Introduction

Basic Unit Information

Topics, Themes, & Issues

This unit addresses the themes of maintaining perseverance in the face of obstacles, the power of friendship, the power of shared experiences, and the way in which our experiences shape our identity.
The topic of refugee experiences stems from the nature of Kek's journey in Home of the Brave.
Click here for significance of topic themes and issues

Anchor Text

Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

Suggested Grade Level: 5th grade

NC ELA Standards

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

L.5.4 Determine and/or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 5 reading and content, choosing flexibly

from a range of strategies: context clues, word parts, word relationships, and reference materials.

L.5.5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language and nuances in word meanings.

a. Interpret figurative language, including similes and metaphors, in context.

b. Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs.

NC Content Area Standards

Social Studies

5.E.2 Understand that personal choices result in benefits or consequences.

5.C.1 Understand how increased diversity resulted from migration, settlement patterns and economic development in the United States.

Teaching Tolerance Social Justice Standards

ID.3-5.3 I know that all my group identities are part of who I am, but none of them fully describes me and this is true for other people too.

DI.3-5.7 I have accurate, respectful words to describe how I am similar to and different from people who share my identities and those who have other identities.

DI.3-5.8 I want to know more about other people’s lives and experiences, and I know how to ask questions respectfully and listen carefully and non-judgmentally

JU.3-5.12 I know when people are treated unfairly, and I can give examples of prejudice words, pictures and rules.

Initiating Inquiry for unit

Inquiry Project (for website)

Our inquiry project is based on the anchor text Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate. For our inquiry work, we researched refugee experiences and different challenges that they may encounter. The main topics that arose as we researched refugee experiences were mental health, policies, education, and the connections to teachers. This presentation presents research on the topic of refugee experiences, an inquiry based text set, and inclusive language that should be used when discussing refugees and their experiences.

The relevance of our inquiry about refugees and their experiences was founded on the current Syrian refugee crisis happening in the world today. In order to develop a holistic image of what refugees' pre, post, and after experiences of their journeys to the United States is like --- we examined current statistics and research about mental health, policies for earning refugee status, education enrollment, and why educators should consider this topic to be relevant to them. Considering these different aspects of the refugee experience, here are a few interesting facts that we discovered while researching our inquiry topic.

When thinking about inclusive language, our research suggested on using the term cultural bereavement which is the experience of the uprooted person, resulting from loss of social structure, cultural values and self-identity.
Many refugees experience post traumatic stress disorder, depression, and or anxiety after arriving in America due to different traumatic experiences. --- unfortunately, the U.S. has "a legal system that is not prepared to cope with mental illness."
The process to earn refugee status in the United States can take anywhere from 18 months to 3 years.
Currently, only 3 percent of refugees enroll in higher education programs and institutions.
People are being affected by today’s Syrian refugee crisis on a global scale. The Civil War that has been occurring in Syria since 2011 is forcing individuals to flee from their own homes, searching for safety.

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