Lesson plans for ages 9-11 in History: Refugees in History

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One of the first things religious refugees from Hungary took up after finding safety in Austria was a return to church going.

© UNHCR/D.Whitney

INTRODUCTION

For many citizens in countries such as Canada, the United States, Australia or South Africa, their ancestry in their respective countries would only go back a few generations. If their genealogy were traced back sufficiently far enough, they would find an ancestor who made the decision to leave the country of his/her birthplace in search of a better life else where.

This module of lessons aims to help young students realise the causes of migration are varied, that while some people move to another country in search of a better life, others move to another country to escape persecution, human rights violation or violent conflict. Students are asked to identify migrants (and possibly refugees) among their ancestors.