Unit plan for ages 9-11 in Language & Literature: Refugee Children Recount their Experiences
Teaching Tools, 9 February 2007
© UNHCR/B.Press
Thousands of children from Sudan, unaccompanied minors, trekked from their country to Ethiopia and onwards to Kenya in their search for safety and shelter.
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).
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.
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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". |
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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. |
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CONTENT |
TEACHING METHODS/LEARNING STRATEGIES |
- What are adjectives?
- Using adjectives
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The Activity Sheet: Adjectives provides exercises to strengthen the students' facility in using adjectives. |
RESOURCES |
Activity Sheet: Adjectives |
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CONTENT |
TEACHING METHODS/LEARNING STRATEGIES |
Creative writing |
Students compose their own stories based on the lives of two animals native to their country. |
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