Migration Push and

Pull Factors
Student Activity

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© OzCurriculum HQ 2013
 Teacher Notes
This lesson supports students in
understanding the push and pull
factors contributing to human
migration.

Year 6
Historical Knowledge and
Understanding: Australia as a Nation
Content Description (ACHHK115)
Stories of groups of people who
migrated to Australia (including from
ONE Asian country) and the reasons
they migrated, such as World War II
and Australian migration programs
since the war.
Elaboration
Comparing push and pull factors that
have contributed to people migrating
to Australia (for example economic
migrants and political refugees).

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© OzCurriculum HQ 2013
 Push and Pull Factors
Lesson Sequence
Lesson Objective Comparing push and pull factors that have contributed to
people migrating to Australia (ACHHK115)
Materials: Time Allocation: Student Indicators of Success:
BLM 1, 2 and 3 90minutes Can define political, economic, social and
Posters with definitions environmental push and pull factors.
You-tube Video Can identify political, social, economic and
environmental push and pull factors in scenarios
from history.

Opening Begin by discussing with students what they have been learning about in
relation to Australian immigration, through history.
Introduce the terms push factor and pull factor and tell the students that
they will be defining after they have viewed some examples of each factor.
Ask if anyone has heard these terms before or if they want to predict what
they mean.
Main Body Distribute BLM 1 (or display on a board) BLM 2 (2 pages) and BLM 3.
Ask students to study the examples of push factors and pull factors on
BLM 1.
Have them write a definition of each factor on BLM 2.
Have students share their responses, then display the definition poster.
Have students refine their definitions if needed and complete the tester
examples.
BLM 3 shows scenarios of immigration from Australian history. Have
students cut these apart and sort them into push factors and pull factors.
Discuss.
Push and pull factors can be categorised into 4 groups; political, social,
economic and environmental.
To teach students about these categories show this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXQd21to6xg
Alternatively, show the poster with these categories explained.
Have students define these terms on BLM 2.
Go back to BLM 1 and ask students if they can identify any political, social,
economic or environmental factors. Record these in the table on BLM 2.
Have students re-categorise the scenarios they cut out earlier, into the four
new categories. Discuss.
Students can glue down the scenarios into the new categories.
Closing Ask students to reflect and respond to the question, “What push or pull
factors would make you consider emigrating? Why?”

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© OzCurriculum HQ 2013
 BLM 1
Push and Pull Factors
of Human Migration
Push Factors Pull Factors
• I am unable to find work due to there • Other members of my family
being no jobs available have emigrated to another country
• There has been a natural disaster • The country is a democracy, so I
• The food supply is restricted am allowed to vote
• There is a war going on and I am • The weather is sunny and not
unsafe too cold
• I am being unfairly treated because of • The system of law and order
my religion works well in that country
• My country is very poor • I can get the health care I need
• I cannot access adequate health care • The schools are great and
• It is cold all the time my children will be able to go to
• There has been a drought for many university if they want to
years • I can earn more money there
• I do not feel safe here • People of different nationalities
• The school system is terrible and I live in peace
have two young children • I can live in a house
• I am not allowed to vote
Testers
Decide which of these are push factors and pull factors
1. The tiny island I live on losing its fresh water supply and
cannot support everyone
2. The people and government are tolerant of different religions
3. There are many opportunities for a better standard of living
4. The government don’t like the things I say about them and they are
threatening to put me in prison

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© OzCurriculum HQ 2013
 Name: BLM 2
Date:
Push and Pull Factors
of Human Migration
Write a definition for Push Factor and Pull Factor
Push Factor Pull Factor

For each of the Testers, say if it is a push or pull factor and reasons why.
Tester Push Pull Reasons
Factor Factor
1

Choose two of the scenarios, one that shows a pull factor and one that shows a push factor.
Describe how you know it is a push or pull factor.
Pull Factor Scenario Push Factor Scenario

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© OzCurriculum HQ 2013
 Push and pull factors can be further categorised into the following groups; political, social,
economic and environmental. Describe what each of these means and give an example.
Push Factors Pull Factors
Political

Social

Economic

Environmental

Choose two of the scenarios. For each scenario, describe if it is a push or pull factor being
described and explain if the factor is political, social, environmental or economic.
Scenario 1 Scenario 2

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© OzCurriculum HQ 2013

My name is Clara. I came from China in
1999. I came to live with my aunt in Sydney,
because in China I didn’t have much of a
chance for a good education. Many girls only
go to school until they are 13 because their
family cannot afford to send them. My family
could no longer afford to educate me.
My name is Florence. It is 1918 and the war has
just finished. During the war I met and fell in love
with an Australian soldier, we married and we
have a young son. My husband has been sent
back to Australia with the army. I have no job
and no money and must take care of my son. I
think I may be better off in Australia.
My name is Hong and I fought for the South
Vietnamese Army during the Vietnam War.
After the war finished I was imprisoned in a
re-education camp. I knew that my wife and
children would not be safe so when I was
released we decided to get out of Vietnam.
My name is Sandy and I come from
Scotland. I came to Australia in 1855. There
was gold being found and my plan was to
make money at the diggings so I could buy
farming land. I moved with here with my
brother, so we could work together.
My name is Tong and I live on the small
island of Kiribiati. The ocean tides seem to be
coming further onto the land every year. This is
affecting our fresh water supply and the amount
of space we have for building houses. Soon
we will run out of fresh water and appropriate
shelter for all the people who live here.
© OzCurriculum HQ 2013
BLM 3
My name is Antonio. I moved to Australia
in 1952. My 2 older brothers had already
moved and sent letters back to me in Italy
telling of the work they had found and the
house they hoped to buy. I decided to join
them in Australia.
My name is Linda. I moved to Australia
during the 1960’s because the government
there was offering cheap boat tickets and
work so people would move. My family
decided that we would go on an adventure
and see what opportunities we there for us.
My name is Malik. I lived in Iraq during the
time Saddam Hussein. He was a dictator and
I wanted to speak out against the terrible
things going on. I knew it was not safe to live
here and I wanted to have a say in who ran
my country by voting.
My name is Jenny and I live in Scotland. I
hate the months of dreary, cold weather. I
went on a holiday to Perth, Western
Australia when I was younger and the
weather was sunny and warm. I have
decided to move and see if I like living there.
My name is Jane and I am from Latvia. I
moved to Australia in 1948. As a result of World
War 2 I was displaced from my home town. I
had been in a concentration camp during the
war and when the war was over and I returned
home, I saw my town was destroyed. The
International Refugee Organisation helped me to
re-settle in Australia.
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 Answer Key BLM 3
My name is Clara. I came from China in My name is Antonio. I moved to Australia
1999. I came to live with my aunt in Sydney, in 1952. My 2 older brothers had already
because in China I didn’t have much of a moved and sent letters back to me in Italy
Pull Factor
chance for a goodPush Factor
educati on. Many girls only telling of the work they had found and the
Social
Economic
go to school until they are 13 because their house they hoped to buy. I decided to join
family cannot afford to send them. My family them in Australia.
could no longer afford to educate me.

My name is Florence. It is 1918 and the war has
just finished. During the war I met and fell in love
with an Australian soldier, we married and we
have a young son.Pull My Factor
husband has been sent
Social
back to Australia with the army. I have no job
and no money and must take care of my son. I
think I may be better off in Australia.
My name is Linda. I moved to Australia
during the 1960’s because the government
there was offering cheap boat tickets and
Pull Factor
work so people would move. My family
Social
decided that we would go on an adventure
and see what opportunities we there for us.

My name is Hong and I fought for the South My name is Malik. I lived in Iraq during the
Vietnamese Army during the Vietnam War. time Saddam Hussein. He was a dictator and
After the war finPush
ished Factor
I was imprisoned in a I wanted to speakPush
outFactor
against the terrible
re-education camp.Political
I knew that my wife and Political
things going on. I knew it was not safe to live
children would not be safe so when I was here and I wanted to have a say in who ran
released we decided to get out of Vietnam. my country by voting.

My name is Sandy and I come from My name is Jenny and I live in Scotland. I
Scotland. I came to Australia in 1855. There hate the months of dreary, cold weather. I
was gold being found and my plan was to
Pull Factor went on a holidayPull
to Factor
Perth, Western
make money at the diggings so I could buy
Economic Australia when Environmental
I was younger and the
farming land. I moved with here with my weather was sunny and warm. I have
brother, so we could work together. decided to move and see if I like living there.

My name is Tong and I live on the small My name is Jane and I am from Latvia. I
island of Kiribiati. The ocean tides seem to be moved to Australia in 1948. As a result of World
coming further onto Push
theFactor
land every year. This is War 2 I was displaced
Push from
Factor my home town. I
affecting our fresh Environmental
water supply and the amount had been in a concentrati on camp during the
Political
of space we have for building houses. Soon war and when the war was over and I returned
we will run out of fresh water and appropriate home, I saw my town was destroyed. The
shelter for all the people who live here. International Refugee Organisation helped me to
re-settle in Australia.
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© OzCurriculum HQ 2013
 Push Factors
The reasons that make
you want or need to,
leave the place you
live.

Pull Factors
The reasons that draw
you to live in a
particular place.

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© OzCurriculum HQ 2013
 Push and Pull
Factors
Economic
Reasons associated with
money, in particular job
opportunities and standard of
living.
Political
Reasons based on the system of
government and their
treatment of people.

Environmental
Reasons based on the
conditions in the natural
environment.
Social
Reasons that involve your
family, friends or community.
Reasons may also be based on
the quality of your day-to-day
life.

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