How and why do people migrate to and from our communities? Lesson 2 of 6
GCSE • Identities and communities • Model curriculum
How and why do people migrate to and from our communities?
This lesson is part 2 of a sequence of 6 lessons addressing the key enquiry: Why does our changing community identity matter?
This lesson focuses on Citizenship skills such as critical thinking, enquiry, discussion, and collaboration while addressing concepts like diversity, rights, identity, and agency. Students explore the topic of migration, analysing its impact on communities and examining migration policies. The lesson begins with a class discussion on migration’s connection to their local community, followed by tasks that build an understanding of key terms like asylum seeker, irregular migrant, refugee, and immigration. Students critically engage with media terminology, such as the phrase “illegal immigrant,” to develop media literacy and an informed perspective on migration issues.
The lesson further examines migration drivers through activities on push and pull factors and explores the UK’s points-based immigration system using real-world data and fictional scenarios. Students evaluate the system’s fairness, linking it to human rights, and write structured arguments. Activities encourage reflection on migration’s historical and contemporary contexts, fostering empathy and deeper understanding. Assessments include card sorts, written responses, discussions, and peer feedback, culminating in a plenary debate. A takeaway task extends learning by researching how other countries address migration, encouraging global awareness and critical comparison.
Students will work towards answering the following questions:
1. What is migration?
2. Why do people change communities?
3. How does the points-based system work?
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