There used to be an empty chair at the back of Mrs. Khan’s classroom, but on the third Tuesday of the school year a new kid fills it: nine-year-old Ahmet, a Syrian refugee.

The whole class is curious about this new boy–he doesn’t seem to smile, and he doesn’t talk much. But after learning that Ahmet fled a Very Real War and was separated from his family along the way, a determined group of his classmates bands together to concoct the Greatest Idea in the World–a magnificent plan to reunite Ahmet with his loved ones.

This accessible, kid-friendly story about the refugee crisis highlights the community-changing potential of standing as an ally and reminds readers that everyone deserves a place to call home.

Comprehensive independent learning contracts / response activities for The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf

Response activities incorporating

• higher order thinking skills,
• conscious communication and essential skills,
• tools for developing self and co-regulation skills,
• specifically designed to enhance the links between reading and writing and the development of key language skills.

We’ve even done the teaching for you – the children simply follow our QR codes for detailed guides on how to complete the learning activities. You’ll never hear “I don’t know how to do this” again!

 

Multiple class/teacher use – this licence is required for Modern and Flexible Learning environments, Syndicate and School orders.

Individual class/teacher use – this licence is suitable for individual class/teacher use. 

 

Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 9+

 

Themes explored include: empathy, friendship, kindness, prejudice, and the refugee experience.