Hadzi (centre, red shorts) and Maksum (grey shorts) with some of their friends. UNHCR helped the two boys obtain Serbian nationality. © UNHCR/G.Popovic
Teaching About Refugees
 
Unit plan for ages 9-11 in Human Rights and Refugees: To Be a Refugee

UNIT OBJECTIVES

Knowledge

To understand
- a) the definition of a refugee
- b) the concept of human equality
- c) the possible sources of stereotypes, prejudice, intolerance, racism and discrimination.

Values

  • To foster open-mindedness and respect for others.
  • To encourage in the students empathy for refugees who are similar to themselves but who have lost their homes, belongings and homelands.

Skills

  • To be able to identify similarities between people of different nationalities.
  • To be able to detect biases, stereotypes, and egocentric attitudes in oneself and in others.


A series of posters using Lego figures (1994-1997): Spot the refugee. © UNHCR

LESSON 1: Spot the Refugee - Part 1 and LESSON 2: Spot the Refugee - Part 2

CONTENT

TEACHING METHODS/LEARNING STRATEGIES

Stereotyping, Prejudice and Refugees

The common human heritage shared by all humans alike, whether refugees or not.

Refugees are the same as everyone else except they have left their countries, driven out by a well-founded fear of persecution or because of the dangers of violent conflict.

Brainstorming session: Students are asked to give their impressions of who is a refugee.

Students consider actual Lego figures and study the poster of Lego people, looking for similarities and differences between the figures, and inventing ways to give each Lego person an identity.

Students 'spot the refugee' from amongst the Lego figures. Teacher uses the "spotting" exercise to explain stereotyping and prejudice.

Teacher provides a definition of term refugee.

Questions: Students answer in writing. Answers used as stimulus for discussion about refugee experience.

RESOURCES

Lego poster entitled Spot the Refugee.

Geography unit for ages 9-11 can provide useful materials to convey how it is that people become refugees.


Sri Lankan refugee girl in Santiago in Chile at school with her classmates. © UNHCR/D.Guerrero

LESSON 3: How Does It Feel? - Part 1 and LESSON 4: How Does It Feel? - Part 2

CONTENT

TEACHING METHODS/LEARNING STRATEGIES

Discrimination against refugees: Empathy with the plight of refugees.

Overcoming loneliness and isolation.

Group work: Students discuss how they would feel in each of the following scenarios:

  • as a new student who has just joined their class in the middle of the school year
  • as a child of their age who has accidentally been separated from the family while holidaying in a foreign land
  • having just heard the bad news that the breadwinner of the family no longer has a job

Questions for discussion: Students assess the poster to gauge its message. Teacher uses the questions to stimulate discussion about acceptance and welcome of refugees.

RESOURCES

UNHCR Lego poster How Does It Feel?




Lego Posters
A series of posters using Lego figures stressing the definition of refugee, the need for tolerance and a welcoming attitude.

Unit plan for ages 9-11 in Geography: Refugees - who, where and why?
This module of lessons teaches the concepts of migration, emigration, immigration, refugee and asylum.

Unit plan for ages 9-11 in Civic Education: Refugee children
Students are introduced to the idea that people's basic needs are considered rights. They learn about the abnormal and trying conditions in which refugee children live and endure.

Unit plan for ages 9-11 in History: Refugees - A distinct group of people
Studying history can provide an opportunity to examine refugee outflows and displacement.

1951 Refugee Convention: Questions & Answers
The most frequently asked questions about this key treaty. [PDF, 1.6Mb]
Estimated Number of Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Other of Concern to UNHCR,
1st Jan 2007
Asia 14,910,900
Africa 9,752,600
Europe 3,426,700
Latin America & Caribbean 3,542,500
Northern America 1,143,100
Oceania 85,700
TOTAL 32,861,500

Protecting Refugees – Questions & Answers
Answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about refugees themselves and how the agency attempts to help them. [PDF, 3Mb]

Gallery of Prominent Refugees
Featuring refugees or former refugees who have achieved special status within a community because of their achievements, or because they have overcome hardship to build a new life.

Pictorial history of UNHCR
More than 50 turbulent years in pictures – UNHCR's role in refugee crises and the struggle for survival of one of the world's most vulnerable groups.

Related News Stories:

Related websites
(external links, new window):

United Nations - Global teaching and learning project - Cyberschoolbus
(external link)

ABC, teaching human rights
Practical activities for primary and secondary schools
(external link)