1. Introduce the activity.
Explain to students that past migrations have helped shape the present makeup of populations. Tell students they will compare migration and ancestry patterns in the United States, your state, and your community.
2. Have students use a map to compare patterns of ancestry.
Divide students into small groups. Distribute copies of the map Past Moves, Present Patterns, which shows Americans' ancestry by county in the United States. Have small groups answer the following questions:
- What is the most common ancestry in the United States? (German)
- What is the most common ancestry in our state?
- What is the most common ancestry in our community?
Hand out the worksheet Comparing Data on Ancestry and Migration Patterns and have groups write the answers in Part 1. Then ask: How do you think the ancestry of people in the United States has changed over time? Make sure students understand that the patterns of diversity resulting from migration change over time in an ongoing process.
3. Have students use census data to find migration patterns by ancestry for the U.S.
Have small groups go to the U.S. Census Bureau's American FactFinder web page. Then have students select the most common ancestry in the United States from the population group menu and complete the columns for the United States in Parts 2 (selected population group) and 3 (total population).
4. Have students use census data to find migration patterns by ancestry for your state and community.
Have small groups complete Parts 2 and 3 of the worksheet for your state. Then have students complete Parts 2 and 3 for your community. Make sure students choose the correct ancestry group for each location based on what they wrote in Part 1.
5. Compare and contrast national, state, and local data to draw conclusions.
As a class, compare and contrast the data in order to draw conclusions. Ask:
- How are the ancestry patterns across the three locations similar? How are they different?
- What conclusions can you draw about factors that might contribute to these patterns?
Informal Assessment
Use the provided Answer Key to check students’ worksheets for accuracy and completeness.
Extending the Learning
Have students use graph paper to graph the three data sets and compare them visually.
Subjects & Disciplines
- Geography
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- compare patterns of ancestry in the United States using maps and census data
- draw conclusions about patterns by looking at national, state, and local data
Teaching Approach
- Learning-for-use
Teaching Methods
- Discussions
- Hands-on learning
Skills Summary
This activity targets the following skills:
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Critical Thinking Skills
- Analyzing
- Remembering
- Understanding
- Geographic Skills
Connections to National Standards, Principles, and Practices
National Council for Social Studies Curriculum Standards
- Theme 3: People, Places, and Environments
National Geography Standards
- Standard 9: The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on Earth's surface
What You’ll Need
Materials You Provide
- Graph paper
- Pencils
- Pens
Required Technology
- Internet Access: Required
- Tech Setup: 1 computer per small group, Projector
Physical Space
- Classroom
Grouping
- Large-group instruction
- Small-group instruction
Background Information
Human migration is the movement of people from one place in the world to another. Human patterns of movement reflect the conditions of a changing world and impact the cultural landscapes of both the places people leave and the places they settle.
Prior Knowledge
- None
Recommended Prior Activities
Vocabulary
family (genealogical) or historical background.
program of a nation, state, or other region that counts the population and usually gives its characteristics, such as age and gender.
the movement of people from one place to another.
total number of people or organisms in a particular area.
Websites
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Census
Every few years, governments count the people living in their territories, a process called a census. These counts help decide how best to allocate resources and determine political representation. Learn about the surprisingly ancient origins of the census and why this counting process is important to this day.
-
Population Distribution 17th-19th Century
The total number of people on Earth has been increasing for centuries, and it looks as though that trend will continue into the future. The first big growth spurt for the world population occurred in the mid-20th century. However, prior to this population boom, in the 17th to 19th centuries, the population demographics were considerably different than those of today. Globally, this time period was defined by movements of colonization, conquest, trade, industrialization, and the transatlantic slave trade. These events redistributed people on the eve of one of population’s biggest booms. Looking back at where and how people lived in these centuries can help us learn more about why the world population is the way it is today. Teach students about the history of the world population with this curated collection of resources.
-
Interpreting Maps
Maps don’t just help us get from place to place. They help us understand Earth and how its physical processes and features can shape human activity and vice versa. When data is organized by its locations, we can see geographic patterns that allow us to develop a better understanding of how systems work and interact with one another. Use this collection to provide learners with a deeper understanding of the nature and importance of maps, which have been illustrating places and people for thousands of years.
-
United States Immigration
Immigration is the process of moving to a new country or region with the intention of staying and living there. People may choose to immigrate for a variety of reasons, such as employment opportunities, to escape a violent conflict, environmental factors, educational purposes, or to reunite with family. The process of immigrating to the United States can be complicated and is often driven by a few key principles including uniting families, boosting the economy with skilled professionals, promoting diversity, and helping refugees. Learn more about U.S. immigration with this curated resource collection.
-
Global Patterns of Human Migration
Students use maps and recent census data to analyze migration patterns across the globe.
-
-
Making Sense of Migration
Students will engage with photographs, videos, handouts, and animations to learn why and how animals migrate, methods used to track and map migrations, and how humans are impacting animal migration. Students use a variety of resources to research a focal animal in order to create a map layer showing its migration pattern, which is part of their unit project. This lesson is part of the Detours and Distractions: How Humans Impact Migration Patterns unit.
-
Census
Every few years, governments count the people living in their territories, a process called a census. These counts help decide how best to allocate resources and determine political representation. Learn about the surprisingly ancient origins of the census and why this counting process is important to this day.
-
Population Distribution 17th-19th Century
The total number of people on Earth has been increasing for centuries, and it looks as though that trend will continue into the future. The first big growth spurt for the world population occurred in the mid-20th century. However, prior to this population boom, in the 17th to 19th centuries, the population demographics were considerably different than those of today. Globally, this time period was defined by movements of colonization, conquest, trade, industrialization, and the transatlantic slave trade. These events redistributed people on the eve of one of population’s biggest booms. Looking back at where and how people lived in these centuries can help us learn more about why the world population is the way it is today. Teach students about the history of the world population with this curated collection of resources.
-
Interpreting Maps
Maps don’t just help us get from place to place. They help us understand Earth and how its physical processes and features can shape human activity and vice versa. When data is organized by its locations, we can see geographic patterns that allow us to develop a better understanding of how systems work and interact with one another. Use this collection to provide learners with a deeper understanding of the nature and importance of maps, which have been illustrating places and people for thousands of years.
-
United States Immigration
Immigration is the process of moving to a new country or region with the intention of staying and living there. People may choose to immigrate for a variety of reasons, such as employment opportunities, to escape a violent conflict, environmental factors, educational purposes, or to reunite with family. The process of immigrating to the United States can be complicated and is often driven by a few key principles including uniting families, boosting the economy with skilled professionals, promoting diversity, and helping refugees. Learn more about U.S. immigration with this curated resource collection.
-
Global Patterns of Human Migration
Students use maps and recent census data to analyze migration patterns across the globe.
-
-
Making Sense of Migration
Students will engage with photographs, videos, handouts, and animations to learn why and how animals migrate, methods used to track and map migrations, and how humans are impacting animal migration. Students use a variety of resources to research a focal animal in order to create a map layer showing its migration pattern, which is part of their unit project. This lesson is part of the Detours and Distractions: How Humans Impact Migration Patterns unit.