Unit plan for ages 9-11 in Language & Literature: Refugee Children Recount their Experiences

Teaching and training materials

Unit plan for ages 9-11 in Language & Literature: Refugee Children Recount their Experiences
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9 February 2007

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UNHCR

Thousands of children from Sudan, unaccompanied minors, trekked from their country to Ethiopia and onwards to Kenya in their search for safety and shelter.

© UNHCR/B.Press

UNIT OBJECTIVES

Knowledge

To understand refugee children's feelings of not belonging
To understand the notion of community
To see the application of such feelings to individuals and groups in our own community

Skills

To perceive the meanings behind a simple story
To practise creative writing skills
To practise recognition and attractive use of adjectives

Values

To avoid stereotyping and excluding people from "our" group (The Party)
To appreciate the importance of cooperation (The deaf man and the blind man, Tit for Tat).

LESSONS 1 and 2: Refugee children tell their stories

CONTENT	TEACHING METHODS/LEARNING STRATEGIES
Two stories recounted by refugee children, "The deaf man and the blind man" and "The Party."	Introduction Students are asked to talk about the myths and legends, and fairy tales and fables they know. The teacher briefly tells the class about the refugee children at Kakuma refugee camp and that the stories in this unit are three of the stories recounted by the refugee children to a UNHCR worker. Development The story "The deaf man and the blind man" is read out aloud and through the accompanying questions, the students are led through a discussion about cooperation. The story "The Party" can also be read out aloud. It deals with the issue of stereotyping and exclusion.
RESOURCES
Sybella Wilkes, One day we had to run! (London, Evans Brothers, 1994), "The deaf man and the blind man", p. 42-43; "The party", p. 26-27. For background on Kakuma Camp, see Kakuma Refugee Camp - "the children's camp".

LESSON 3: A morality story

CONTENT	TEACHING METHODS/LEARNING STRATEGIES
Story "Tit for Tat"	The children read the story quietly to themselves and work through the questions individually. The class comes together to share and exchange their answers and ideas.
RESOURCES
Sybella Wilkes, One day we had to run! (London, Evans Brothers, 1994), "Tit for tat", p, 22-23.

LESSON 4: Adjectives

CONTENT	TEACHING METHODS/LEARNING STRATEGIES
What are adjectives? Using adjectives	The Activity Sheet: Adjectives provides exercises to strengthen the students' facility in using adjectives.
RESOURCES
Activity Sheet: Adjectives

LESSON 5: Story writing

CONTENT	TEACHING METHODS/LEARNING STRATEGIES
Creative writing	Students compose their own stories based on the lives of two animals native to their country.