TeachShare Seller Spotlight: Martha of Geography and Math Made Easy

Martha's Journey as an Educator

Tell us about your educator journey to where you are now.

My public school education primarily consisted of a basic curriculum based on textbooks and worksheets. I found school uninteresting because I am a kinesthetic, hands-on learner, which made my educational experience challenging and somewhat dull. It wasn't until my senior year of high school that I discovered my passion for education and the desire to make the classroom engaging and enjoyable. My senior English teacher, Mrs. Thomas, showed me that this was possible. She taught us about poetry using the lyrics from the Simon and Garfunkel song Bridge Over Troubled Water and had us read The Scarlet Letter, adding real-life relevance to the material.

I earned my Bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1995 and my Master's in counseling in 1997. Initially, my goal was to teach elementary school students, but by the time I graduated in August, the fall semester had already begun, and most teaching positions had been filled. After applying and interviewing for a few positions that became available due to an increase in student enrollment following Labor Day, I was offered a position as a 7th-grade geography teacher. Although I had never considered teaching above 5th grade, I accepted the role and discovered my love for working with middle school students and my passion for geography.

Martha's Featured Resource: Geography: Push and Pull Factors on Human Migration

About the Resource

This lesson is designed to be easily understood by 5th graders while also being engaging for students up to 12th grade. It focuses on the causes and effects of migration through the lens of push and pull factors. Students will learn to identify how factors such as war, famine, and lack of employment (push factors) influence migration. Additionally, they will explore reasons why people choose to move to different cities, states, and countries (pull factors), such as better education and more job opportunities.

What Students Will Learn

• Identify the push and pull factors that drive human migration.
• Analyze real-world migration patterns and their social, economic, and political impacts.
• Differentiate between voluntary and forced migration through case studies.
• Participate in interactive learning through discussions, mapping activities, and a migration game.
• Cultivate global awareness and empathy by exploring migration stories and trends.

Perfect for Grades: Middle School, High School

Subject Area: Social Studies

What inspired you to create this resource?

Understanding migration can be a challenging topic for students. I recommend that teachers start by discussing the differences between a migrant, an immigrant, and an emigrant at the beginning of the lesson. In my experience, my students struggled with this concept, and as I adjusted my lessons each year, I developed a resource that proved effective. Once I implemented this resource, my students finally grasped the concepts and understood the push and pull factors of migration.

What's one tip for teachers using this resource effectively in their classrooms?

Be patient with your students as they learn this concept. Provide guidance, as this concept can be challenging for some students to understand.

What Teachers are saying about this resource

⭐️ "This resource is now part of my unit every year! It is a great activity." ~ Candice S.

⭐️ "This was a good resource. My students found it engaging." ~ Simply Core Learning

Geography: Push and Pull Factors on Human Migration (Includes lesson, PP & Game)

By Geography & Math Made Easy

$6.99

More Resources from Martha

Looking for more engaging geography resources? Check out these complementary materials:

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1. A Safe Place to Land: Push & Pull Factors of Human Migration

Explore the complex factors that drive human migration with this comprehensive resource designed for middle and high school students. Through engaging activities, students will analyze push and pull factors, examine real-world migration patterns, and develop critical thinking skills while building empathy for migrants' experiences.

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2. Going Somewhere? Introduction to Immigration and Migration

This introductory resource helps students understand the fundamentals of human migration through interactive lessons, mapping activities, and discussion prompts. Perfect for middle school geography and social studies classes!

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3. Geography: Push and Pull Factors on Human Migration (GAME ONLY)

Engage students with this interactive migration game that simulates real-world decision-making processes. Students will experience firsthand how push and pull factors influence migration choices while developing critical thinking and empathy.

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4. Human Population Density & Map Skills (Middle School Geography)

Help students visualize and understand population distribution with this comprehensive resource focusing on population density, map skills, and demographic analysis. Includes engaging activities, colorful maps, and critical thinking exercises.

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5. China Geography: One Child, Two Child, Three Child or More – Population Policies

Explore China's evolving population policies and their impact on demographics, society, and the economy. This thought-provoking resource encourages students to analyze complex policy decisions and their long-term consequences.

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6. Understanding Population Trends: A Study of Population Density

Dive into global population trends with this comprehensive resource that examines population density, growth patterns, and demographic transitions. Students will analyze data, interpret maps, and understand the factors influencing population distribution worldwide.

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7. Africa's Population Boom: A Study of Population Density

Examine Africa's rapid population growth and its implications for development, resources, and society. This engaging resource helps students understand demographic trends, analyze population pyramids, and consider the challenges and opportunities of Africa's population boom.

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8. Population Explosion: A Study of Population Growth and Decline

Explore the causes and consequences of population growth and decline around the world with this comprehensive resource. Students will analyze demographic transitions, examine case studies, and consider the social, economic, and environmental impacts of changing population patterns.

Martha's Best Practices and Insights for Educators

What's your go-to teaching strategy or classroom hack that always works?

I love using interactive notebooks in my classroom. They provide a structured way for students to organize information while allowing for creativity and personalization. Plus, they're great for review before tests!

How do you balance creativity and practicality when designing resources?

I always start with the learning objectives and standards, then think about how to make the content engaging and accessible. I try to include a mix of visual elements, hands-on activities, and critical thinking tasks to appeal to different learning styles while ensuring the material is substantive and aligned with curriculum requirements.

What's one of your favorite ways to keep students engaged in learning?

Incorporating games and friendly competition into lessons always boosts engagement. Whether it's a simple review game or a more complex simulation like my migration game, students love the interactive element and often don't even realize how much they're learning!

What's one quote from a colleague, experience, student, book, movie, or TV show that surprisingly taught you a great lesson about teaching?

A student once told me, 'I didn't know geography could be fun until your class.' That simple statement reminded me that how we present content matters just as much as what we teach. It inspired me to keep finding creative ways to make complex topics accessible and enjoyable.

What's the funniest or most unexpected thing that has ever happened in your classroom?

During a lesson on natural disasters, I was dramatically describing how earthquakes work when the custodian dropped something heavy in the hallway, making a huge boom and shaking the classroom door. The timing was so perfect that the students thought I had somehow planned it as a special effect! I just went with it and pretended it was all part of my amazing teaching powers.

Making Geography and Math Accessible for All Students

Geography and Math Made Easy is transforming the way educators bring interactive, engaging, and accessible learning experiences into their classrooms. With a focus on real-world application and student-centered learning, their resources help teachers simplify complex topics, spark curiosity, and foster deeper understanding—all while saving valuable planning time.

Looking for more high-quality, teacher-created resources? TeachShare is home to over 80,000 classroom-ready materials, crafted by educators to save you time, engage students, and simplify lesson planning. From interactive lessons to hands-on activities, you'll find resources designed to enhance instruction, promote critical thinking, and support student success across all subjects. Explore Geography and Math Made Easy's resources and discover more educator-created materials at TeachShare.com! 🚀