This week, our classroom transformed into a bustling international expo as students unveiled the countries they had spent weeks designing and developing.
Each group became the leaders of their own nation, carefully crafting everything from government systems and economies to culture, geography, education, and quality of life. Their challenge was not simply to create a country—it was to create a country where people would want to live.
The classroom soon filled with pavilion displays, enthusiastic presentations, and persuasive speeches as each group proudly showcased what made their nation unique. During the expo, students visited one another’s pavilions, explored the different countries that had been created, and learned about the opportunities and challenges each nation offered. Country representatives worked hard to highlight their strengths and explain why their nation would be a great place to call home.
But the real challenge came next.
After the expo visits, we gathered together in a large circle and transformed our classroom into a migration forum. Every student was assigned a secret migrant identity. Some became doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, teenagers, retirees, or parents with young children. With their new identities in hand, students considered what mattered most to them and began questioning the countries represented around the circle.
The forum quickly became a lively exercise in critical thinking, communication, and persuasion. Country representatives used persuasive speaking techniques to attract migrants to their nation, while migrants asked thoughtful and sometimes challenging questions. Students had to think on their feet, defend their decisions, and respond to counterarguments using evidence from their country’s design. As the discussions continued, countries debated one another’s claims, highlighted their own advantages, and worked to convince migrants that they offered the best future.
Would a doctor choose a nation with excellent healthcare and research opportunities? Would parents prioritize safety and education? Would a teenager be drawn to entertainment, sports, and opportunities for young people? Students soon discovered that different people value different things when deciding where to live.
At the end of each round, migrants made one of the most important decisions of all: choosing which country’s passport they would adopt. They shared their reasons, explaining which nation best aligned with their identity’s needs and aspirations. These decisions sparked meaningful discussions about migration, quality of life, and the factors that influence where people choose to settle.
Beyond the excitement and friendly competition, students demonstrated many of the skills we have been developing throughout the year. They communicated confidently, listened actively, thought critically, collaborated effectively, and used persuasive language to support their ideas.
Most importantly, they gained a deeper understanding of migration by stepping into the shoes of both migrants and government leaders.
Through creativity, debate, and thoughtful decision-making, students explored a complex global issue in an engaging and memorable way.
The Migration Expo was a wonderful celebration of inquiry, imagination, and student agency—and a reminder that sometimes the best way to understand the world is to build one of your own.
Your homeroom teacher,
Ms. Pam
