Getting Started

• Explain to the students the various terms associated with human migration or have them look it up in their textbooks. The United States Census Bureau offers the following definitions. The term, "in-migration," refers to people moving within a nation, while "out-migration" indicates the movement of people from one place to another country. "Net internal migration" refers to the difference between peoples in- and out-migration activities. The term, "movers from abroad," indicates the migration of people into a nation from another country, while "net migration" refers to the difference between net internal migration and movers from abroad.
  
  

Determining Migration

• Let the students draw up a table to establish the net internal migration and net migration for a number of regions in the United States. Students choose a specific four-year period and use data from the U.S. Census Bureau to fill in the table. This data enables students to calculate the net internal and net migration. Let the students thereafter map net migration on blank outline maps of the United States that show state boundaries.
  
  

Influencing Factors

• Tell the students to research and compile a list of factors that influence internal and external migration in the United States. You can also compile this list in a group discussion. Factors such as the cost of living, employment opportunities and population composition, all play an important part. Other equally important factors include the physical environment, labor markets, state and local government taxing policies and state social legislation. Categorize these factors into those that will attract or dissuade people from moving into a new location.
  
  

Long-Term Effects

• Students gather population data for their local community, state or province for the last 50-year period and use this data to determine net migration and assess the implications thereof. Political officials can be invited to discuss these findings with the students. The students can discuss circumstances under which the United States government can take measures to enhance or curtail human migration. As a final task, students can predict future growth or decline in net migration for the United States.