Why They Come Push and Pull Factors in Migration

Students learn the importance of push and pull factors in historical and current migrations.
Author
Grade Level
Duration

Donna Frank
7th Grade
1-2 class periods

National Geography
Standards

Arizona Geography

Other Standards

Element 4 Human
Systems
9. The
characteristics,
distribution, and
migration of
human
populations on
Earths surface

Concept 4 Human Systems

Grade 7
PO2 Describe the push and
pull factors that cause
human migration.
PO4 Analyze how social,
physical, and economic
resources influence where
human populations choose
to live.

American History
Grade 7
Concept 7 Emergence of the
Modern United States
PO1 Examine the reasons why
people emigrated from their
homelands to settle in the United
States during the late 19th century.

Overview
Migration has shaped Americas history
from the first inhabitants to todays legal
and illegal immigrants. This lesson focuses
on historical causes for migration and
compares them current reasons for
migration.

Language Arts
Grade 7
Reading
Strand 3 Comprehending
Informational Text
PO 2. Summarize the main idea and
critical details of expository text,
maintaining chronological,
sequential, or logical order.

migration and compare those factors to

historical movements of people into
America.

Materials
Chart paper and markers
Definition of Push and Pull Factors

Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is to provide
students with an opportunity to identify
push and pull factors in contemporary

If Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island by

Ellen Levine.

Similarities and Differences Graphic

Organizers

Ask the students to put a star by the factors

that may apply to them or their families.

Push and Pull Factors Quiz

4. Ask students to think about why their

family moved or why people they know
moved to a place. Again, do a think-pairshare. Write the reasons on the board or on
a piece of chart paper labeled Pull
factors. Students should write the responses
on their copies of the Push and Pull
Graphic Organizer. Remind them to write
their answers on SIDE1, My Family and
Friends. Ask the students to put a star by
the factors that may apply to them or their
families.

Push and Pull Factors Quiz Answer Key

Objectives
The student will be able to
1. define push and pull factors
2. give examples of push and pull factors
from their own experience
3. compare push and pull factors from
historical migrations to their own
experiences

Procedures
Day One
1. Anticipatory set Ask students if any of
them have moved to a new place for the
purpose of living there. For example, has
anyone moved into a different house in the
same neighborhood or city, or moved to a
different city or town or to a different state
or country. Call on students for their
responses. Then ask if they know of
extended family members or friends who
have moved to a new place. Finally, ask
when you grow up, would you like to
move to another city, state, country or
state to live? Most students should be
able to answer yes to one these questions.
2. Define push and pull factors using the
Definition of Push and Pull Factors.
3. Ask students to think about why their
family moved or why people they know
moved away from a place. Have the
students do a think-pair-share. Write their
responses on the board or on a piece of
chart paper labeled Push factors.
Students should write the responses on their
copies of the Push and Pull Graphic
Organizer. Remind them to write their
answers on SIDE 1, My Family and Friends.

5. Read Why did people leave their

homelands? on pages 12 to13 and Why
did people come to America? on pages
14 to 15 in If Your Name Was Changed at
Ellis Island by Ellen Levine.
6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 using the
information in the reading. Students will
write their answers on the Push and Pull
Graphic Organizer. This time, they should
write their answers on Side 2 Immigrants to
America.

Assessment
Students will achieve mastery with an 80%
or more on the Push and Pull Factors Quiz.

Extensions

This can be used as a prelude to a

discussion of current migrations
issues, such as illegal immigration
and border security.
Students could conduct interviews
with community members to
determine the push and pull factors
that brought them to their current
location.

Using data from the Census

Bureau, students can compare their

push and pull factors with those

collected nationally.
Students can assume the role of an
immigrant and write a letter to a
friend in the homeland describing
the pull factors in America.
The lesson can be used to examine
the push and pull factors that
brought immigrants to the U.S from
Asia, Africa, and other parts of the
world.
The migration of African-Americans
from the South to Northern cities

during World War 1 and 11 can also

be studied using this lesson.
Sources
Levine, Ellen. If Your Name Was Changed
at Ellis Island. 1993. Scholastic, Inc., New
York.
Maestro, Betsy. Coming to America.
Scholastic Press, 1996
U.S. Census Bureau
www.census.gov//hhes/migration

Definition of Push and Pull Factors

Push factors Forces (or things) that drive or push
people away from a place. Push factors include social,
political, economic, and environmental factors.

Place
Push Factors
Push factors

Pull factors Forces (or things) that attract or pull

people to a place. Pull factors include social,
political, economic, and environmental factors.

Place
Pull Factors

Name _____________________________

Pull and Pull Factors Quiz

1. Factors that encourage people to leave a place are called _______________________ factors.
2. Factors that encourage people to move to a place are called _____________________factors.
3. The reasons people moved from one place to another in the past are similar to the reasons people move from
one place to another today. TRUE or FALSE (circle one)
4. List two factors that might cause people to leave a place.
5. List two factors that might cause people to move into a place.
Read the following sentences and

circle

the push factors and underline pull factors.

6. Paul and Martha were tired of the snow in Minneapolis so they moved to Florida for the warmer weather.
7. Many families have left Detroit to look for work because of high unemployment in that city.

Read the following passage and

circlethe

the main idea. Then, underline three supporting ideas.

These European immigrants came to make new homes in the Americas. They came in search of a better life one
free of the trouble and hardship they had left behind. In their native countries, they often had little money and
could not worship God in the way/7 they wished. The immigrants hoped for freedom and good fortune in their
new lives.1

Maestro, Betsy. Coming to America. Scholastic Press, 1996.

ANSWER KEY
1. Factors that encourage people to leave a place are called PUSH factors. (1 Point)
2. Factors that encourage people to move to a place are called PULL factors. (1 Point)
3. The reasons people moved from one place to another in the past are similar to the reasons people
move from one place to another today. TRUE
or FALSE (circle one) (1 Point)
TRUE
4. List two factors that might cause people to leave a place. (2 Points)
ANSWERS WILL VARY BUT SHOULD INCLUDE PUSH FACTORS DISCUSSED IN CLASS
5. List two factors that might cause people to move into a place. (2 Points)
ANSWERS WILL VARY BUT SHOULD INCLUDE PULL FACTORS DISCUSSED IN CLASS
circle
Read the following sentences and circle

6. Paul and Martha were tired of the

warmer weather. (2 Points)

the push factors and underline pull factors.

sno
SNOW

in Minneapolis so they moved to Florida for the

7. Many families have left Detroit to look for work because of high

Read the following passage and

circle

unemployment

in that city.

the main idea. Then, underline three supporting ideas.

European immigrants came to make new homes in the Americas.

These.

They

came in search of a better life one free of the trouble and hardship they had left behind. In their native
countries, they often had little money and could not worship God in the way they wished. The immigrants hoped
for freedom and good fortune in their new lives.1

Maestro, Betsy. Coming to America. Scholastic Press, 1996.

Side 2 IMMIGRANTS

Reasons Immigrants Moved Away From Their Homelands

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Reasons Immigrants Moved To America

Side 1 My Family and Friends

Reasons My Family and Friends Moved From a Place

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Reasons My Family and Friends Moved To a Place