Refugee journeys

To create The Long Road album, leading artists paired up with people who had been forced to flee their home and seek safety in the UK.

Spoken word poet Scroobius Pip, Led Zeppelin, vocalist Robert Plant, Kindness and many others have contributed to the record.

By looking at the lyrics and having a space for conversation, discussion and debate with the suggested critical questions, young people will build their understanding of the humanitarian impact of the current refugee crisis.

Learning objectives

Learners will:

• think critically about what makes us who we are and how identity, place and belonging are related
• consider the media’s representations of migration and compare them with the first-hand narratives of people who have fled their homes to seek sanctuary in another country
• gain deeper understanding of the reasons why people flee, what they leave behind, the difficulties of their journeys and uncertainty surrounding their arrivals and future lives
• discuss what actions they could take to make refugees and asylum seekers feel more welcome in their communities.

Resource overview

1. Source material

Read the lyrics or listen to the songs taken from the album The Long Road:

• Robert plant: “The Blanket of Night”
• Kindness: “A Retelling”
• Scroobius Pip: “Who Are You?”

2. Film: Introducing The Long Road

Watch a short film about the story behind the album.

3. Critical questions

Use questions and active learning to explore:

• building empathy
• a sense of identity
• the context
• the lyrics.

4. Extension activities

• Think about how to welcome refugees in your community.
• Write a creative response to the songs.

The songs

• Robert plant: The Blanket of Night
• Kindness: A Retelling
• Scroobius Pip: Who Are You?

Film: Introducing The Long Road

Credits

This lesson plan was written in March 2016 by Helen Davis and Lucy Tutton of the British Red Cross. Reviewed October 2017.

The photo of The Long Road EP © British Red Cross.