Primary Activities for Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day, also known as Poppy Day, Armistice Day or Veterans Day, commemorates the sacrifices made by military veterans. It is celebrated on Nov. 11 each year, a date that coincides with the ending of World War I. Due to Canadian military physician John McCrae's poem "In Flanders Field," which recognized the lives lost during World War I, red poppy flowers serve as a widely identified symbol of the holiday. Help primary school students understand the history and significance of Remembrance Day by reading stories, making a poppy wreath and writing notes to thank soldiers for their service.
Create a Poppy Wreath
Use your fingers and some red and green paint to turn a paper plate into a poppy wreath memorial. Squeeze some red and green finger paint onto a plain sheet of paper or a plastic margarine tub lid. Place your thumb into the red paint and stamp four prints in a circle at the top of the plate. Dip your index finger into the green paint and stamp a green print in the middle of the red circle. Continue making poppies around the perimeter of the paper plate in a clockwise direction until you make a wreath design. Allow the wreath to dry completely before cutting out the center. Punch a hole in the top of the wreath, tie yarn through it and display it on the wall.
Read Remembrance Day Stories
Find out why poppies symbolize Remembrance Day and learn about the veterans that the holiday commemorates by reading age-appropriate books. "In Flanders Field: The Story of the Poem by John McCrae" by Linda Granfield explains the significance of poppies to the day. "The Wall" by Eve Bunting describes a father and young son's visit to the Vietnam War Memorial. "Veterans Day" by Jacqueline Cotton tells the history of the holiday and suggests ways children can honor veterans by visiting hospitals or attending parades.
Write Thank-You Notes to Soldiers
Create a personal connection to the holiday by encouraging students to write thank-you notes to soldiers. Many events that children study in history class or read about in books seem far away and distant. Writing notes to active-duty soldiers helps students realize that soldiers today are fighting in wars far from home and serving as peacekeepers in conflicts throughout the world. Depending upon their ages, you might let them write their own note--or let them copy a phrase from the board such as "Thank You for Serving Our Country," and create an illustration to accompany it. Write to soldiers from the local community such as ex-students, if possible, or contact organizations like Adopt A US Soldier to find pen pals for the students.
Tags: Activities Remembrance, Flanders Field, green paint, John McCrae, paint stamp
