One activity that could be used to teach push and pull factors of early migration to middle school students is a role-playing game.

1. Divide the students into small groups and assign each group a specific time period and location of early migration (e.g. the Great Migration of African Americans in the early 20th century, the Irish Potato Famine in the mid-19th century, etc.).

2. Provide each group with a set of push and pull factor cards. Push factors could include things like war, famine, religious persecution, and economic hardship, while pull factors could include things like job opportunities, religious freedom, and political stability.

3. Instruct each group to discuss and decide which push and pull factors were most influential in their assigned migration event. They should also consider the specific circumstances and challenges faced by the migrants during that time period.

4. Once the groups have made their decisions, have them create a short skit or role-play scenario that demonstrates the push and pull factors and the experiences of the migrants. They can use the push and pull factor cards as prompts for their scenes.

5. After each group has performed their skit, facilitate a class discussion to compare and contrast the different push and pull factors and the impact they had on the migrants. Encourage students to think critically about the similarities and differences between the various migration events.

This activity allows students to actively engage with the concept of push and pull factors by putting themselves in the shoes of early migrants. It also encourages collaboration and critical thinking as they analyze and discuss the factors that influenced migration during different time periods.