Immigration: Exploring Why People Move from Place to Place Anacapa Middle School Ventura, CA, USA

Lots of People are on the Move!  Since 1820, more than 65 million people have come to the United States.  Many people often move within the United States. Few of the parents in our classroom have lived in the house where they were born. Although some have moved more than others, most have moved several times during their lifetimes.

Look at the number of times this Washingtonian student’s parent has moved! Total times moved: 31 Total times moved out of state: 4 Total times moved out of country: 4 I was always worried about moving but after a few moves I wasn't worried anymore.  Slide by David, Nathan and Malvika

 In our investigation of immigration, we learned that people move for reasons called: push and pull factors.  Push factors are things that encourage people to leave a place.  Pull factors are thing that encourage people to move to a new place. Why do people move?

Push and Pull Factors

 In NB, Canada, California (USA), Seattle (USA), and Starye Dorogy and Grodno Belarus, we asked our parents/adult interviewees: 1. How many times they moved? 2. Why did s/he move? 3. What were his/her hopes and dreams? 4. Was s/he worried about the move? 5. In the end, have the moves fulfilled the person’s expectations? Exploring Immigration by Interviewing our Parents

Push and Pull Factors We Found  Cambellton, NB, Canada: A mom moved several times for many different reasons. She wanted to go to the university, to get a job, to have a better house, and to have a fresh start.

Parent Interview #1: He has moved 6 times. In his childhood his family lived in Russia, later they came to Belarus. When he was a teenager his family moved into a bigger apartment. Then he went to the Army and lived in the other region. After Army he entered the university in Minsk. When he graduated from the university, he came to work in Grodno. Parent Interview #2:  She moved just 4 times.  When she had finished school, she entered a university in the capital of our country (Minsk). Then she lived in Poland. After she had returned to Belarus, she worked in Minsk where she met her future husband. After wedding they moved to Grodno. From Slide by Victoria A Student Conducted 2 Interviews in Belarus

In Starye Dorogy, Minsk Belarus, a student conducted family interviews: 1 How many times did you move? 2 Why did you move? 3 What were his/her hopes and dreams? 4 Was s/he worried about the move? 5 In the end, have the moves fulfilled the person’s expectations? Mum 2 new habitation quiet neighbours noyes Dad 2 closer to work a lot of place noyes Sister 2 closer to friends a separate room noyes I am 1 closer to friends new friends noyes

The majority of students reported that their parents/guardians moved in hopes of finding a better life:  One student interviewed her grandmother about her grandfather who came across the Mexican border hoping to find a higher standard of living for his family.  Another students’ mother had moved 16 times. Ultimately she moved to California for her health.  Many students reported that their parents came to California in hopes of finding a good job. In Ventura, California, most parents were looking for a better life!

 Nearly 100% of respondents from Belarus, Canada, and the United States reported that their moves were good ones.  We concluded that if the moves hadn’t been good, the people would have kept on moving! Were the moves positive?

 Thank you to our iEarn friends who collaborated with us on the topic of immigration. We are grateful! Thank You!

 Happy Trails to You! The End

Frey, W., Fry, E., Goff, B., Melton, H., Staton, H., Todras, E., & Weiss, J. (2007). ¡Geografía Viva!: Regiones y habitantes - edición en español.. J. Bergez & J. Burner (Eds.). (D. Smalley, Trans.). Palo Alto, CA: Teacher’s Curriculum Institute. (Original work published in 2006). References