Fourth Grade Midwest Unit
Lesson 2
Title: Migration to the Great Lakes States
Grade Level: Fourth
Unit of Study: Midwest Region
GLCE: G2.0.1: Describe ways in which the United States can be divided into different regions.
G4.0.1: Use a case study or story about migration within or to the United States to identify push and pull factors that influenced the migration.
Abstract: The students will be able to identify the reasons people migrated to the Great Lakes states.
Key Concepts: migration, transportation, assembly line
Sequence of Activities: Activity One:
Teacher Information: The Erie Canal provided the opportunity for migration to the Midwest region by making transportation easier. People and goods could now travel more quickly to this region. 1. Lead a discussion about push-pull factors (see below) and how they influence people to immigrate to a new land or area. Have them brainstorm reasons why early settlers might have come to the Midwest. 2. Ask students to brainstorm early forms of transportation to the areas west of the Appalachian Mountains. Discuss the challenges of traveling west during the horse and cart days of transportation. Ask students what man-made innovation was created to make transportation to the Midwest more accessible. (The Erie Canal) a. View the video segments on United Streaming: “Why Build the Erie Canal?” and “Construction of the Erie Canal” to clarify the process and importance of the Erie Canal. b. Ask students to create two images of travels heading toward the Midwest using www.blabberize.com . The first traveler should comment on the trials of traveling west through the treacherous terrain before the Erie Canal. The second traveler should comment about using the Erie Canal to more easily access the Midwest/Great Lakes region. Both should include a comment about why they are moving to that area (This activity can also be done with student drawings and written speech bubbles.).
Activity Two: Teacher Information: Henry Ford’s $5 per day salary brought many workers to the Midwest region. His technological advances allowed him to pay his workers well and Fourth Grade Midwest Unit thus attract more people to the region (or more specifically, Michigan), creating a pull factor. See the Henry Ford background information document for more details. 1. Discuss and research the technology (assembly line) that was adopted in the Great Lakes states that created many jobs. Use Henry Ford as a case study. 2. Using The Mitten: Model T and internet links provided (see below), students should research Henry Ford and his innovations that led to massive migrations to the Midwest. Their findings can be presented in a variety of ways: written report, individual or group presentations, designing employment ads that people might have seen during the height of Henry Ford’s hiring. 3. Review the influence of push-pull factors (see below) in motivating people to immigrate. Relate this to the case study of Henry Ford and how the appeal of jobs on the assembly served to pull people to the Great Lakes states.
Connections:
English Language Arts: Report on Henry Ford
Instructional Resources:
Student Resources:
Sites: http://cybersleuth-kids.com/sleuth/Science/Inventors/Henry_Ford/index.htm www.thehenryford.com
http://www.michiganhistorymagazine.com/kids/pdfs/mittenfeb04.pdf www.edcopublishing.com – LAPs program has Henry Ford connections
Books: Erie Trail West - Janie Lynn Panagopoulos (www.jlpanagopoulos.com )
We’ll Race you Henry
Teacher Resources: Google Earth to show Erie Canal, Ford plants, etc. with satellite images Fourth Grade Midwest Unit
Teacher Background Information:
From http://geography.about.com/od/geographyglossaryp/g/ggpushpull.htm
Push-Pull Factors Definition: The push factor involves a force which acts to drive people away from a place and the pull factor is what draws them to a new location. Also Known As: push factor, pull factor Examples: Several push factors contributed to me wanting to leave my village and move to Cairo but, by far, the pull factor of the that amazing city was what made me decide to move.
From http://www.shuntington.k12.ny.us/schools/middle/Scheiber/EighthGradeWebPage/PushA ndPullFactors.html:
Why Immigrate?
1. Plentiful and cheap land in the West (until the frontier was closed) 2. Jobs and opportunities 3. Religious freedom 4. Political freedom 5. Irish-potato famine
Push and Pull factors:
1. Push Factors: Conditions that drive people to leave their homes Examples: Land scarce in home country Political and/or religious persecution Revolutions Poverty 2. Pull Factors: Conditions that attract people to a new area Examples: Promise of freedom (religious and political) Hope for a new life Industry Fourth Grade Midwest Unit
Jobs Land “Streets paved with gold”