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Dear Friend,
As summer days sail towards a new school year, teachers around the country are already planning for the fall. As a former teacher, I loved creating experiential lessons that engaged students with the world around them.
Today, I work with USCRI in Pennsylvania, where the Erie field office serves refugee and immigrant families who have overcome so much to restart their lives in the United States. USCRI Erie partners with local teachers who are building refugee stories into their lessons. When young people learn about refugees, they make big leaps of understanding between their own neighbors and world events. I loved when our Erie back to school students created a countdown calendar for their first day- the excitement was palpable.
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One local class of fourth graders spends part of the year reading about children in Sudan and discussing the refugee experience. When the unit ends, the students don't just close the book and move on. They raise funds to support USCRI and refugee families rebuilding their lives in communities like Erie. It’s a powerful way to develop empathy, global awareness, and a deeper appreciation for human dignity.
For teachers, refugee stories offer a practical way to spark discussion about history, geography, culture, and current events while introducing children to people whose experiences may be very different from their own.
If you're looking for ways to bring these conversations into your classroom, USCRI has gathered a collection of our favorite books, lesson ideas, and activities for students of various ages.
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The fourth graders who support USCRI may not remember every detail of their lesson years from now. But they will remember learning about refugee experiences and how they were able to help. That's a lesson worth carrying forward.
With good wishes for the upcoming school year,
Gretchen
Gretchen Fairley
USCRI Erie Development Officer
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U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
2231 Crystal Drive
Suite 350
Arlington, VA 22202
United States
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