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Year 9

Why do people migrate?

I can explain what migration is, why people migrate and describe the challenges and opportunities they may experience.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 9

Why do people migrate?

I can explain what migration is, why people migrate and describe the challenges and opportunities they may experience.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Migration is when people move from one place to another, either within a country or across borders.
  2. People migrate for many reasons, including: work, education, lifestyle, retirement or to escape danger.
  3. Migration often involves big changes to daily life, identity and sense of belonging.
  4. Even planned migration can be long, expensive and involve strict rules and paperwork.
  5. Migrating is a complex process that can offer new opportunities but also involves significant challenges.

Keywords

  • Migration - the movement of people from one place to another, for example, moving from one country to another

  • Opportunity - the chance or the possibility to do something or go somewhere

Common misconception

Migration only happens when people are escaping danger, like war or natural disasters.

Many people are forced to migrate because of danger, but others choose to move for different reasons, like better jobs, studying or a different lifestyle. Migration is not always about escaping something bad, but about moving toward something better.


To help you plan your year 9 citizenship lesson on: Why do people migrate?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use a variety of case studies to show the diversity of migrant experiences. Review and adapt the scenarios included in the lesson as needed. Be sensitive to pupils who have migrated. Not all scenarios need to be used.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following best describes migration?

a holiday to a different country
Correct answer: moving from one place to another, within or between countries
escaping from danger to find food
taking part in a student exchange programme

Q2.
Rearrange these words to create a sentence about why people migrate.

1 - people
2 - migrate
3 - for
4 - positive and
6 - negative
7 - reasons

Q3.
Migration can affect a person’s if it causes them to question who they are and where they belong.

Correct Answer: identity

Q4.
Which of these are challenges that migrants might face when they move to a new country?

Correct answer: language barriers
safety and political freedom
improved living standards
Correct answer: loneliness or isolation

Q5.
Which of these are opportunities that migrants might face when they move to a new country?

employment skills might not be recognised
Correct answer: better job, leisure or education prospects
legal and paperwork issues
Correct answer: greater personal freedom or equality

Q6.
Match the word or phrase to its correct definition.

Correct Answer:push factor,something that make someone want or need to leave a place

something that make someone want or need to leave a place

Correct Answer:pull factor,something that encourages someone to move to that particular place

something that encourages someone to move to that particular place

Correct Answer:lifestyle,the way a person chooses to live, e.g., habits, routines, activities

the way a person chooses to live, e.g., habits, routines, activities

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the word to its correct definition.

Correct Answer:migration,the movement of people from one place to another

the movement of people from one place to another

Correct Answer:opportunity,the chance or the possibility to do something or go somewhere

the chance or the possibility to do something or go somewhere

Correct Answer:challenge,something difficult to deal with or achieve; can be an obstacle

something difficult to deal with or achieve; can be an obstacle

Q2.
Which of the following statements is correct?

People only migrate because they are escaping war or danger.
Migration is always dangerous and forced.
Correct answer: People migrate for many reasons, such as work, education or lifestyle.
Migration always means moving across a national border.

Q3.
Which of these is an example of a pull factor for migration?

war in someone’s home country
Correct answer: better leisure and work opportunities
lack of job opportunities
natural disaster

Q4.
Even well- migration, with all its preparation and paperwork, can be costly and time-consuming.

Correct Answer: planned, organised, prepared, thought-out

Q5.
Which of these is an example of a push factor for migration?

a country offering free university education
a job offer in another country
speaking the language of a particular country
Correct answer: political instability or threat

Q6.
Order these parts of a non-emergency migration process.

1 - liking a particular place or country
2 - deciding to move
3 - applying for documents or permission
4 - moving there
5 - facing new challenges or opportunities