We can begin honoring Veterans Day in our classrooms by teaching kids facts and history of the holiday. This video is approximately two minutes long and gives students a nice overview of the holiday.
Activity 1:
After the video, ask students to summarize the video in 20 words or less on their paper and/or draw a picture that represents Veterans Day.
You may guide the students in a discussion with the following questions:
Activity 2:
(Scroll down for 30 printable task cards, which include these questions and more.)
Questions:
- When is Veterans Day?
- Who are we honoring?
- What was this holiday originally called?
- What did the holiday commemorate?
- When was Armistice Day first celebrated?
- What were some ways in which it was celebrated?
- What happens at 11 AM every Veterans Day?
- When was the name changed?
- Has Veterans Day always been in November?
- What is the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?
- Approximately how many living Veterans are there in the US?
- What fact or event stood out to you from this video?
Answers:
- November 11
- Men and women who have served or are serving in the US Armed Forces, including unknown soldiers
- Armistice Day
- Truce between the Allies and Germany in WWI on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
- On November 11, 1919
- Businesses closed, parades, gatherings
- A Color Guard ceremony for all branches of the military and Tomb of Unknown Soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery
- 1954 to honoring all veterans, not just those in WWI
- No, for a short time 1968-1975 it was moved to October for more vacation time
- Memorial Day is for those who have died, and Veterans Day is for all those who have or currently are serving.
- Approximately 21 million
- Answers vary
Activity 3:
Students may complete a free printable Veterans Day puzzle activity.
Click HERE to download and print it.
Activity 4:
Have students read classroom resources or conduct their own research to write their own "Top 5 Facts about Veterans Day". This free printable sign is an example.
Click HERE to download and print the sign:
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You may also like the following paid resources from our TpT store:
Foldable Veterans Day Thank You Card for Kids to Make
Click HERE to purchase and print today.
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Veterans Day No Prep Worksheets
Click HERE to purchase and print today.
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Veterans Day Facts Task Cards
Click HERE to purchase and print today.
(Includes the questions listed above and more!)
Veterans: Heroes in Our Neighborhood Hardcover
by Valerie Pfundstein
Borang 48 Bulk Patriotic Ribbon with Gold Star (Red, White, and Blue)
by Borang
Click HERE to purchase and print today.
(Includes the questions listed above and more!)
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You may also like these resources from our Amazon Associate store:
Veterans: Heroes in Our Neighborhood Hardcover
by Valerie Pfundstein
Borang 48 Bulk Patriotic Ribbon with Gold Star (Red, White, and Blue)
by Borang
Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find valuable resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!
