Hello, everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're feeling good.

My name's Ms. Afzal and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

I'm looking forward to that because today we're gonna be exploring a subject that is very dear to me.

This subject is looking at refugees in art.

This subject is exploring refugee stories in art.

Our lesson is called "Families and migration: refugee stories in art" and it comes from the unit of work "Connections: home, space, and family." So I wonder how much you know about refugees, if you have that experience, if you know someone who has had that experience, and if you know of any artists working in representing refugee stories.

We'll be getting into that today.

If you're ready with some openness, enthusiasm, and empathy as well, we'll get started.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can create an artwork which shows empathy towards refugees.

We have some keywords in our lesson, let's go through them.

Refugee, migrate, and empathy.

What do these words mean? Well, a refugee is a person who's been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.

Migrate means to move from one country to another.

And empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.

Such an important quality.

Let's look out and listen out for these words.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Refugee, migrate, and empathy.

Our lesson is called "Families and migration: refugee stories in art" and it has two learning cycles.

First of all, "Addressing refugee and migration themes." And next, "Making empathetic artwork in response to refugees." Let's begin with "Addressing refugee and migration themes." Let's take a look at what some of the outcomes of this lesson might be.

Hope you're feeling inspired taking a look at these.

And just to say that in today's lesson I really encourage you all to have lots of that word we said, empathy, but also just kindness and tenderness towards yourself, especially if this is a theme that has affected you in your life or in the lives of those you are close to.

Many refugees don't just decide to leave their homes, they move because they have no other choice.

Can you think of any reasons that might force people into becoming refugees? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Refugees are seeking safety.

Perhaps that's something you said.

And some people face persecution because of their religion, sexuality, race, or opinions.

And they may end up, as we can see in this image, crossing the sea to seek safety.

Many put themselves in extreme danger trying to reach safety.

Many refugees are forced to leave everything behind.

Imagine you had to leave your home with very little notice.

What would you take and what would you leave behind? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Let's have a check for understanding.

What is a refugee? Is it A, someone who travels for fun; B, someone forced to leave their home because of danger; or C, someone who moves to a new place for a job? Pause the video while you decide, what is a refugee? Well done if you selected answer B, someone forced to leave their home because of danger is a refugee.

Jun and Laura are discussing refugees.

Laura says, "I wonder why refugees don't always go back to their original country once things calm down." And Jun, "Sometimes there is no home to go back to.

It might be destroyed or still be unsafe.

Being a refugee isn't a choice, it's about staying alive." Many artists explore the theme of refugees in their artwork.

This includes Candice Breitz, who uses video installation to address migration and refugees.

JR, who brings human faces into public spaces through photography and street art, helping the world see refugees.

Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva, who created installations using refugee tents and donated clothing to represent shelter, fragility and memory.

And Richard Mosse, who uses infrared and thermal imaging to document refugee camps and migration routes.

So we can see there are a number of artists exploring the theme of refugees in their artwork.

Why do you think artists explore refugees in their art? Pause the video and share with someone nearby, what do you think? Art helps people feel empathy by reminding us that refugees are human beings.

Artists show the personal side of what it means to be a refugee.

The fear, the loss, and the hope.

I wonder if these are answers that you came up with.

There is a difference between being a refugee and a migrant.

All refugees are migrants, but not all migrants are refugees.

Refugees are people who are forced to leave their country because it is too dangerous to stay.

Migration means moving from one place to another through choice, often for work, study, family, or better living conditions.

Sam and Izzy are discussing the difference between being a refugee and a migrant.

"If someone comes to live in the UK, are they a migrant or a refugee?" asks Sam.

And Izzy, "It depends.

A migrant has chosen to leave their country maybe for a job or to attend university, but a refugee has had no choice.

Most refugees had to leave because it was too dangerous to stay." Let's have a check for understanding.

What is a migrant? A, someone without a home.

B, someone forced to leave their country.

C, someone moving to a new place, often by choice.

Pause the video while you decide, what is a migrant? Well done if you selected answer C.

Indeed, someone moving to a new place, often by choice, is a migrant.

When people move to a new country, whether they're refugees or migrants, they can sometimes face racism and rejection.

This can look like being blamed for problems they didn't cause.

Facing unfair rules or fewer chances at jobs, housing or safety.

Being left out or made to feel unwelcome.

My parents moved to the UK as migrants and I'm aware that they faced some of these difficulties as well, which was really hard for them.

What are some common misconceptions about refugees? Pause the video and share with someone nearby.

Perhaps you said something like this.

A misconception is that refugees are a burden on our economy.

Another misconception is that immigration is mostly small boat arrival, and that most refugees are adults.

These are all some common misconceptions about refugees.

Refugees are more than just numbers.

They are people with dreams, hopes, and ambitions who are fleeing impossible situations.

"Some people say that most refugees arrive in the UK just to claim benefits." "That's not true," says Izzy.

"Refugees can contribute significantly to their local communities by starting businesses, paying taxes, and enriching local economies." Do you know any success stories of refugees? Pause the video and share any you know.

You may have heard of Rita Ora, a singer whose family fled Kosovo as refugees in 1991.

Rita was aged one at the time.

Freddie Mercury, the former lead singer of Queen, whose family fled Zanzibar in 1964 due to the revolution and extreme violence.

And Ncuti Gatwa, an actor who grew up in Scotland after fleeing his native Rwanda in 1994.

And an actor who has played the role of the time-traveling Doctor Who no less.

Refugees travel in a variety of ways to flee their homes.

Some refugees travel in small boats.

A small boat is an extremely dangerous way of crossing the sea, especially when overcrowded.

Andeep and Sam are discussing the misconception about refugees and small boats.

Andeep, "I must admit, I thought most immigrants arrived to the UK in small boats." And Sam, "No, we've been learning about this in school.

Less than 5% of people who come to live in the UK arrive by small boat.

For those who do, they must have felt desperate to risk their lives like that." The UK is home to a very small percentage of refugees who have been displaced across the world.

Sofia, "I've only ever heard adult refugees mentioned in the news.

Can refugees be children too?" And Jacob, "Yes, it's a fact that over 40% of refugees are under the age of 18." Many artists explore themes of migration in their art.

This includes Ellen Gallagher, who often includes marine birds and themes of journey and transformation through her mixed media art.

Tania Bruguera, who uses real people and situations in her work to challenge how governments treat migrants.

And Susan Stockwell, who uses maps and global symbols to explore how movement and migration shape identity.

Let's have a check for understanding.

What best describes a refugee? Is it A, an adult who's moved to a new country to study; B, a child who has moved to a new country to seek safety; or C, an adult or child who's been forced to leave their country to seek safety? Pause the video while you decide, what best describes a refugee? Well done if you selected answer C, an adult or child who's been forced to leave their country to seek safety describes a refugee.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to create a paper feather with words written on it relating to the plight of a refugee.

You will need a feather template, pencil crayons and marker pens.

So, first of all, cut out a paper feather shape, and then write a word linked to the emotion you think a refugee might be feeling having had to flee their home.

Select your word.

Consider your composition.

Consider typography, colour, and work on one side of the feather only.

So pause the video while you do this.

Write a word linked to the emotion you think a refugee might be feeling having had to flee their home.

And next, write a positive word or phrase about refugees.

Work on the reverse side of the feather.

Write a short message of kindness.

Consider composition, consider typography, and consider colour and pattern.

So pause the video while you now write a positive word or phrase about refugees on the reverse side of the feather.

It's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with creating your paper feather with words written on it relating to the plight of a refugee? Perhaps you created something like this, says Jacob, "I wrote the word hope, as I imagine that is what most refugees feel as they flee to another country." And here's the other side of Jacob's feather with the message, "You are welcome here." "Hopefully my message would help refugees feel that they have arrived in a safe place." That is so lovely.

And now we're onto our next learning cycle, "Making empathetic artwork in response to refugees." Refugees travel vast distances in search of safety, shelter, and survival.

They're forced to leave their homes and cross borders.

Let's have a check for understanding.

What do refugees often search for? Is it A, entertainment; B, safety, shelter, and survival; or C, food and fashion? Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer B.

Indeed, refugees often search for safety, shelter and survival.

Very sadly, refugees cross borders without always being welcome.

Some people hold stereotypical or negative views of refugees.

This can sometimes make experiences difficult for refugees.

Let's have a check for understanding, true or false? All migrants and refugees are treated fairly when they arrive somewhere new.

Pause the video and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

Now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause the video while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Sadly, not all refugees and migrants are treated fairly.

Some face racism, discrimination, or fear from others.

Art is a way to explore and express empathy towards others.

Empathy is different to sympathy.

Sympathy might say, "That's sad." Empathy might say, "I feel with you.

What can I do to help?" Artists often use birds as a symbol of migration because, just like birds, migrants cross borders and take flight.

Birds often represent movement, change, and journeys in art because they naturally travel long distances.

Some artists create work focused on migration and specifically link it to birds.

These include Petrit Halilaj, whose mixed media art explores themes of migration, home and belonging, often through birds.

Marcus Coates, who makes installations about birdsong and migrating birds to show how different people and cultures can still connect.

And Studio Lenca, whose work is based on migration through a range of media, often using birds as a symbol.

So we can see there are a number of artists whose work focuses on migration and specifically link it to birds.

For the next part of the lesson, we are going to create an artwork in response to refugees using a bird as a symbol.

You'll need glue and scissors, a pencil and colouring pencils, collage materials such as old maps, envelopes or papers, string or wool, paint and cartridge paper.

So pause here while you gather all the materials you will need to create your artwork.

There are many ways to create a paper bird.

You could draw a circle with a diameter of 21 centimetres.

Draw a beak with a width of 3 centimetres.

And draw wings as shown with a width of 6 centimetres.

Cut out the templates and fold the circle in half.

Draw the bird's tail and chest.

Open out, make a mirror image and cut sections out.

And then fold and glue the beak and slot the wings through the body, and there is your bird.

Check for understanding.

Why are birds often used as a symbol of migration? Is it A, because birds are from the natural environment; B, because birds cross borders and take flight; C, because birds come from tropical countries? Pause the video while you decide why birds are often used as a symbol of migration.

Well done if you selected answer B.

Indeed, birds are often used as a symbol of migration because they cross borders and take flight.

And now it's time for your next task.

I would like you to create a paper bird decorated with images and symbolism to empathise with the journey of a refugee.

And remember, empathise means to feel with, to wish to help and support.

Visual imagery could include symbols of migration.

Suitcases or backpacks, footprints, barbed wire, maps, compasses.

Symbols of identity and home.

Keys, houses, passports, flags.

Symbols of emotion and hope.

Tears, stars, feathers, sunrise, hearts, birds and flight.

So first you'll create a bird body and wings.

And then consider background ideas, including collage or paint.

Decorate both sides.

Pause here while you have a go at this part of your task.

And next I'd like you to collage or paint the wings before slotting into position, and glue the beak between the two folded halves.

So pause here while you continue creating your paper bird by adding on the wings and the beak.

It's great to be back with you, so how did you get on with your task of creating a paper bird decorated with images and symbolism to empathise with the journey of a refugee? Look at this wonderful example.

Pause the video and share some of the things you notice on this paper bird which is empathising with the journey of a refugee.

Thanks for sharing your responses, let's hear from Jacob.

"I collaged my bird with maps and used red wool to represent travelling.

I painted tears, a heart, footprints, a suitcase, and a key.

I added an 'admit one' ticket and made a luggage label with flag colours.

The message on the label says, 'Destination unknown.

' I glued the feather I made earlier onto a wing." So much thought has gone into this and so much empathy.

Let's take a look at another example.

Again, pause here and share with someone, what do you notice about this example? What has Sofia added to her bird to empathise with the journey of a refugee? Thanks for sharing your responses, here's Sofia.

"I used maps in the background painted with flag colours and stars.

I made a drawing of an overcrowded small boat containing refugees.

I also added the feather I made earlier with 'Hope' written on it." Again, so much consideration and empathy on display here.

Wow, and when we see the birds all together here, that's really quite special and moving.

"It's very moving to see our birds displayed together.

We hope people see our artwork and think about the plight of refugees in an empathetic way." That's lovely to hear.

And that's it, isn't it? This is what we can do with art, we can share how we think and feel about the world and maybe even create change and change hearts and minds through our creations.

In our lesson today, "Families and migration: refugee stories in art," we've covered the following.

Learning about refugees and migration helps students understand why people leave their homes and how we can show kindness and support.

Refugee stories can inspire artwork that incorporates symbolic imagery and meaningful elements to express empathy and hope.

Thank you, everyone, for joining in with this lesson.

It felt like a particularly special one.

Thank you for exploring such an important theme together and for sharing your empathy.

Keep those hearts open and I'll see you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.