Explore the plight of refugees, and how our communities can support those fleeing difficult circumstances, with Patrice Aggs and Joe Brady’s stunning graphic novel, No Refuge.
This PDF contains a range of cross-curricular activities to try in UKS2, all based on the book, including:
- think-pair-share: what is a refugee?
- freeze-frames
- cover exploration & inference
- panel-to-prose rewrite
- role on the wall
What is No Refuge about?
No Refuge is the second graphic novel following siblings Hannah, Bea, and their little brother, Dom. They have been forced to flee their home during a civil war.
They are desperately trying to reach their father, but the path through a now unfriendly land is fraught with danger.
Why teach it?
No Refuge is told through the eyes of the children. Despite the bleak circumstances, it has strong themes of kindness, solidarity and resilience, which will resonate with readers.
The artwork powerfully portrays the huge emotional toll the journey takes on the family. It also highlights their hope and determination to reach safety.
Aggs’ illustrations add a further layer of nuance to the story. They echo the fear and uncertainty faced by its protagonists.
The graphic novel format allows the visual storytelling to make complex issues such as displacement, empathy and global conflicts understandable and engaging for readers.
The story lends itself beautifully to helping pupils develop empathy for and an understanding of refugees as people, not just news headlines.
In a world where political tensions are rising and democracy seems increasingly insecure, it is ever more important that we give children opportunities to strengthen their skills of critical thinking. We must allow them to discuss complicated ideas in a safe and guided way.
There are also rich opportunities to develop the key skills of inference, prediction, and interpretation, with strong curriculum links to English, PSHE, and global citizenship.
Jo Cummins is an experienced primary school teacher and English leader with a passion for children’s books and mental health awareness. She currently works for a specialist educational provision in Hampshire in a teaching and advisory role. Browse more resources for Refugee Week.
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