Resources
Petar's Song by Pratima Mitchel
ISBN 0711220786
The following Key Stage 2 activity is supplementary to the activities described in A Welcome Experience by Carolyn Herbert - a mainstream PSHCE project for Key Stages 1 and 2 that addresses the refugee experience.
Petar's Song tells the story of a family caught up in civil conflict. The mother and three children (Petar, Gregor and Anna) escape over the mountains to safety and become refugees in the neighbouring country. The father stays behind. The mother and children attempt to build a new life while the father's fate remains unknown.
Pupils will need to spend time discussing the events in the story and the emotions engendered. They should be encouraged to empathise with the children in the story.
The activity is to write a letter to the father. Pupils choose to write as one of the children - Petar, Gregor or Anna. To give structure to the letter, the template has three clearly marked paragraphs. Pupils are asked to use the first two paragraphs to tell their father something about their new life.
They could write about the following:
- their new school
- their new friends
- the place where they are living
- what it is like to live in a different country
- how they are managing with a new language
- news about their mother
In the third paragraph they ask for news from home.
The following example was written by a Year 4 EAL pupil.
Dear Dad,
I am going to a new school. I have made new friends. One of my friends speaks the same language as me. I am enjoying my new school.
Mr. Danovic has let us stay in his shed. He set us a table and some beds to sleep on. He has made it warm and comfortable.
Dad, are you all right? What is happening to the farm? Is my favourite cow all right?
Love from,
Anna
For further information about A Welcome Experience, contact Carolyn Herbert on 020 7641 2096 or email cherbert@westminster.gov.uk
Download the A Welcome Experience order form