Picture Dictionary Project

Why a Picture Dictionary?

It’s an immediate learning resource. We believe that education is an immediate need in the midst of a crisis. Children all over the world should have access to learning, regardless of their age, gender, or situation. A simple picture dictionary can serve as a solution while children wait for a formal education program.
It’s an aid for trauma healing: Education – even in the form of a simple picture book – can serve as a coping mechanism, which can aid in the trauma-healing process and build critical thinking skills.
It’s for everyone: Our Picture Dictionary can be used by anyone, either in their homes or at school with a teacher. This project is an attempt to bridge the education gap in vulnerable communities through informal, contextualized learning.

Working with the Afghan community?

Grab a copy of our Afghan Version!

This contextualized picture dictionary serves as a culturally sensitive learning tool, perfect for incoming Afghan refugees.

Working with refugees in the US? Grab a copy of our USA Version! 

This contextualized picture dictionary serves as a culturally sensitive learning tool, perfect for incoming refugees.

We have 2 versions:

  1. English Version (for any incoming refugees / immigrants)
  2. English & Rohingya Version (for our Rohingya friends!)
Education for Rohingya refugees | Books Unbound

Our Picture Dictionary is designed to be modified for each community.

We created it to meet the following objectives:
  1. Vocabulary Development: Learning a relevant language through the essential vocabulary provided in the Picture Dictionary.
  2. Problem Solving: Reinforcing critical thinking skills through illustrations of relevant problems within the community.
  3. Creativity: Providing a platform for art-based activities to enhance creativity.

Rohingya Student | Bangladesh

This is my first time I’ve ever seen the Rohingya language. I can easily understand the meaning of words by the help of Rohingya language. All activities are related with my culture. This picture dictionary is helping me to become closer to my culture. Thank you so much for this wonderful book along with the notebook and pen.”

Rohingya Educator | Bangladesh

“This picture dictionary will help them to understand and improve their culture in better ways. Students enjoy the cartoons so much. It’s a creative learning tool and would be a very good tool for students with disabilities.”

Rohingya Student | Bangladesh

I was out of school at the very beginning. That’s why I’m in nursery level. As a beginner, this book is very essential for me because this book started from basics. Among all topics, I love the vegetables page so much because in Myanmar, I used to go to the vegetable garden with my father.

Education for refugees

The Picture Dictionary: What’s In It?

The Basics
About Me
Food
People
Everyday
Let's Go
Health
Where Are You Going?
The Basics
  • Alphabet [native language & English]
  • Numbers
  • Local currency
  • Colors
  • Shapes
About Me
  • My face
  • My body
  • My feelings
  • My clothes
  • I like / I don’t like
Food
  • Food
  • Drinks
  • Fruit
  • Vegetables
  • Kitchen
  • I have / I don’t have
People
  • My Family
  • My Community
  • Jobs
  • Opposites
Everyday
  • Time
  • What Time Is It?
  • Everyday Routine
  • Write the date: days of the week, months of the year
Let's Go
  • Direction Opposites
  • Transportation
  • Places
  • Weather
  • Natural Disasters
  • Animals
Health
  • Symptoms
  • Problems
  • Wash Your Hands
  • Stretching
  • Exercise
Where Are You Going?
  • Interactive map to practice direction vocabulary

The Teacher Guide: What’s In It?

Our Teacher Guide provides a detailed list of activities & discussion topics for every page in our Picture Dictionary.

Each page includes:

Learning Objectives
Discussion Points
Drawing Activity
Partner Activity
Group Activity
Index
Learning Objectives
  • Why is this page important?
  • What does this page teach students?
  • How can this page build vocabulary for students?
  • How can we incorporate other vocabulary to this new page?
Discussion Points
  • Relevant questions to discuss with students.
  • These questions can be prompted in their native language or in English language, depending on their level of understanding.
  • Questions to spark group conversation
Drawing Activity
  • A relevant drawing or writing activity for the topic.
  • This encourages creativity & self expression.
Partner Activity
  • An interactive activity with a partner.
  • This encourages conversation, critical thinking, and peer interaction.
Group Activity
  • A group activity, usually standing or sitting in a circle.
  • This encourages movement and peer interaction.
Index
  • An index full of 32 activities that can be applied to any topic in the book.
  • Types of activities: icebreakers, exercise, and critical thinking activities.
  • 30 conversation starter questions that can be used at the beginning of each class.
Education for refugees
Photo by Nihab Rahman
Need a teacher training for your program?
Contact us for a quote!

Teacher Training

We provide custom teacher training sessions to equip your educators with our innovative lesson plan ideas and teaching guides.

What do the teachers think about our trainings?

Check out our latest update on the Teacher Trainings in Bangladesh!

Teacher Trainings 2021

Teacher Participant | Bangladesh

“This picture dictionary will make the students more confident. This [teacher] training is also good. There are so many activities during training. I like it so much.”

Teacher Participant | Bangladesh

“The Picture dictionary is one of the best educational material for students. Beautiful cartoons which are connected with our traditions. Students will love it so much. The [teacher] training is effective. I’m enjoying very much.”

Teacher Participant | Bangladesh

“The Picture Dictionary is one of the best books that I have ever seen. This is one of the most useful trainings for me and it will help me to support students creatively.”

Support our Picture Dictionary Project!

Our projects are funded by supporters like you! You can donate one time, become a monthly donor, or become our corporate sponsor. Learn more >

Education for refugees
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