Human and Animal Migration

Overview

This 60-minute lesson introduces Year 7 pupils to migration in history by combining human and animal migration themes. The lesson aligns with the Northern Ireland Curriculum Key Stage 3 Learning Area: The World Around Us - History, specifically helping pupils understand change and continuity over time and the reasons behind migration. Pupils will explore migration push and pull factors already introduced and expand their understanding via interactive activities to build knowledge, skills, and empathy.

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Curriculum Links

Northern Ireland Curriculum - History (Key Stage 3)

• Develop awareness of continuity and change in the local, Irish, British and wider world contexts.
• Understand causes and consequences of migration and settlement.
• Use a range of sources and ICT to investigate historical events and communicate findings.

The World Around Us (Cross-Curricular) - Learning for Life and Work

• Enhance Citizenship skills by understanding human movement and cultural diversity.
• Recognise sustainability issues in environmental migration (animal migration linked with environmental changes).

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Learning Intentions

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

1. Define migration and explain push and pull factors for both humans and animals.
2. Understand historical examples of migration in a UK or Irish historical context.
3. Investigate and compare human and animal migration through interactive activities.
4. Reflect on the impact of migration on people, animals, and environments.

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Success Criteria

• Pupils can clearly describe migration with examples.
• Pupils identify push and pull factors for migration historically and in animals.
• Pupils work collaboratively and contribute to discussions and mapping activities.
• Pupils produce a short summary or diagram comparing human and animal migration.

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Resources Required

• PowerPoint presentation (prepared for key topic points, images, questions)
• Printed Migration Maps (UK/Ireland focused and Animal migration routes)
• Role-Play Cards (Human Migrants & Migrating Animals)
• Whiteboards/markers or large paper and coloured pens
• Projector and laptop for PowerPoint
• Post-it notes

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Lesson Structure (60 minutes)

1. Starter Activity - What is Migration? (10 minutes)

• Display slide with definition of migration and show simple animation of animals and humans moving.
• Review push & pull factors previously learned using an interactive whole-class brainstorm (write ideas on whiteboard).
• Activity: In pairs, pupils list one example of push and one pull factor for animals and humans. Share with class.

2. Explore Historical Human Migration (15 minutes)

• PowerPoint slides explaining a historical migration event relevant to Northern Ireland or the UK, e.g., Irish migration during the Famine (mid-19th century) or Scottish Highland Clearances.
• Discuss causes (push/pull) and impacts on communities.
• Activity: Pupils work in small groups with migration maps and role-play cards to plot the journey of migrants, noting push/pull motivations on post-it notes and placing them en route.

3. Investigate Animal Migration (15 minutes)

• Introduce animal migration with examples local to the UK & Ireland (e.g., salmon, blackbird, or grey seals).
• Discuss how environmental factors act as push and pull factors for animals.
• Hands-on activity: Using printed migration routes, pupils create an animated "migration path" on classroom floor or wall with string or tape and place corresponding push/pull cards along the route.
• Compare similarities/differences between human and animal migration paths.

4. Reflect and Summarise (10 minutes)

• Groups form circle and use prompt questions to reflect verbally:
  • What did you find surprising about migration?
  • How do push/pull factors shape migration differently for animals vs humans?
• Pupils write a quick summary or draw a Venn diagram on whiteboards to show what is unique and shared about human and animal migration.

5. Plenary - Quiz and Exit Ticket (10 minutes)

• Several short multiple-choice questions on PowerPoint to recap key points. Use show of hands or mini-whiteboards to answer.
• Pupils write one new thing they learned and one question they still have on a post-it note and place it on a class "Migration Wall".

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Differentiation

• Support pairs for pupils who find reading hard by providing simplified role-play cards and visual prompts.
• Challenge more able pupils with extension question: How might migration affect the culture and language of a place?
• Use multi-sensory activities (visual maps, movement, discussion) for varied learning preferences.

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Assessment for Learning

• Observe participation and understanding during group discussions and activities.
• Monitor accuracy of push/pull factors on post-its and group presentations of migration maps.
• Use plenary quiz responses to gauge overall comprehension.
• Review exit tickets for understanding and future teaching points.

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PowerPoint Content Outline

1. Title Slide: Migration — Humans and Animals in History
2. What is Migration? Definitions and Examples with visuals
3. Push and Pull Factors — Recap with keywords and images
4. Historical Human Migration Example: Irish Famine / Scottish Highlanders
5. Map Activity Slide: Plotting Migrants’ Journeys
6. Introduction to Animal Migration — Types and Routes in UK/Ireland
7. Interactive Map with Animal Migration Examples
8. Comparing Human and Animal Migration — Venn Diagram Template
9. Reflection Questions
10. Quiz Questions and Summary
11. Exit Ticket Instructions

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This lesson effectively blends historical knowledge with scientific understanding of animal behaviour, perfectly aligned to the Northern Ireland Curriculum outcomes. It provides a highly engaging and hands-on learning experience ideal for Year 7 pupils while supporting the teacher with clear structure and visual aids.