Resources

'Find someone who...'

Aim: Ice breaker and general introduction to some of the concepts around travelling and forced migration

Method:

Divide the children into groups of at least 8
Allow them 10 minutes to follow the instructions on the sheet below
Allow them a further 10 minutes to compare and discuss their results as a group
Discuss the findings and their implications in a whole class discussion

Discussion Points:

Everyone has made a journey of some kind or another in their life, and so has personal experience to draw on
Did you find out anything about a friend that you didn't know before?
What are the differences between long journeys and shorter ones?
Talk about the feelings of excitement they may have felt, and also any apprehension
Did anyone's journey involve moving house? Discuss their experiences and the feelings involved
Sometimes people go on a journey for fun – other times it is because they have to. Has this happened to anyone? Do they know of any stories where this has happened?
Are there any squares that everyone could fill in? This allows for the emphasis that despite our different skills, personalities and experiences, there are some things which as human beings we all have in common.
The questions in the sheets can, of course, be adapted to suit the class, and the discussion should be allowed to flow.
Key points to be emphasised include:
- We all have experiences of travelling and have experienced some of the emotions involved to a greater or lesser degree. This serves as a good basis for developing empathy.
- Some people move because they choose to, others because they have to. This serves as a good basis for a future discussion on what it means to be a refugee ('A refugee is someone who had to leave their country because their life was in danger and their government was not able or willing to protect them')
- Despite our differences, there are things we share as human beings
There are a variety of activities that can follow on from this: for example:
- mapping and writing about the children's journeys
- exploring further the reasons why people move
- 'What would you take?' activity
- Read a story about refugees, or a personal testimony

Find Someone Who ...

likes to swim	can speak more than one language	has travelled in an aeroplane
has a brother	doesn't like chocolate	has been to another country
doesn't like being afraid	has family in another country	can hold their breath for 30 seconds

Ask your friends if they can do these things.
Put one name in each square.
Try to fill in all the squares.
Try to have a different name in each square.
Compare your answers with the other people in your group.

Download the above worksheet in pdf format