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Refugee Stories

This Social Studies course will teach stories of refugees from around the world and throughout history, the reasons people have had to flee their homes, where they've gone, and the challenges that met them in their new lands.
Andrea Dalland, M.Ed, MLS
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(146)
Star Educator
Class

What's included

8 live meetings
4 in-class hours
Homework
1 hour per week. There will not be any homework assigned during this class, but students may wish to do further research or reading on their own. During some weeks, videos or articles will be posted for learners to explore on their own if they would like to learn more about the topic.

Class Experience

US Grade 3 - 6
This course will be a look into the lives of refugees. We will examine the reasons why various people around the world and at different periods of history have had to flee their homes. We'll discuss some of the challenges those people may have faced in their journey out of their homeland, and challenges faced in their new home.  We will also consider the perspectives of other stakeholder groups. For example, how might a local, native population feel about large numbers of refugees entering their home country or region? What challenges would the arrival of refugees present to local governments? 
Each week we will learn about a different story; sometimes that of an individual, sometimes that of a group, or sometimes we'll follow a particular reason for migrating, such as environmental refugees. Some may be the stories of famous people, others will be people you've never heard of before. All stories are connected by their shared experiences of having to flee their homes and make a new life in a new land.  
During each class, learners will be presented with facts and information about that week's individual or group, and discussion questions will help us consider the circumstances in greater depth. In some weeks, short video clips might be shown from YouTube which will help to add to our understanding of each refugee story, or will be posted in the class page for students to watch on their own time. Students will not need to access YouTube on their own, any videos shared will be done via teacher screen share. 

Week 1 - Albert Einstein (physicist)
Week 2 - The Irish Potato Famine
Week 3 - Yusra Mardini (Syrian Olympic swimmer)
Week 4 - WWII refugees (Anne Frank, Kinderstransport)
Week 5 - Environmental Migrants (impact of climate change)
Week 6- Russian invasion of Ukraine
Week 7 - The Dalai Lama
Week 8 - The "Lost Boys" of Sudan
Learning Goals
Through this course, students will gain knowledge about different global crises which have resulted in people having to flee their homes (for example, war, natural disaster, famine, etc.) We will discuss the challenges that arise for refugees and the reasons behind some of the prejudice or resistance they may meet from local populations, so as to consider multiple points of view. One primary aim of the class is to increase student understanding of the circumstances around why someone might need to leave their home, and to develop empathy for the challenges those people have faced. In turn, learners can develop a broader level of acceptance for those they encounter who may have different backgrounds or experiences, or who may seem like an "outsider."
learning goal

Syllabus

8 Lessons
over 8 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Albert Einstein (physicist)
 We will learn about the life and journey of Albert Einstein, the famous physicist who was a refugee due to the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany. 
30 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
The Irish Potato Famine
 This lesson will cover the Irish Potato Famine, which led to mass migration and displacement of the Irish people during the 19th century. 
30 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Yusra Mardini (Syrian Olympic swimmer)
 We will explore the story of Yusra Mardini, a Syrian refugee who fled the Syrian Civil War and went on to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics as part of the Refugee Olympic Team. 
30 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
WWII refugees (Anne Frank, Kinderstransport)
 This lesson will focus on the refugees of World War II, including the story of Anne Frank and the Kindertransport, a rescue effort that brought thousands of Jewish children to the United Kingdom from Nazi-occupied territories. 
30 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Parents should be aware that some topics may be upsetting or disturbing for learners and ensure that their child is emotionally mature enough for the content of the class, although each topic will be presented in an age-appropriate way. Some elements of the refugee story which students may find upsetting and which may be included in our discussions include war, famine, natural disasters, death, hardships in traveling from one place to another, disease, racism, and discrimination.
Supply List
Learners will not need any materials for this class unless they would like to take notes.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
  • Youtube
Joined July, 2022
5.0
146reviews
Star Educator
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
North Carolina Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
Master's Degree in Education from University of Missouri at Columbia
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Calvin College
I have twenty years of classroom teaching experience at the Upper Elementary. For my Bachelor's degree I minored in Social Studies and I have a Master's Degree in Literacy, Curriculum and Instruction. I am certified by the State of North Carolina to teach Social Studies from kindergarten through Grade 9. I have taught units on refugees/migration for three years in a classroom setting and have lived and traveled around the world. 

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Live Group Course
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$112

for 8 classes
1x per week, 8 weeks
30 min

Completed by 20 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-13
4-10 learners per class

This class is no longer offered
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