Exploring Refugees through picture books

Teaching about refugees

The use of the picture book can be underrated as a resource once students are beyond Year 2 or 3. In my mind picture books are useful as teaching and learning tools even in Secondary School and beyond.

Currently Year 6 students are inquiring into the life of  refugees.

The following resource is designed around picture books suitable for this inquiry and age group.

Picture Book Evaluation

The Picture Book evaluation page has been structured for students to consider the purpose of the book and to try and consider from the perspective of the refugee.

The students examine each picture book for the following elements.

Who are the main characters? Why are they leaving their country?What tells you this in the story? What events forcedeach individual toflee their homeland? Consider the linguistic features – imagery, emotive language, personification, symbols, exaggeration, puns and sarcasm.

This simple resource sheet is one way to analyse a picture book.

This PPT file explains how to analyse a picture book.

Teacher Resources

Teaching about refugees and migration through picture books

Global Education wiki

Resource Kit – Refugee 

Useful resources – Refugee Council

Picture Book list

Feature Picture Book – Tree: From Little Things Grow

The story of TREE: From little things big things grow is beautifully written by Danny Parker and illustrated by Matt Ottley.

20130831-101021.jpg
This tree was photographed in Tasmania.
Information about Tasmanian forestry.

TEACHING IDEAS
Find teaching notes using the QR code below.
This story book is perfect for the Units of Inquiry related to
• Environment
• Life cycle
• Seasons
• Sustainability

Additionally TREE reflects the Learner Profile of BALANCED.

20130831-095727.jpg