Social Justice for Little Learners

Refugees and Immigration: “What is a Refugee?” by Elise Gravel

Grade Level: Grade Two

Topic: Refugees/Immigration

Book Title: “What is a Refugee?”

Author: Elise Gravel

Link to Purchase: https://a.co/d/2uuIIf5

Link for Online Read-Aloud : https://youtu.be/cIxZT_s8BcE?si=BCGZLqqdPnIFhTp-

Discussion Prompts/Questions:

  • Before Reading
    • “Who are refugees?”
    • “Why do they need to leave their country?”
    • “Are they always welcomed into their new country?”
  • During/After Reading
    • “How can you be welcoming to someone who is coming to a new school in a new country?”
    • “What are things that would be helpful to teach students who were new to our school and this country?”

Follow-Up Activity:

  • Have students create a collaborative experience to introduce a new student to the class. Use available technology to create a video presentation showing important places in the school, important people in the school, fun things that kids like to do at school…
  • With students, create a list of fun games that students in your class like to play at recess. How could they teach or introduce them to new students? Try teaching these activities to younger students (kindergarten-ish) to practice being welcoming and inclusive.

BC Core Competency Connections:

Personal and Social

  • Positive Personal and Cultural Identity
    • I am aware of myself as different from others.
  • Social Awareness and Responsibility
    • I am aware that other people can be different from me.
    • In familiar settings, I can interact with others and my surroundings respectfully.
    • I can identify when something is unfair to me or to others.

Thinking

  • Creative Thinking
    • I get ideas when I use my senses to explore.
  • Critical Thinking
    • I can explore with a purpose in mind and use what I learn.

Communication

  • Communicating
    • In familiar settings, I communicate with peers and adults.
    • I can understand and share basic information about topics that are important to me.
  • Collaborating
    • In contribute during group activities, cooperate with others, and listen respectfully to their ideas.

BC Curricular Connections:

  • Understand (Big Ideas):
    • Stories and other texts help us learn about ourselves and our families. (ELA 2)
    • Everyone has a unique story to share. (ELA 2)
    • Through listening and speaking, we connect with others and share our world. (ELA 2)
    • Local actions have global consequences, and global actions have local consequences. (SS 2)
    • Individuals have rights and responsibilities as global citizens, (SS 2)
  • Know (Content):
    • Diverse characteristics of communities and cultures in Canada and around the world. (SS 2)
    • Rights and responsibilities of individuals regionally and globally. (SS 2)
    • Cultural and social awareness, achieved by exploring self-identity, acknowledging cultural differences, honouring indigenous traditions. (Career Education 2)
  • Do (Curricular Competency):
    • Comprehend and connect (reading, listening, viewing)
      • Engage actively as listeners, viewers, and readers, as appropriate, to develop understanding of self, identity, and community. (ELA 2)
      • Demonstrate awareness of the role that story plays in personal, family, and community identity. (ELA 2)
      • Use personal experience and knowledge to connect to stories and other texts to make meaning. (ELA 2)
    • Create and communicate (writing, speaking, representing)
      • Exchange ideas and perspectives to build shared understanding. (ELA 2)
    • Recognize causes and consequences of events, decisions, or developments in their lives. (SS 2)
    • Explain why people’s beliefs, values, worldviews, experiences, and roles give them different perspectives on people, places, issues, or events. (SS 2)
    • Make value judgements about events, decisions, or actions, and suggest lessons that can be learned. (SS 2)
    • Share ideas, information, personal feelings, and knowledge with others. (Career Education 2)
    • Develop and demonstrate respectful behaviour when participating in activities with others. (Physical and Health Education 2)


FPPL Link:

  • Learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors.
  • Learning involves recognizing the consequences of one’s actions.
  • Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story.
  • Learning requires exploration of one’s identity.

BC ELF Link:

  • Early years spaces are inclusive.
  • Play is integral to well-being and learning.
  • Relationships are the context for well-being and learning.
  • Learning is holistic.

TFT Through-line Link:

  • Justice Seeking
  • Community Building

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