Migration discussion
Discuss people who migrate:
Tell students that people who migrate fall into several categories:
An emigrant is a person who is leaving one country to live in another.
An immigrant is a person who is entering a country from another to make a new home.
A refugee is a person who has moved to a new country because of a problem in their former home.
Have students provide specific examples of each to demonstrate understanding of the differences between the three terms.
Brainstorm reasons for migrating:
Ask: Why do people move? What forces do you think drive human migration? Then explain to students that people move for many reasons and that those reasons are called push factors and pull factors. Tell students that push factors include leaving a place because of a problem, such as a food shortage, war, or flood. Tell students that pull factors include moving to a place because of something good, such as a nicer climate, more job opportunities, or a better food supply. Ask:
What effect does a region’s economy, climate, politics, and culture have on migration to and from the area?
Have students brainstorm additional reasons for migrating, such as displacement by a natural disaster, lack of natural resources, the state of an economy, and more.