Introducing young children to Refugee Week

Refugee Week takes place from 19 to 25 June 2023 and the theme this year is Compassion.

Refugee Week resources

Sessions plans: Discussions around refugees can be difficult for young children to understand. These session plans use the book Lily and the Polar Bears by Jion Sheibani to support early years children to begin to understand more about refugees in an accessible and age appropriate way.

Activity ideas: Introduce the theme of Refugee Week 2023 by trying out some of the early years activities linked to the Refugee Week Simple Acts.

Aims

• To begin to learn about refugees through use of a picture book, simple activities and relevant discussions
• To support teaching for Refugee Week
• To celebrate diversity
• To encourage children to think about making a connection with someone new

Curriculum links

• These sessions plans and activity ideas link to the EYFS curriculum in the areas of personal, social and emotional development, communication and language, literacy and understanding the world

Books for early years children to support teaching about refugees

• Lily and the Polar Bears by Jion Sheibani
• The Suitcase by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
• My Name is Not Refugee by Kate Milner
• Everybody's Welcome by Patricia Hegarty, illustrated by Greg Abbott
• The Colour of Home by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Karin Littlewood

Refugee Week resources for schools

Find resources and events for primary and secondary schools on our Refugee Week 2023 page.