Demographic Trends and Transitions · Term 1

Migration Push and Pull Factors

Students explore the reasons why individuals and groups move across borders or within countries.

About This Topic

The global refugee crisis is a critical contemporary issue that requires both geographic analysis and humanitarian empathy. Students examine the causes of displacement, including conflict, political instability, and increasingly, environmental factors like climate change. In the Ontario curriculum, this topic connects to global inequalities and the responsibilities of nations within the international community. Students use spatial data to track refugee routes and identify the countries that host the largest numbers of displaced people.

This unit also addresses the challenges refugees face during their journeys and upon arrival in a new country. It provides an opportunity to discuss Canada's role in refugee resettlement and the local organizations that support newcomers. Students grasp this concept faster through structured discussion and peer explanation of humanitarian data and personal narratives.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the push and pull factors that contribute to both voluntary and forced migration.
• Compare the economic and cultural impacts of migration on both source and destination countries.
• Explain how environmental disasters can trigger specific patterns of forced migration.
• Differentiate between the motivations behind voluntary and forced migration in a global context.

Before You Start

Canada's Diverse Population

Why: Students need a foundational understanding of Canada's multicultural makeup to analyze the impacts of new migration flows.

Introduction to Geography

Why: Basic map reading and understanding of spatial concepts are necessary to analyze migration routes and patterns.

Key Vocabulary

Push Factors	Reasons that compel people to leave their home country or region, such as poverty, conflict, or environmental disaster.
Pull Factors	Reasons that attract people to a new country or region, such as economic opportunities, political stability, or family reunification.
Voluntary Migration	The movement of people from one place to another by choice, often in search of better economic or social opportunities.
Forced Migration	The movement of people who are compelled to leave their homes due to factors beyond their control, such as war, persecution, or natural disasters.
Brain Drain	The emigration of highly trained or qualified people from a particular country, often leading to a loss of skilled labor in the source country.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: Mapping the Journey

Using real-time data from organizations like the UNHCR, small groups map the journey of refugees from a specific conflict zone. they identify the geographic obstacles (mountains, seas, borders) and the 'host countries' along the way, presenting a digital map of their findings.

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

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Formal Debate: Global Responsibility

Students debate the question: 'Should neighboring countries bear the primary responsibility for hosting refugees, or should it be a shared global responsibility?' Groups must use geographic and economic data to support their arguments about capacity and resources.

⏱ 45 min·Whole Class

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Think-Pair-Share: Environmental Refugees

Students read a short article about 'climate refugees', people displaced by rising sea levels or desertification. They discuss in pairs whether international law should be updated to give these individuals the same legal status as political refugees. Pairs share their conclusion with the class.

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

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Real-World Connections

Urban planners in Toronto use data on migration patterns to anticipate housing needs and plan for public services, considering the influx of newcomers attracted by job opportunities.

Economists analyze remittance data, the money sent back home by migrants, to understand its impact on the economies of countries like the Philippines and Mexico, where it forms a significant portion of the GDP.

International aid organizations, such as the UNHCR, work directly with communities displaced by conflict or environmental crises in regions like the Sahel, providing essential services and advocating for resettlement.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Wealthy Western countries host the most refugees.

What to Teach Instead

In reality, the vast majority of refugees are hosted by developing countries that neighbor conflict zones (e.g., Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan). Using infographics to compare host populations helps students correct this common misunderstanding.

Common Misconception

Refugees only live in large tent camps.

What to Teach Instead

While camps are common, many refugees live in urban areas, often in precarious conditions. Exploring 'urban refugee' case studies helps students understand the diverse geographic realities of displacement.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Present students with a case study of a specific migration event (e.g., the Syrian refugee crisis, or internal displacement after Hurricane Katrina). Ask: 'Identify at least two push factors and two pull factors at play in this scenario. Discuss whether this migration was primarily voluntary or forced, and justify your reasoning.'

Quick Check

Provide students with a list of migration scenarios. For each scenario, ask them to categorize it as primarily driven by push or pull factors and to identify if it represents voluntary or forced migration. Example: 'A family moves from a rural village to a city for better job prospects.' (Pull, Voluntary).

Exit Ticket

On an index card, have students write one sentence explaining how an environmental disaster can act as a push factor for migration. Then, ask them to name one country that has experienced significant environmental migration in the last decade.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes someone to become a refugee?

The primary causes are war, ethnic or religious persecution, and political violence. Increasingly, environmental disasters and the long-term effects of climate change are also displacing large numbers of people, though 'climate refugee' is not yet a formal legal category.

Which countries host the most refugees?

Contrary to popular belief, countries like Turkey, Colombia, Germany, Pakistan, and Uganda host some of the largest refugee populations. Most refugees stay in countries neighboring their own because they hope to return home or lack the resources to travel further.

How does Canada support refugees?

Canada has a long history of resettling refugees through government-assisted programs and private sponsorship. Once in Canada, refugees receive support for housing, language training, and job searching through various settlement agencies and community groups.

How can active learning help students understand the refugee crisis?

Active learning strategies, such as mapping refugee routes or debating international policy, help students move beyond the headlines. By engaging with real data and complex scenarios, they develop a deeper understanding of the geographic and political factors that drive displacement and the human impact of these global trends.