What you will be able to do
identify an origin, route, and destination; name several reasons people migrate; distinguish migration from immigration and discuss journeys without requesting private details
Migration and Family Journeys
Why do people move, and how can sources help us understand a journey without making assumptions?
Activate what you know
Trace a fictional character’s route between two labeled places on a map. Name the origin and destination without connecting the example to your own family
- migrationmovement by people from one place to another to live for a time or for a long period
- migranta person who moves away from a usual home to live in another place
- immigranta person who moves to live in a country different from the country they left
- originthe place where a journey begins
- destinationthe place a journey is going to
- routethe path traveled between places
- belongingfeeling accepted, connected, and part of a place or community
1
Migration Describes Movement to Live in Another Place
Migration is when people move from one place to another to live for a time or for a long period. A move can happen within a neighborhood, between regions, or across countries. The origin is where the journey begins, the route is the path, and the destination is where the person is going. Immigration is one kind of migration: an immigrant crosses a country border to live in the new country. A person who moves within the same country is a migrant but not an immigrant for that move. These words describe movement; they do not tell us a person’s worth, citizenship, documents, language, or entire identity
2
People Move for Many Reasons and Experience Movement Differently
People may move to join family, find work or education, seek safer conditions, access services, respond to environmental change, or pursue a goal. Some moves are planned and chosen. Other people have few safe choices or are forced from their homes by governments, conflict, disaster, or unfair treatment. We should not assume the reason from a name, language, clothing, or map line. Movement can bring new connections and opportunities while also involving loss, distance, uncertainty, or adjustment. People may keep languages, traditions, memories, and relationships while building new connections. A person can belong to more than one place. Sources help, but no child should be asked to prove or reveal a family’s journey, citizenship, documents, or difficult experience
Trace Before You Explain
Identify the origin, route, destination, and whether a country border was crossed before choosing the most accurate migration word
Use Fictional Evidence Cards
Ask what the supplied map, ticket, photograph, or character statement actually shows. Use ‘The source says...’ instead of guessing why a person moved
Every Immigrant Is a Migrant, but Not Every Migrant Is an Immigrant
Migration includes moves within a country. Immigration specifically involves moving to live in another country
Fictional Journey File
Use a fictional map and two source cards to identify a character’s origin, route, destination, reason given in the source, and one connection the character keeps or builds
Migration is movement to live in another place, while immigration is migration across a country border. Journeys have many reasons and effects, and respectful study relies on sources without demanding personal information or making assumptions
Practice and answer guide
Work through all 8 questions. Open an answer only after you have written or explained your response.
- 1. Which word describes any move to live in another place, within or across countries? A. migration B. legend C. barter
Check answer
Migration
- 2. Which journey is immigration? A. moving to live in a different country B. moving to another room C. walking to a nearby park and returning home
Check answer
Moving to live in a different country
- 3. Draw a fictional journey map with an origin, route, and destination. Use made-up public places, not a real home address
Check answer
The drawing should clearly label a fictional origin, route, and destination and must not include a real private address
- 4. Mei moves from one state to another in the same country. Is she a migrant for this move? Is she an immigrant for this move?
Check answer
Migrant: yes. Immigrant: no, because the move did not cross a country border
- 5. Name two reasons people may migrate
Check answer
Accept any two taught reasons, such as family, work, education, housing, environment, opportunity, services, or safety
- 6. Why can we not tell why a person moved by looking only at a map line?
Check answer
A route shows where movement occurred but not the person’s reasons, choices, feelings, or circumstances. Other sources are needed
- 7. Which question is respectful and safe for class inquiry? A. What reason does the fictional source give for the move? B. Show us your family’s private papers. C. Tell the class whether your family was forced to move
Check answer
What reason does the fictional source give for the move?
- 8. A fictional character moves to join family and keeps speaking a familiar language while learning a new bus route. Name one reason, one continuity, and one new connection
Check answer
Reason: joining family. Continuity: speaking a familiar language. New connection: learning the new bus route or connecting with the destination community