This interdisciplinary unit focuses upon the increasing number of refugees who flee their home countries out of fear of persecution. More than 20 million people are estimated to be refugees, with 80 percent women and children. The unit includes five parts. Part 1, "Introduction," includes: (1) "Background"; (2) "Fact or Fiction?"; (3) "What's the News?"; (4) "Three Strikes--You're Out!"; and (5) "Packing Your Suitcase." Part 2, "Refugees and U.S. History," includes: (1) "Background"; (2) "Jewish Refugees from Eastern Europe: 1890-1990"; (3) "From Exclusion to Acceptance"; (4) "Getting the Words Right"; (5) "Interpreting Cartoons"; and (6) "The Numbers Tell the Story." Part 3, "Refugees and the United States Today," contains: (1) "Background"; (2) "United States Refugee Law"; (3)"You Be the Judge"; (4) "How Far Should We Open the Door?"; (5) "Are Some More Equal than Others?"; (6) "How Generous Are We?"; (7) "Locking Up Refugees?"; (8) "Sanctuary and the Law"; (9) "Crossing the Schoolhouse Border"; (10) "Calculating the Escape"; and (11) "Using Norte in the Classroom." Part 4, "Refugees and Your Community," includes: (1) "Background"; (2) "Refugees in Your Community"; (3) "You Can Do More"; and (4) "The Power of the Pen." Part 5, "Appendices," contains: (1) "Immigration and Refugee Terms"; (2) "Refugees and the United States: A Teaching Bibliography"; (3) "Refugee Filmography"; (4) "Directory of Refugee Resources"; and (5) "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights." Several newspaper articles, photographs, and maps are part of the handouts for use. Lessons can be adapted to fit individual classrooms, audiences, and curricular needs. (EH)