Mexico to USA Migration Case Study | IGCSE Geography 0460 | Slides & Workbook

Description:
I teach IGCSE Geography at an international school in Southeast Asia. Mexico to USA is the migration case study that comes up most frequently in exam questions, but I found that most available resources covered it in a handful of slides with a basic push/pull table and a paragraph about the border wall. That’s not enough for a 7-mark DSE question.

I built this module to give students the data, the depth, and the multiple perspectives the exam requires. They analyse a 9-indicator migration dashboard, calculate remittance flows, compare three student answers against the mark scheme, study management strategies from both the US and Mexican sides of the border, and roleplay as different stakeholders. By the time they reach extended writing, they’re not guessing. They have the evidence. It’s ready to teach as-is or adapt to your context.

What makes this different from other Mexico-USA migration resources?

Most migration case studies focus exclusively on the US perspective. This module covers both sides: four USA strategies (border wall, H-2A visas, DACA, ICE deportation) and four Mexico strategies (INM, Plan Frontera Sur, National Guard, COMAR), plus three bilateral approaches (Remain in Mexico, USMCA, development cooperation). Each strategy includes specific data and evaluation. Students see migration management as a shared challenge, not a one-sided response.

Every activity has been classroom-tested. The scaffolding is built in. The full answer key is included. You open it, you teach it, you move on with your evening.

Teacher Slides (Google Slides, 38 slides)

Structured around a clear lesson flow: Starter Activities → Core Content (Context, Push/Pull Factors) → Extended Writing (Push Factors) → Core Content (Impacts, Remittances) → Core Content (Management: USA, Mexico, Bilateral) → Application Activities → Retrieval Practice.

Includes a data dashboard starter, demographic comparison table, 14-card push/pull sort, PEEL-structured extended writing with model answer, 10-card impact classification, remittance calculation with global comparison, mark scheme application with three levelled student answers, detailed strategy analysis for USA and Mexico (four strategies each with evidence and evaluation), three bilateral approaches, hot seat interview roleplay, “Migration Voices” five-perspective task, and retrieval activities including Stand Up/Sit Down, strategy matching, true/false, hidden word sequencing, and reversal questions. Full answer key included.

Student Workbook (Google Docs)

A proper workbook, not just a gapped handout. Covers the migration data dashboard, demographic comparison with paragraph writing task, push/pull factor sort, extended writing with scaffolding, impacts and remittance calculations with global comparison, and comprehensive management strategies for both countries plus bilateral cooperation.