Phil Nast, retired middle school teacher and freelance writer

A 2014 UN paper, World at War: UNHCR Global Trends 2014, reported that one in every 122 people in the world is either a refugee, internally displaced, or seeking asylum. In Syria alone, nearly 8 million have been displaced and 4 million are refugees. These lessons and resources provide background in the displacement of populations as a result of conflict in the Middle East.

Lesson Plans:

• Unit Plan For Ages 12-14 In Civic Education: Refugee Teenagers In five lessons, students in grades 6-8 gain insight into the refugee experience of children and teens.
• Understanding Migration: Curriculum Resources for the Classroom (Revised Edition) ) examines the reasons large groups of people have found themselves moving from place to place and the effects of migration. Grade 6-12 resources include a PowerPoint presentation, activities, worksheets, and case studies. The four-section unit can by downloaded as a whole ( PDF, 8 MB, 162 pgs.) or in sections. Aligned to TEKS and National Geography Education Standards.
• Teaching about Refugees — Curriculum Units & Lessons Sample lesson plans and resources for high school teachers to use in designing a unit about refugees and forced displacement.
• From Baghdad To Tucson, With Love: The Story Of A Young Iraqi Refugee Students in grades 9-12 read an article by a young Iraqi living in the US and discuss Iraqi perspectives of the US and American perspectives of Iraq.
• A World Not Ours Students in grades 9-12 interpret the text of Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its relevance to displaced Palestinians.
• Exercise in Conflict Resolution ( PDF, 406 KB, 8 pgs.) Students in grades 9-12 work in teams of three to write a position paper on the role of religion in the political sphere.
• Colonial Legacy and Conflicts in the Middle East ( PDF, 335 KB, 4 pgs.) Students in grades 9-12 examine the economic and political motives of European powers and their effects on the social, cultural, and religious structure of the Middle East.
• Media Construction of the Middle East: A Digital Media Literacy Curriculum In 4 units and 22 lessons, students in grades 9-12 examine the stereotyping of Arab people, the Arab/Israeli conflict, the war in Iraq, and militant Muslim movements. Requires free registration.

Interactives & Infographics:

• 10 Infographics That Show The Insane Scale Of The Global Displacement Crisis
• Which Countries Are Under the Most Strain in the European Migration Crisis?
  Charts, maps, stories, and images.
• The Syrian Refugee Crisis, In 4 Maps And Charts
• Quick Facts: What You Need To Know About The Syria Crisis Maps, charts, and statistics.
• Refugee Relocation Plan A chart ranking European nations by number of refugees accepted.
• Seeking A Fair Distribution Of Refugees In Europe Maps, charts, and infographics.

Background Resources:

• Desperate Journeys Articles from Al Jazeera America.
• Exodus of Syrians Highlights Political Failure of the West Articles with links to related articles, maps, and charts.
• Backgrounder On Refugees from Syria ( PDF, 1.2 MB, 15 pgs.) As of October 2014.
• Impact of Immigration on Europe's Societies General introduction and country summaries.
• World At War: Global Refugee Trends Statistics, findings, and two cartograms showing global refugee trends.
• The Sea Route To Europe: The Mediterranean Passage In The Age Of Refugees
  ( PDF, 4.9 MB, 20 pgs.) An examination of maritime refugees.
• European Refugee Crisis Articles, background features, and opinions.
• Making 'Refugee Experience' Less Daunting This 1992 article reports how a refugee from Vietnam helped African refugees adjust to life in the U.S.

Video:

• Introduction To Migration (20:19)