Embedded Files
If you use this resource, please let me know by emailing school@shantytown.co.nz with the number of students and year groups who participated.
An excellent children's book by Michael Morpurgo, about refugees fleeing their war torn home with an Elephant by their side. A different perspective on WW2.
What does it mean to be a Refugee?
What does it mean to be a Refugee?
A refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.
A refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.
There are around 26 million refugees around the world at the moment! Half of these refugees are children. That is 13 million children who have been forced to leave their homes and may never be able to go back.
Of these 26 million refugees, nearly 7 million are living in refugee camps while the rest have managed to find another country to live in.
What would it be like to be a refugee?
A poem written by a 15 year old boy who had to flee from Syria.
A poem written by a 15 year old boy who had to flee from Syria.
Imagine having to leave your home and never being able to go back! Imagine losing people in your family to war! Imagine the fear of living with war around you and never knowing when the next bomb will hit or when soldiers will arrive!
Ukrainian women and children fleeing their homes.
Ukrainian women and children fleeing their homes.
Imagine having to leave your home, friends, and dad behind and travel for 30 hours to go to another country where you don't know anyone! New Zealand has promised to take 4000 refugees from Ukraine. Imagine if one of the children ended up coming to your school. What would you say to them? How do you think they would feel coming to your school, 17,000 kilometers away from their home?
Refugee Camp in Dadaab for Somalian refugees
Refugee Camp in Dadaab for Somalian refugees
Inside a Syrian refugee camp
Inside a Syrian refugee camp
Think of 3 questions you would ask a refugee?
Think of 3 questions you would ask a refugee?
My Name is Rez L3 Nov 2017.pdfUnfortunately, escaping war and moving to a new country is not the only struggle that refugees face. Most refugees that arrive in NZ do not speak any English and come from countries that are very different to NZ. They have to learn how to live in NZ.
Because they look different and sound different, many refugees get teased and bullied. Imagine how horrible that would be for them? Imagine going to school for the first time in New Zealand, having no friends, not being able to speak much English and then having other kids tease you!
Symbols of War
Since World War 1, the poppy has been the symbol of remembrance for all the soldiers who fought and died in WW1 and WW2. For Ukraine, the symbol of peace is the sunflower. All around the world, the sunflower is being used to show support for all those affected by the war in Ukraine and to promote peace.
The Poppy
The Poppy
Sunflowers
Sunflowers
Refugee Stories from School Journals
The Polish Refugee Children-SJ L2 Nov2016.pdfThe Polish Refugees
The Polish Refugees
There were between 40-60 million people forced to leave their homes during World War 2. Read the journey of a Polish refugee from WW2 that came to New Zealand.
Click here to listen to the story.
Additional Reading and Online Stories
The Boy at the Back of the Class
Years 5 +
Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour
Junior classes
My Name is not Refugee by Kate Milner
Junior classes
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Year 5 +
Further Information and Activities
New Zealand Refugees making a difference: read the story of one of these amazing refugees/legends who have been displaced and are now helping others.
Famous Refugees around the world: Research a famous refugee and create a slide or google drawing with some facts about their life. Don't forget to include where they came from and why they were refugees.
Refugees programme at Shantytown with MVEC
Refugees programme at Shantytown with MVEC
Marsden Valley Education Centre offers a Refugee programme at Shantytown that has been delivered numerous times with a variety of year groups since its creation.
The programme is suitable for Years 5-13 and is an opportunity for students to encounter the plight of refugees, comprehend turmoil and life threatening issues to gain understanding and empathy.
During the day, students in ‘family’ groups will face tough decision making situations, confront adversaries, evade rebels, build shelters, interpret maps and eventually cross the border into ‘Shantyonia’. This is more than a ‘hands on’ programme, it’s full immersion! Ideal as the introduction or conclusion to any study about refugees.
If you wish to book this programme, please contact us here at Shantytown.
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