Refugees

Website

Operation Pedro Pan

This website is an interactive database for people affected by the 'Pedro Pan' operation. The largest exodus of unaccompanied minors to the Western Hemisphere in order to flee Cuba during 1960 - 1962. This website provides a way for them to reconnect with family and friends. The site also provides videos, links, photos, and other resources to provide a background on Operation Pedro Pan. Students will use this as a gateway to read about these personal stories. This is also very helpful as some of the posts and articles are in the target language, therefore students will not only have an opportunity to practice their critical reading skills in English but also in Spanish. Students will perform a web quest using this site and the other links that are provided on this site.

Article

Cuban 'Peter Pan' Immigrant Now Denver Mayor

This article is another story that gives a face to Operation Pedro Pan. It tells an immigrant's tale, but it's an immigration that was done out of necessity. This article highlights the fact that minor children had to flee their home country because of a revolution. Students will use this article as a spring board for a writing activity. They will post their response/reaction to Guillermo  Vidal's tale on the class' discussion board. 

Trade Book

90 Miles to Havana by Enrique Flores-Galbis

This is the story of the reality of being a Cuban immigrant, it is the story of a refugee minor child that had to flee a revolutionary Cuba. This story not only focuses on the immigrant-refugee tale but uses sibling rivalry, coming of age issues, etc.. to put a personal take on the era of the Pedro Pan Operation. Students will get a real account of this period in history to give them yet another perspective, to put a face to what they are learning. After reading, students will work on creating a title for their own tale if they had to write their own story about fleeing their own country of origin because of a revolution.

Video - CNN's Latino in America: Chasing the Dream

This is two-part video from CNN's Latino in America program. This video revolves around Latinos chasing the American dream and what they have done whether legal or illegal to achieve it. This video also explores the history of Operation Pedro Pan and what happened to the children after. Before watching the video students will give their opinion on immigration. After watching this video students will participate in a class discussion using another video guide. After watching this video, have student opinions changed? What do students think about immigration now?

Part 1

Part 2

References

Cuban 'Peter Pan' immigrant now Denver mayor. (2011, February 11). Retrieved from   

           http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-501363_162-7339536.html

Flores-Galbis, E. (2012). 90 miles to Havana. (Reprint ed.). Square Fish.

O'Brien, S. (Reporter) (2009). The Garcías [Television series episode]. In Nelson, M. 
          (Executive Producer), CNN Presents: Latino in America. Retrieved from
           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2vAbnMR3FE

O'Brien, S. (Reporter) (2009). The Garcías [Television series episode]. In Nelson, M. 
          (Executive Producer), CNN Presents: Latino in America. Retrieved from
          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbaE4GD4lUM

Operation Pedro Pan. (05/1). Retrieved from http://www.miamiherald.com/pedropan/