Fleeing the violence and horror of war is only the beginning of a long and arduous journey to build a new life in another country. This activity provides a fun and innovative approach to fostering an awareness of the struggles faced by refugees and asylum seekers. As students “juggle” food, accommodation, education and language they will develop empathy and understanding for the people who arrive in Canada seeking freedom and peace.
This game supports Social Studies concepts related to immigration, citizenship and diversity and builds empathy skills as students consider the impacts of trauma and poverty on mental health. The activity also provides a resource to help prepare a class to welcome refugee children into their school community. Discussions around language and learning can develop into student led support initiatives such as peer mentoring or posters with visual cues for essential words like bathroom.
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