Autumn 1

Year 5 learnt what it means to be a refugee, exploring the reasons why people may be forced to leave their homes and the challenges they can face when starting a new life. To deepen their understanding, the children read My Name Is Not Refugee by Kate Milner, which supported thoughtful discussions about identity, kindness, and belonging. Through this work, the children showed great compassion and curiosity, reflecting on how they can be welcoming, respectful, and courageous advocates for others in their own community.

Autumn 2

Next, the children discussed a range of different scenarios to help them understand how far some people may have travelled to escape difficult and dangerous situations. These discussions encouraged the children to think deeply about the journeys refugees may face and the emotions they might experience along the way. Together, we created a Wall of Compassion, where the children shared thoughtful words to describe how they felt and expressed their hopes for refugees’ futures. This activity highlighted the children’s empathy, kindness, and growing awareness of how they can show care and compassion for others.