Middle School

This module explores the refugee experience through the lenses of migration, identity, and humanization. Students will investigate the historical and contemporary reasons why people are forced to leave their homes, examining economic, political, environmental, and social factors that contribute to displacement. Students will develop empathy and a deeper understanding of refugee lives through personal narratives, literature, media, and class discussions, moving beyond statistics and headlines. 

The module encourages critical thinking about how identity—cultural, national, religious, and personal—shapes the experiences of refugees and influences how they are perceived and treated by others. By engaging with diverse refugee stories, students will reflect on how individuals maintain, adapt, or redefine their identities in new and often challenging environments. 

 

Overarching Questions: 

• Why do people migrate? 

• How can we humanize refugees? 

• How does identity help us to understand the complexities of refugee life? 

 

Through these questions, students will gain insight into the broader implications of migration and displacement and consider their own role in fostering inclusive and compassionate communities.