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Year 8

Inequality and migration

I can explain the link between migration and inequality.

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New
New
Year 8

Inequality and migration

I can explain the link between migration and inequality.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

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

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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. Inequality in wealth between countries can lead to migration.
  2. On average, people are more likely to move from lower-income countries to higher-income countries.
  3. Inequality in safety between countries can lead to migration.
  4. Refugees often have to flee quickly and they are likely to go to a bordering country.
  5. Listening to people's experiences of migration helps us understand the variety of reasons people move.

Keywords

  • Forced migration - when people are forced to migrate due to war, famine, climate change or natural disasters

  • Voluntary migration - when people choose to migrate to improve their income and quality of life

  • Refugee - a person who has been forced to leave their country and cannot return home safely

Common misconception

Most people who have to flee their home due to war will travel a long distance away from their country.

Although some refugees will travel a long distance, most people who have to leave quickly for their own safety will travel to a neighbouring country.


To help you plan your year 8 geography lesson on: Inequality and migration, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Real-life stories of migration help humanise the topic. Look for videos or get people who have migrated to speak to the class to make sure that pupils understand the complexity of migration.
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.
What is global inequality?
When all countries have equal access to resources
Correct answer: The uneven distribution of wealth, resources, and opportunities worldwide
A system where every country has the same income
Only differences in money between countries
Q2.
Which of the following can increase inequality?
Governments investing in public services
All countries trading fairly
Correct answer: Unequal access to education and healthcare
Equal job opportunities for all
Q3.
How can development help reduce inequality?
Correct answer: By improving education, healthcare, and job opportunities
By keeping wages low for workers
By preventing economic growth
By focusing only on wealthy countries
Q4.
Which indicator is commonly used to measure economic development?
Weather patterns
Number of sports teams
Population size
Correct answer: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita
Q5.
Why is GDP per capita not the best measure of development?
It includes all aspects of quality of life.
It measures health and education equally.
Correct answer: It doesn’t show differences in wealth within a country.
It shows how resources are shared fairly.
Q6.
How can physical geography impact a country's development?
Only climate matters for development.
Correct answer: It can affect resources, trade, and agriculture.
It has no impact on development.
Countries with mountains are always richer.

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What is migration?
Staying in the same place for life
Correct answer: The movement of people from one place to another
Only moving within a country
The forced movement of animals
Q2.
What is a refugee?
Someone who chooses to live abroad for fun
Someone who moves for a better job
Correct answer: A person forced to leave their country due to war, persecution, or disaster
A tourist visiting another country
Q3.
Where do most refugees flee when escaping conflict?
To a country on a different continent
Correct answer: To a neighbouring country
To the wealthiest country they can reach
To a country with the same language
Q4.
How can migration increase inequality?
Migration has no impact on inequality.
Everyone benefits equally from migration.
Migration always reduces inequality.
Correct answer: Skilled workers leaving a country can slow its development.