper

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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You've probably heard the common saying, "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." It means that very often, things appear to be better somewhere else.

Sometimes, it's true that what we have is actually pretty great if we stop to appreciate it. Sometimes, though, the situation people are living in is not so great — it may even be unbearable or threatening. Often, the situation causes people to move away, near or far, to where they have a chance at a better life.

  • What do you think are some of the factors that cause people to migrate, or move, from one place to another?

Make a list of at least eight factors you can think of. Then, for each factor, see if you know a historical or contemporary situation where that factor played a role. Write the time and place where that situation arose.

Let's take a closer look at some of the reasons why experts think people migrate. See how many you already got!

Read the article, The push-pull factors of migration, courtesy of tutor2u. As you read, gather the important information and ideas on the research organizational interactive below. (Or you may use the Push-Pull Factors Research found in the Downloadable Resources in the right-hand sidebar.)

Seek out at least two more sources on the same topic using your own Internet research. Add any new information and ideas you uncover to the chart:


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Share your findings with your parent or teacher and discuss the following questions:

  • What do you think were the most important factors in human migration in the past?
  • What makes you think so?
  • What about the present? The future?

Now you have developed your ideas about the reasons why people move from place to place. In the Got It? section, you will take a look at real human migrations taking place in today's world, and you will apply your understanding of the reasons to analyze those migrations.

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