Social Studies - World Geography
Lesson Plans

WG Strand 2: POPULATION DISTRIBUTION AND MIGRATION

The movement and distribution of people is influenced by many factors, including environmental, cultural, economic, and geopolitical forces. These migration trends alter geographic conditions. Geographers use data to understand population distribution and migration by looking at population characteristics, push and pull factors, and numerous other variables. Analyzing this data offers an opportunity to examine complex and challenging real-world issues.

Possible Guiding Questions to Consider:

• Why do people live where they live?
• Why do people move, sometimes at great risk to themselves?
• How might population trends influence aspects of daily life at local, regional, or global scales?
• Why do urbanization patterns differ around the world?
• How can governmental policies have both intended and unintended consequences for population and migration?
• What are the costs and benefits of mass urbanization?
• How do geographers use demographic data to make informed decisions?

WG Standard 2.2:

Students will explain push and pull factors causing voluntary and involuntary migration and the consequences created by the movement of people.

• A Refugee's Story
  Millions of Syrian refugees are leaving their war-torn home in search of safety and opportunity in other countries. Those who have suffered the challenges of starting anew can have a powerful impact helping others resettle. Lesson plan with a short documentary film. (English and Spanish)
• A Vanishing Island
  Coastal areas are drastically impacted by the effects of climate change. Communities are witnessing rising sea levels, stronger storms, and coastal erosion, forcing residents to leave their homes. Lesson plan with a short documentary film. (English and Spanish)
• At-Risk Communities
  Indigenous communities in coastal Alaska are facing the impacts of climate change as rising sea levels and changing weather patterns threaten to disrupt and destroy entire villages. If coordinated relocation efforts are not successful, residents risk losing their community and their traditional lifestyle. Lesson plan with photo essay.
• Creating DOK Pamphlets Using iPad
  This lesson plan aims at incorporating technology, in this case the Pages app on iPad, to create pamphlets that demonstrate depth of knowledge of social studies content. 
• Far from Home
  Civil war in Syria has contributed to an unprecedented global refugee crisis. The response from varying countries has been inconsistent, calling into question how our world community responds to the most basic human needs for safety, shelter, and security. Lesson plan with photo essay. (English and Spanish)
• People on the Move
  (Requires login/email address)
  Students participate in a ?push/pull? simulation to identify reasons people migrate from one place to another and analyze the similarities and differences between two real-world migrations.
• Push and Pull Factors of Human Migration
  A fun lesson to teach students about the push and pull factors of migration that includes an activity for all students to participate in.
• Why Do People Migrate?
  In this mini-lesson, students reflect on stories of migration and learn about migration from El Salvador to the United States as a means of exploring the underlying factors that drive migration.

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http://www.uen.org - in partnership with Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).  Send questions or comments to USBE Specialist - Robert  Austin and see the Social Studies website. For general questions about Utah's Core Standards contact the Director - Jennifer  Throndsen.

These materials have been produced by and for the teachers of the State of Utah. Copies of these materials may be freely reproduced for teacher and classroom use. When distributing these materials, credit should be given to Utah State Board of Education. These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other format, without the written permission of the Utah State Board of Education, 250 East 500 South, PO Box 144200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200.