We have been educating ourselves about the refugee crisis

We have been learning what it means to be a refugee

We have learned that many refugees are displaced children

With no home to return to and no family

Through the power of books

Combined with resources from The Red Cross and Kazzum Arts

We have been learning about kindness and empathy

And trying to understand how refugees might feel

We have been thinking about what we can do

To help refugee children in the UK

And around the world

We have investigated where refugees come from and why

William has made charts and graphs showing the numbers of refugees

How many are in different countries and how many have been able to return home

We loved Refugee Week and it has inspired us to learn more and do more

Here are some of the books we have read

And some of the activities we have done

As part of our learning at home

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This is my absolute favourite book ever. This was first read to me in My last year at primary school, in 1987. I have read it many many times over the last 34 years. Tonight I finished reading it to my almost ten year old twins, the three of us crying. This is just the best book I have ever read, telling the story of The Balicki Family, polish children journeying from war torn Warsaw to Switzerland in the hope of finding their parents. Ruth, Edek, Bronia and their new friend Jan made a journey not unique during and after World War Two. Travelling from place to place, stealing scraps of food to survive, sleeping in bombed cellars or out in the woods, relying on the kindness of strangers, always on the run from soldiers. This is a story of great courage and determination and strength. It is a story that reflects the stories of many millions of refugee children the world over. The book is based upon true fact and it really affects me deeply every time I read it, even after all these long years. Reading it with my own children and for them to declare it their most favourite book ever. Books are magic and this is one of the best. As we look ahead to #refugeeweek2020 this book has given us lots to talk about #thesilversword #ianserraillier #refugeeweek #refugeeweekuk #refugeeweekuk20 #childrenspicturebooks📚 #childrensbooks #childrenspicturebooks #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #bookstagram #kidsbookswelove #picturebooks #picturebook #picturebooksofinstagram #booksaremagic #booklove #raisingreaders

A post shared by Family Blogger UK 😊Jennie (@edspire) on Jun 13, 2020 at 1:48pm PDT

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Tomorrow is the start of #refugeeweek2020 We will be reading lots of books and having lots of conversations around kindness and helping others and I will be trying to help my children understand why there are so many refugees around the world. The older children have just finished reading The Silver Sword about the journey of a Polish refugee family during the Second World War. With the younger two I am starting with The Suitcase by @chris.naylor.ballesteros. A weary stranger arrives one day with only a suitcase, everyone is full of questions. The stranger is asked what is in his suitcase and he tells the people a teacup, a table, a wooden chair and a little kitchen in a wooden cabin. His home. The others do not believe him and as he sleeps they break into the suitcase to find a broken tea cup and a photograph of the stranger’s home. The others have to decide what to do. They work together while the stranger sleeps to show a fine example of feeling sorry for what they did, showing kindness to a stranger and helping them to feel better. Sometimes all we can do is be kind. We can reach out and try to help others. Try to be welcoming to new people. Try to be friendly and always be kind. This is a lovely story for little people to get them thinking about kindness and empathy and talking about how we treat people in need, people different from us, people new to us. It sparks lots of tall about how others might feel, how we know what is right and what is wrong, how our actions might make others feel. A brilliant book to get our little ones talking and thinking about kindness. #thesuitcase @nosycrow #refugeeweek #refugeeweekuk #refugeeweekuk20 #smallacts #bekind

A post shared by Family Blogger UK 😊Jennie (@edspire) on Jun 14, 2020 at 7:46am PDT

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Today we have started our #refugeeweek2020 work by rereading and discussing #thesuitcase by @chris.naylor.ballesteros published by @nosycrow We used the discussion prompts in a free activity pack that you can download from Nosy Crow to accompany the book. After reading and talking I asked the children to think about what it would be like having to leave our home. They drew pictures of their favourite parts of our home and garden. Esther and William then drew the things they would pack into a small suitcase if they were leaving. I love the things that they chose to pack and the reasons that they have for taking them. We have read lots of refugee stories and information about refugee week and we will be doing activities each day to develop our understanding of the refugee crisis. We will be thinking a lot about kindness and empathy and we will be imagining the world we would like to live in. What people would be like, how we treat others and protect people and the planet. We have had a very productive, emotional start to our week and have already learned so much. #refugeeweek2020 #refugeeweek #refugeestories #refugeeswelcome #imagine #simpleacts #bekind #kindness #homeed #homeeducation #homeeducationuk #homelearning #learningtogether

A post shared by Family Blogger UK 😊Jennie (@edspire) on Jun 15, 2020 at 6:53am PDT

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Tonight we have started reading The Boy at the Back of the Class by @onjalirauf We are two chapters in and we are hooked! It is such a lovely readaloud to share with older children. Esther and William will be 10 next month. Alongside reading this book we are learning about empathy and understanding with @britishredcross This evening we talked about what it means to understand, how we can build empathy. We explored how understanding others can be a kind act and we reflected on how empathy can create a kinder world. We had a wonderful discussion using the prompts from The Red Cross. We made a mind map about what it means to understand and we created an empathy tree that helped us think more about empathy, kindness and understanding. A really positive end to our day and a great start to our #refugeeweek2020 learning. #refugeeweek #refugeeswelcome #refugeeweekuk #theboyatthebackoftheclass @hachettekids #refugeestories #theredcross #britishredcross #redcrossrefugeesupport

A post shared by Family Blogger UK 😊Jennie (@edspire) on Jun 15, 2020 at 1:27pm PDT

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Today we read The Journey Home by @frann.pg published by @pavilionchildrens As I began reading Esther said, ‘Mummy, this story is about refugees. They are animals instead of humans but they still have to leave their homes and make a scary journey in search of a safe place to be.’ She is absolutely right. The Journey Home is a refugee story, it is also a very sad environmental story and a warning of what might happen in our world, in our lifetime, if we do not take action. This book is an emotional call to action on behalf of polar bears and panda bears, orangutans and elephants. Animals whose habitats are being destroyed, who are being relentlessly hunted. Animals that need our help before it is too late and then join the dodo on his island of extinction, never able to return home. My children aged just 3 to nearly 10 all adore this book and take something from it with every read. This is a great book to read with little ones this #refugeeweek to help them understand having to leave a place because it is not safe to stay there, my older children question why people are often more willing to help animals than they are humans who find themselves in a similar situation. This is a book that I think can start some brilliant conversations and spark children’s creativity and determination to do something to make a difference, to make the world, our world, a better and safer place for all who live here #refugeeweek2020 #refugeeweek2020 @refugeeweekuk #refugeestories #refugeeswelcome #raisingactivists #raisingreaders #thejourneyhome

A post shared by Family Blogger UK 😊Jennie (@edspire) on Jun 16, 2020 at 3:41pm PDT

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Today we have been playing with pebbles ahead of reading Lubna and Pebble for #refugeeweek2020 Edie and I collected these special pebbles at the beach. Today we examined them and talked about their size and their shape. We described how they look and how they feel. I made a puzzle for Edie where she had to match a stone to the correct outline. She found this really easy. What she found hard was filling cut out shapes wjth pebbles choosing carefully where to position each pebble to fill the shape. Lots of lovely language while we played. At the end we chose a pebble each to draw a face on to keep with us as a special friend this #refugeeweek as we learn more about Lubna and her special pebble. @oupchildrens @refugeeweekuk #imagine #simpleacts #lubnaandpebble #refugeeweekuk #refugeestories #refugeeswelcome #bookishplay #preschoolplay #preschoolathome #preschoolactivities #bookstagram #bookinspiredplay #playfullearning #oupchildrens #childrensbooks #childrenspicturebooks📚 #picturebooks #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #kidsbookswelove #booksforkids #booksforchildren #picturebooksofinstagram #booklove #raisingreaders #littlebookworm

A post shared by Family Blogger UK 😊Jennie (@edspire) on Jun 17, 2020 at 9:50am PDT

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We have been reading lots of wonderful books this week for #refugeeweek2020 but I think this is the one we have connected with the most. Lubna and Pebble by @wendymeddour and @danielegneus @oupchildrens Lubna is a refugee, forced to leave her home as it is no longer safe because of war. Lubna and her father leave everything to flee to safety. Lubna has only a Stone, Pebble, that she found on the beach before arriving at the World of Tents. Pebble is Lubna’s best friend, always listening, always smiling, always there. Pebble gives Lubna courage and companionship. Comfort. When winter comes her daddy builds Pebble a shoe box bed for warmth. A new lost boy arrives. Lubna and Pebble make friends with the sad, lost, frightened boy. When Lubna and her father leave the camp for a new home, Lubna leaves Pebble with the boy, Amir. A true act of kindness, of friendship, of sacrifice. Lubna does not need the stone anymore and so she gives it to Amir as a symbol of their friendship to give him the courage, comfort and hope that she relied on for so long. This is such a beautiful book and I am only touching the tip of the iceberg of what can be taken from this stunningly illustrated heartbreaking but heartwarming story about the power of friendship. All my children have engaged with this book and we have all cried lots of tears. The children now have their own pebble friends and have made them shoebox houses. This is such a special book for children of all ages. One we will treasure for always and read to remind us of why friendship and kindness matter. #refugeeweek #refugees #refugeestories #refugeeswelcome #lubnaandpebble #powerfulwords #powerfulpictures #picturebooksofinstagram #childrensbooks #childrensbookstagram #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #specialbook #booklove #bookstagram #readaloud #readaloudfamily #raisingreaders

A post shared by Family Blogger UK 😊Jennie (@edspire) on Jun 19, 2020 at 5:08am PDT

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While reading Lubna and Pebble we have been completing a book study that we found on @teacherspayteachers The study asked lots of questions about the story and got us to look really closely at the illustrations. It started discussions around refugees, empathy, kindness, friendship, special objects. We thought a lot about Lubna and asked the questions we would like to ask about her. Where is she from? Where is her mother? What happened to her brothers? Do Lubna and Amir speak the same language? Does Amir have any family? Where is Lubna’s new home? Delving deep into this story made us emotional and at several points we were crying as we talked. This story has truly touched us. William worries for Lubna without Pebble x we talked a lot about sacrifice and the things we might do for others. We are half way though the book study and are looking forward to doing some comparisons between the characters in this story and the children in The Silver Sword. #bookstudy #lubnaandpebble #thesilversword @danielegneus @wendymeddour @oupchildrens #refugeeweek2020 #refugeeweek #refugeeswelcome #refugeestories @refugeeweekuk #childrensbooks #booktalk #childrensbookstagram #kidsbookstagram #kidsbookswelove #booklove #bookishlove #bookish #booksforkids #booksforchildren #homeeducation #homeeducationuk #learningtogether

A post shared by Family Blogger UK 😊Jennie (@edspire) on Jun 19, 2020 at 7:49am PDT

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WORLD REFUGEE DAY. “Refugees didn’t just escape a place. They had to escape a thousand memories until they’d put enough time and distance between them and their misery to wake to a better day.” Nadia Hashimi. This week we have been learning a lot about refugee children and what it means to be a refugee. We have talked a lot about kindness, empathy and understanding. We have discussed courage and fear, hope and terror. We have tried to imagine what it might be like to be forced to leave your home, to make a dangerous journey to try and find somewhere new, somewhere safe. We have learned about the big impact of #simpleacts and the power of kindness and friendship. These are some of the books we have been reading this #refugeeweek They have had a huge impression us and we have cried many tears as we have gotten to know the characters in these books and tried to understand their stories and the millions of #refugeestories they represent #picturebooksarepowerful #booksaremagic #refugeeweek2020 #refugeeweekuk @refugeeweekuk #refugeeswelcome #powerfulstories #powerofbooks #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #bookswelove #bookish #bookstagram #kidsbookstagram #raisingreaders #littlebookworm #picturebooksofinstagram #booklove

A post shared by Family Blogger UK 😊Jennie (@edspire) on Jun 20, 2020 at 5:11am PDT

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Esther, William and I have been reading some beautiful books today and thinking about empathy and kindness. We watched an animated poem from @kazzumarts called Help Them Feel At Home. It tells the story of a young refugee named Sana and a toy dinosaur named Dino. It tells of their difficult journey to find safety in the UK. After watching the poem we read it together and discussed what the poem was telling us about Sana and Dino. We talked about how many children arrive in the UK and join a new school. Like Ahmet in The Boy At The Back of the Class, which we are currently reading. We talked about how it can be difficult for the children because may not speak English or understand what school is like. We tried to think how we might make a new person feel welcome, how we could reach out to them and be a good friend to them. We listed welcoming actions and the qualities that make a good friend. We wrote short poems about friendship and we learned about what children need to help them feel safe and happy. We used Every Child A Song to learn about children’s rights and the UNCRC. We had such a wonderful afternoon reading and discussing and learning together. I am so proud of my big kids. They have really worked hard this week to learn about refugees and why kindness and empathy are so important for all.

A post shared by Family Blogger UK 😊Jennie (@edspire) on Jun 20, 2020 at 12:34pm PDT

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Every Child A Song by Nicola Davies and Marc Martin is the perfect book for the end of our refugee week. A reminder to us all to protect the rights of all children. A celebration of compassion, kindness and the joy of childhood. The illustrations are stunning and the lyrical prose a joy to readaloud. This would make a beautiful new baby or baptism gift. My children loved learning about the rights of children and thinking about what all children want and need to be happy and safe. We had a very interesting talk about what makes us feel safe and what we can do to show kindness to others, our friends and also to children we do not know. It brought us back to the theme of #imagine and #simpleacts and the the @kazzumarts activities we have worked through this #refugeeweek We have learned about welcoming new children, reaching out to others, showing empathy and also about the needs and rights of all children, everywhere. Children deserve and need love, shelter and protection. They should be nourished, cherished and celebrated. All children need a sense of belonging, a home to call their own. Children deserve to be listened to, to be heard. ‘Even amongst storm and change and danger, every song must be heard above the noise and chaos of the world.’ #everychildasong This is a beautiful book, an important book that deserves a place in every place where children are x

A post shared by Family Blogger UK 😊Jennie (@edspire) on Jun 20, 2020 at 11:54pm PDT

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The big kids and I have been boys learning about refugees and migration for the last week and of course the little ones have heard many of our discussions. Whenever we are learning something new, talking about something sensitive, we always start with a book. My Name is not Refugee by Katie Milner is perfect for talking to young children about what it means to be a refugee and why and how people become refugees. It is hard for our littlest ones to understand that many children are forced from their homes, have to leave everything behind and make dangerous journeys in search of somewhere new to live, somewhere safe. This book tells the story of a refugee child and asks questions that help our littlest readers begin to develop empathy and understanding. This is a gentle but incredibly powerful picture book. @abagforkatie @bucketlistbooks The small child is told that he must leave, say goodbye to friends and only take what he can carry. What would you take? The author asks the reader directly and this has really helped guide our discussions and understanding. The book talks of the journey, lots of walking and long times waiting. As a parent I recognise the parent in this book trying to make a bad situation sound not so frightening to their child. In this story we journey alongside the child and are left with the beginning of an idea how hard life is for refugee children, the bad things they see and the fear they feel. We begin to see their courage and resilience. We begin to think, what can we do? What can we do to help and show we care. If you are looking for a way to talk to your young children about refugees, this book is a wonderful way to start. #mynameisnotrefugee #refugeeweek #refugeeweek2020 #worldrefugeeday #refugeeswelcome #refugeestories #bookstagram #kidsbooks #booksforkids #booksforchildren #kidsbookstagram #childrensbookstagram #picturebooks #childrenspicturebooks #picturebooksofinstagram #raisingreaders #lethemread #letthemreadbooks #readaloud #readaloudfamily #booktalk #booklove

A post shared by Family Blogger UK 😊Jennie (@edspire) on Jun 22, 2020 at 12:05am PDT

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A very special story time snack this evening. We are loving The Boy at the Back of the Class and Esther and William devoured their pomegranate. In the book the pomegranate reminds Ahmet of his home in Syria. There are some lovely moments of the story featuring this fruit. Pomegranates are also special to me. I remember eating pomegranate seeds straight from the fruit when we lived in Cyprus. I remember eating them on a balcony watching bats over a swimming pool. The power of a pomegranate. This was a very special story time for all of us tonight. @onjalirauf @pippa_curnick_illustrator @hachettekids #theboyatthebackoftheclass #refugeeweek #refugeestories #bedtimestory #storytime #childrenschapterbooks #childrensbooks #childrensliterature #sensorystorytime #raisingreaders #kidsbookswelove #kidsbookstagram #bookstagram #readaloudfamily #pomegranate #readingtogether #letthemread #timetoread #littlebookworm

A post shared by Family Blogger UK 😊Jennie (@edspire) on Jun 23, 2020 at 2:08pm PDT