2. When Did the War Begin in Syria?

Episode 26 Teacher Resource 12th September 2017 Syrian Refugees

1. Discuss the Syrian Refugee Family story with another student. Students will develop a deeper understanding of why people become refugees, the Record the main points of your discussion. challenges they face and the importance of 2. When did the war begin in Syria? belonging and feeling welcome in a new 3. According to the Global Peace Index, Syria is the world’s most home. ______country. 4. How many Syrian kids have been settled in Australia in the past year?

5. How do Sara and her family feel living in Australia? Civics and Citizenship – Year 6 6. The school has a special curriculum for refugees. True or false? The obligations citizens may consider they have beyond their own national borders as 7. What does Youssef miss about his home country? active and informed global citizens 8. What does he hope Syria will be like in the future? 9. How did the BTN story make you feel? Civics and Citizenship – Year 5 & 6 Identify over-generalised 10. What do you think would be one of the most difficult things about statements in relation moving to another country? to civics and citizenship topics and issues

HASS – Year 5 & 6 Develop appropriate questions to guide an inquiry about people, events, developments, Before any analysis or discussion about refugees: places, systems and challenges  Think about the students with refugee experience at your school and the sensitivities you will need.  Establish with your students some key definitions and stereotypes.

After watching the BTN Syrian Refugees story, respond to the following questions:

- What did you SEE in this video? - What do you THINK about what you saw in this video? - What does this video make your WONDER? - What did you LEARN from this story? - How did this story make you FEEL?

Students will develop an understanding of what a refugee is and write a class definition. Respond to the following as a class recording responses on a large sheet of paper.

o Who is a refugee? (Explain to students the ways in which a refugee and an asylum seeker differ from a migrant).

©ABC 2017 o Where do refugees come from and why?

Ask students to watch the following BTN stories that relate to Syrian refugees and then answer the following questions.

BTN Kids in Syria

1. Describe the city of Aleppo in Syria. 2. How long has the war been going on in Syria? 3. What happened to Abbas? 4. Because of the fighting, many Syrian people have now fled the country as______. 5. Retell Hamsa’s story. 6. Where does he live now? 7. How many Syrians does the United Nations say need help with things like food, water and education? 8. How many people have left Syria as refugees?

BTN Syria Kid

1. What city does Ibrahim live in? 2. What has been happening in Syria recently? 3. How many brothers and sisters does Ibrahim have? 4. How does Ibrahim and his family survive without electricity? 5. In your own words describe the situation that Ibrahim is in. 6. What is Ibrahim’s dream? 7. How is Ibrahim’s education different to yours in Australia? Compare and contrast. 8. How does playing soccer help Ibrahim deal with living in a warzone?

BTN Refugee Intake

1. Which country are Wali and his family from? 2. About how many refugees are there around the world who need help? 3. Which organisation created a special refugee treaty in 1951? 4. What was the aim of the treaty? 5. Australia is not a signatory to the treaty. True or false? 6. How do the countries support the UN’s refugee program? 7. How many refugees will Australia take in this year? 8. The Government says it will take in an extra ______Syrian refugees. 9. How have people responded to the Government’s decision?

©ABC 2017 Asylum Seekers and Refugees People don’t plan to become asylum seekers or refugees. Usually circumstances beyond their control force them to flee. Discuss reasons why people might leave their homeland. Ask them to think of three reasons and write them on post-it notes. Collate student responses and discuss.

Ask students to imagine they had to flee their home in a hurry, leaving their family and belongings to move to another country. Think about where they would go, how they would travel and what resources they would need. Students can present their ideas as a story or create a picture that describes the experience.

Watch the video that tells the story of Vietnamese refugee Cuc Lam and answer the following questions:  Why did Cuc leave Vietnam?  Retell the story of Cuc’s journey.  What did Cuc bring in her suitcase?  Why did she sell her wedding ring?  What does Cuc’s red suitcase symbolise?

To take the activity further, students can find out which countries asylum seekers, refugees and migrants come from that make their way to Australia. On a world map, students:  Label and shade these countries  Label two countries that border each country  Choose one country and mark the route people would take to get from there to Australia  Which countries would they pass through on their journey to Australia?

As a class, talk about your feelings of home and belonging to a community. Think about the diversity in backgrounds, experiences, interests and age of people in your school community. Broaden your discussion and talk about your local community and Australia as a whole.

Explain to students that developing positive relationships can help build a sense of belonging and inclusion. Provide a range of opportunities for students to share their personal stories to create an atmosphere of cultural respect and acknowledgement of diversity.

o What do you like about being part of your school community? o What makes you feel safe in your school community? o How do you welcome new students to your school community? o What are some of your school’s values? o Describe some of your school’s traditions. Why are they important? o What are the advantages of belonging to a culturally diverse community?

BTN - Syria Kid http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3720534.htm

BTN – Refugee Intake http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s4309018.htm

©ABC 2017