Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Migration

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Objectives stage is fundamental to guide and direct students' focus on the skills and knowledge that will be developed during the lesson. By clearly establishing what is expected to be achieved, students can better prepare and engage in the proposed activities, maximizing the effectiveness of learning. This stage also serves to align expectations between the teacher and students, ensuring a mutual understanding of educational objectives.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to assess the impact of migration movements on the regions of origin and destination.

2. Develop the ability to understand the different motivations behind migration movements throughout history.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage empathy and tolerance through understanding migration experiences.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of the Introduction stage is to engage students with the topic of migration through problem-based situations that make them think critically about the subject. Additionally, it seeks to contextualize the relevance of studying migration, connecting it with historical and contemporary examples so that students understand the importance and complexity of the topic. This stage prepares the ground for the discussions and activities that will follow, helping to consolidate students' prior knowledge and stimulate interest in the subject.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine that a large group of people from a remote island decides to leave their home due to a volcanic eruption that threatens everyone's lives. What would be the main difficulties they would face when migrating to a new region and how could this impact both the originating island and the new location?

2. Think of an example from history where a people migrated in search of better living conditions. How did this migration influence the cultures of both the place of origin and the destination? Discuss how these cultural changes can still be seen today.

Contextualization

Migration is a phenomenon that has shaped the history of various regions of the world, from the earliest human movements to more recent migrations. These population movements have been driven by different reasons, such as wars, the search for better living conditions, or even natural disasters. For example, the migration of the Irish to the United States during the Great Famine in the 19th century had a lasting impact on American culture and economy. More recently, the Syrian refugee crisis has shown how migration can affect both regions of origin and destination.

Development

Duration: (70 - 75 minutes)

The Development stage is essential to allow students to apply and deepen the knowledge acquired about migration. Through playful and interactive activities, they will be able to explore different aspects and scenarios of migration, developing research, planning, empathy, and presentation skills. This stage aims to consolidate learning in a practical and engaging way, stimulating reflection and debate on a complex and current topic.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - The Great Penguin Journey

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop research, planning and presentation skills, as well as understanding the factors that influence both animal and human migrations.

- Description: In this activity, students will simulate the role of emperor penguins that migrate annually in search of more favorable conditions. Groups of up to 5 students will represent a penguin family. They must plan and justify the migration route, considering factors such as temperature, food availability, and safety.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Each group chooses a place of origin and a destination for their penguins.

• Research the chosen destinations, considering climate conditions and food availability.

• Create a migration map, justifying the chosen route.

• Present the project to the class, explaining the decisions made and the reasons for choosing the destination.

Activity 2 - The Human Migration Game

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand the challenges and opportunities of human migrations, promoting empathy and critical thinking.

- Description: Students, organized into groups, will play a board game created by the teacher. Each group will represent a community that decides to migrate due to a natural disaster. The game will simulate the challenges and benefits of migration, including decisions about the route, resources to take, and encounters with other communities.

- Instructions:

• Organize students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Distribute the game rules and necessary materials (board, dice, cards).

• Each group chooses a natural disaster that forces their community to migrate.

• Play the game, making strategic decisions that influence the success of the migration.

• At the end, discuss as a group the impact of the decisions made and what was learned about real migrations.

Activity 3 - Migration Drama

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Explore creatively and empathetically the experiences of migration, promoting the understanding of motivations and consequences.

- Description: In this activity, students will create and present a small drama that illustrates a historical or contemporary migration. Each group will choose a migratory context and represent the different aspects and challenges faced by migrants, including motivations, obstacles, and impacts.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Choose a migration context to research and dramatize.

• Create a script that includes the motivations, challenges, and impacts of migration.

• Rehearse and prepare the necessary settings for the presentation.

• Present the drama to the class, followed by a brief discussion about what was learned.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate learning, allowing students to articulate the knowledge acquired through practical activities. Discussing in groups helps to develop communication and argumentation skills, in addition to offering an opportunity for students to reflect on the complexities and implications of migrations. This stage also serves for the teacher to evaluate students' understanding of the topic and clarify any remaining doubts.

Group Discussion

To start the group discussion, the teacher may ask: 'What were the biggest challenges you faced when planning the migration of the penguins or during the human migration game? How do these challenges resemble or differ from the real challenges faced by human migrants?' This approach allows students to share their experiences and reflect on the complexities of migration movements in different contexts.

Key Questions

1. What are the main motivations that lead human or animal groups to migrate?

2. How can the impacts of migration differ in the long term for regions of origin and destination?

3. In what ways can migration influence the culture and economy of the involved places?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of the Conclusion stage is to ensure that students have consolidated the acquired knowledge, connecting practical activities with the theory studied. Additionally, it aims to reinforce the significance of the migration topic, not only from a historical perspective but also as a current and relevant phenomenon for understanding global society. This stage helps to close the learning cycle, ensuring that students leave the class with a clear and in-depth understanding of the topic.

Summary

To conclude, the teacher should summarize the main points discussed about migration, emphasizing the different motivations and impacts on the regions of origin and destination. It should recap the activities carried out, such as planning the migration of the penguins, the human migration game, and the migration drama, highlighting the lessons learned and the simulations that helped to visualize the real challenges faced by migrants.

Theory Connection

Today's lesson was designed to establish a bridge between the theory studied at home and the practices in the classroom, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical and playful scenarios. The proposed activities not only reinforced theoretical understanding but also encouraged empathy and understanding of the complexities involved in migration movements.

Closing

Finally, it is crucial to highlight the importance of studying migration. Understanding the reasons and impacts of migrations helps to develop a broader and more empathetic view of the world, preparing students to deal with cultural diversity and global challenges. This knowledge is fundamental for forming conscious and informed citizens.