Being a Refugee
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Being a Refugee
These activities use Dorrith Sim’s testimony and her book ‘In my Pocket’ to develop language skills and cultural awareness.
Curriculum for Excellence seeks to develop children and young people as global citizens and equip them with the skills, values and attributes to thrive in, and contribute to, their local, national and global community, now and in the future.
The learner:
- is optimistic
- is resilient, creative and enterprising
- communicates confidently
- is motivated to take action
- is committed to human rights and living sustainably
- contributes to community life
- thinks critically and recognises bias
- is caring, and respectful of others
- values equality and diversity
- develops informed, ethical views of complex issues
- appreciates Scotland’s diverse culture, heritage and place in the world
- evaluates scientific, technological and environmental issues
- can make connections and link learning to real-life issues
- understands different beliefs and cultures
- believes in making a difference
- recognises the interdependence of people and nature
- participates in democratic processes.
Ask the pupils to think about some of the following challenges the country may face in welcoming newcomers to this country.
- Where are the immigrants going to live?
- What if the immigrants don’t speak English, how will they learn and who will teach them?
- What can the government do to help new immigrants adjust to life here?
- Aside from economic considerations, ask students how we can address the intolerance some people have toward newcomers to this country.
- Remind students that the U. K. is a nation of immigrants and the many contributions immigrants make.
- Refugee Children are still arriving into the UK What’s happening now.
- What is a Refugee?
- Who where the Kinder?
Links
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4200000/newsid_4206600/4206651.stm
http://www.kindertransport.org/history04_Britain.htm
http://www2.warnerbros.com/intothearmsofstrangers/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23045494
Plan a trip by train from Vienna to Glasgow via London. To make the task more challenging find an alternative to the Channel Tunnel and include times and costs. The following website is a good place to start – http://www.thetrainline.com/
Map and annotate the journeys of some of the other people whose voices have been gathered at http://www.gatheringthevoices.com. (You will need a world map!)
There are many examples of the sort of things some Kindertransport children brought with them at http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/search?query=kindertransport&items_per_page=10. Categorise them into things which would have been useful and things which were brought for other reasons. Consider the importance these everyday objects would have held for the children when they were far from home.
Have a look at http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resources/the-1940s-house and compare the similarities and differences of the type of house Gretl may have lived in with pupils’ own homes today.
Look at the winning entries in Holocaust Memorial Day Trust 2014 art competition at http://drawinginspiration.hmd.org.uk/gallery . Be inspired to create your own Kindertransport artwork.
There are lesson plans and activities to suit all ages and abilities at http://www.hmd.org.uk/content/for-educators
Worksheets and interactive activities on issues relating to Kindertransport at http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ and http://www.movinghere.org.uk/schools/Holocaust/the_holocaust.htm
An American study guide to accompany the Academy Award Winning documentary film ‘Into The Arms Of Strangers’ (2010, rated PG) available at http://www2.warnerbros.com/intothearmsofstrangers . A great resource for literacy based activities. Why not make a short film of your own?
For English and creative writing
- Diary Letters
- Plays
- Newspaper articles
- Poetry
- Short story
- Speech
- Question and answer session
- Using photographs as stimuli for writing
- Comprehension
- Using the same or similar categories so pupils can tell their own or their families stories
- Journeys
- Songs
For Social Science Subjects
- Timeline
- Maps
- Historical research on the origins of the Second World War
- Learning about the Holocaust
- Learning about the USSR and its role in the Second World War
- Compare and Contrast testimonies
- Creating Power Points and Investigations
- Analysing and discussing the use and value of primary sources
- Finding out about some of the places mentioned in the testimonies
- Producing presentations
Citizenship
- Working with stereotypes and preconceptions
- Discussing prejudice
- Refugees – Then and now
- Political Asylum
Immigration
- Attitudes to difference
- Coping with change
- Coping with loss
- Remembering
- The role of education
Art and Design
- Design a memorial Drawing and painting stimulated by particular stories
Science and Mathematics
- Finding out more about the scientists and doctors who have provided testimony or are mentioned by others.
Active Learning
- Stepping Stones
- Footprints
- Turning points
- Survival tactics
