With forced displacement reaching historic levels, schools all over the world are welcoming increasing numbers of refugee children. Teachers are facing new challenges in making sense of forced displacement and its complexities. With refugees and migrants regularly making headlines in the media and the internet bustling with information on the topic, explaining the situation of refugees and migrants to primary and secondary school children has become part of many educators’ daily work.
In addition, training and guidance for teachers with refugees in their classrooms is not always based on best practice, and is not always easily available.
In this UNHCR Teachers’ Toolkit you can find free-of-charge and adaptable UNHCR teaching materials on refugees, asylum, migration and statelessness, and a section dedicated to professional development and guidance for primary and secondary school teachers on including refugee children in their classes.
- Words matter
- Facts and figures about refugees
- UNHCR media materials and reports
- Teaching materials
- Including refugees in your classroom
- Other teaching resources
Words matter
Understanding the terms refugees, migration and asylum begins with understanding a few basics. The word refugee is often used as a blanket term for people displaced by war, violence or persecution. But there are different categories of displaced people, each with specific needs.
Watch these explainer animations as a preparation for your lesson or training. Choose which sections you need, and download them for your own teaching resources.
Refugees
Refugees are people fleeing conflict or persecution.
Migrants
Migrants are people moving to another country for other reasons beyond conflict and persecution.
- Watch the animation
- Download the class discussion sheet
- Read UNHCR's explainer
- Watch UNHCR's video «Words Matter»
Internally displaced people
Internally displaced people are seeking safety in other parts of their country.
Asylum-seekers
Asylum-seekers are people seeking international protection from conflict and persecution.
Returnees
Returnees are people who have returned home after being displaced.
Stateless people
Stateless people do not have the nationality of any country.
Where do refugees come from?
Refugees come from countries all over the world. More than half come from Syria and Afghanistan and Somalia.
Where do refugees go?
Most refugees are in developing countries. They tend to stay in neighbouring countries.
Refugee rights
Refugees cannot be sent back to their country if this puts them in danger.
Who helps refugees?
UNHCR, governments and many other organizations help refugees. You can help too.
Facts and figures about refugees
Finding the right facts and figures about refugees and migrants can be a challenge for teachers. There is a plethora of information available on the internet from thousands of sources. However, the information provided is not always verifiable, complete or up-to-date.
UNHCR keeps detailed, up-to-date statistics and data on refugees, asylum-seekers, IDPs and stateless people. Here you will find a selection of downloads and media materials you may find useful for your lessons.
Basics
How many people are displaced?
More than 68 million people are displaced today. This is the highest number since the end of WWII. Find out more on this fact sheet.
Where do refugees come from?
More than two-thirds of the world's refugees come from just five countries. Find them on this map.
Where are refugees?
Almost 9 out of 10 refugees are in the developing world. Most are in neighbouring countries. Find the numbers on this map.
Eye-openers
More than 68 million people are displaced today. But what does such a large number really mean? Here are a few figures. Download the fact sheets for use in your classroom.
Case study about Rohingya refugees: how many are children, men or women?
About half of the world’s refugees are children who are often very vulnerable. They are five times more likely to be out of school. This puts them at risk of missing out on an education, which could affect them for the rest of their lives. Here are a few fact sheets about refugee children. Use them for your own information or for class debates in secondary education.
Two thirds of refugee children going to primary school do not make it to secondary school
UNHCR media materials and reports
If you want to read more about refugees, asylum and migration to prepare your lessons, you can read UNHCR’s main publications and on-line resources on refugees, asylum and migration. Some of these materials may also be used for research assignments for children in higher secondary education.
Global trends
UNHCR's reports contain all details on forced displacement in the world.
- Go to the Global Trends web page
- Download the latest Global Trends report in English
- Download the latest Mid-Year Trends reports in English
UNHCR Data Portal
UNHCR's facts and figures website on refugee emergencies. Click on the locators to view the latest maps, tables and graphics on refugee emergencies.
'Turn the tide' report
Refugee children are five times more likely to be out of school than the global average. To learn more about the situation of refugee children, read UNHCR's 'Turn the tide' report.
UNHCR multi-media
If you are looking for a compelling video, web article, photo report or other multi-media story on refugees, please visit UNHCR's multi-media channels.
- Go to UNHCR's Youtube channel
- Go to UNHCR's Media website
- Go to UNHCR's Facebook
- Go to UNHCR's Twitter
Teaching materials
Here you can find teaching materials about refugees, asylum, migration and statelessness for all age groups in primary and secondary education.
Click on the age category and find lesson plans, activity guides, videos and other materials to use in your class.
Including refugees in your classroom
With forced displacement at a record high since World War II, many teachers now have refugees or asylum-seekers in their classroom. Teaching newcomers often comes with specific needs relating to language acquisition and adaptation to a new culture and environment. Some refugee children may suffer from stress or trauma preventing them from participating fully in school activities, and requiring specific support.
Below you will find some professional guidance to support you
Effects of stress and trauma on children
Executive function is often compromised when children experience stress and trauma. This video by Harvard University 's Center on the Developing Child explains some challenges that children suffering from stress and trauma may experience.
- Watch the video by the Harvard Centre on the Developing Child
- Download the activity guide for 5-7 year olds
- Download the activity guide for 7-12 year olds
Successfully including children experiencing stress and trauma in your classroom
This guide provides guidance on including these children in your class and school.
- Download UNHCR's Guidance for teachers and schools
- Activity sheet: download the cards for the number matching activity
Understanding language acquisition
Guidance on how to optimise language learning environments for non-native speaking children.
Other teaching resources
Many organisations have created excellent teaching resources on refugees, asylum, migration and statelessness.
On this page you’ll find a curated selection of teaching materials from NGOs, governments and other organizations, which you can search by language and age group.