Migration Across America: The Great Migration --Cultural Change Infographic

Migration Across America: The Great Migration Cultural Change Infographic | Research + Creative History Project | Grades 5–8

Bring The Great Migration to life with an engaging, student-centered research and infographic project! In this no-prep lesson, students investigate the movement of approximately six million Black Americans from the rural South to cities in the North, Midwest, and West between 1916 and 1970.

Students explore why people moved, where they went, the challenges they encountered, and how this enormous movement of people transformed American cities and culture. Their research culminates in the creation of a Cultural Change Infographic that combines historical information, visual communication, mapping, and analysis.

Students Will Explore
- Why millions of African Americans left the rural South
- Segregation, racial violence, limited rights, and economic opportunities
- Factory jobs and other opportunities that attracted migrants
- Migration to cities such as Chicago, Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles
- The role of railroads and family connections in migration
- Growth of vibrant Black communities
- The Harlem Renaissance
- Jazz, blues, art, and literature
- Changes to American politics, labor, and the fight for civil rights
- Discrimination, crowded housing, and challenges migrants encountered after relocating
- The lasting cultural influence of the Great Migration today

What’s Included
- Teacher Directions
- Great Migration Overview
- Mini Research Questions
- 5-Step Group Activity
- Cultural Change Infographic project directions
- Student research pages exploring migration and cultural change
- Infographic planning organizer
- Blank Cultural Change Infographic template
- Color and Black & White Versions of Student Pages
- Online Research Resources
- Optional Reflection

Why Teachers Love It
✓ No prep — print and teach
✓ Combines history, research, mapping, visual design, and critical thinking
✓ Helps students understand both the causes and consequences of migration
✓ Goes beyond dates and facts to examine how migration can transform culture
✓ Includes structured research and planning support before students create
✓ Incorporates the Harlem Renaissance, music, art, literature, cities, and civil rights
✓ Includes a ready-to-use blank infographic template
✓ Includes both color and printer-friendly black & white student pages
✓ Works well for collaborative groups, partners, or independent study
✓ Easily adaptable for different schedules and student needs

Perfect For
- Grades 5–8
- U.S. History
- African American History
- The Great Migration
- American migration and immigration units
- Harlem Renaissance connections
- Social Studies research projects
- Project-Based Learning
- Cross-curricular history and ELA activities
- Enrichment
- Sub plans
- Homeschool instruction

Part of the Migration Across America Series
This resource is part of the Migration Across America series, which explores major movements of people throughout American history through engaging research and hands-on projects.
Throughout the series, students investigate why people moved, where they went, what they experienced, and how migration changed American communities, culture, and history.

Designed to Fit Your Classroom
Every classroom is different. Teachers are encouraged to adapt, modify, shorten, extend, or differentiate this resource to best meet the needs of their students, curriculum, available class time, and instructional goals.

Migration Across America: The Great Migration — Cultural Change Infographic gives students an engaging way to see the Great Migration not simply as the movement of millions of people, but as a migration that helped reshape American cities and transform American culture.