Veterans Day in the Classroom
I grew up in the Midwest and really didn’t know much about Veterans Day or the military beyond what I heard on the news or learned from the small sections in our history books. No one in my family served in the military, so unfortunately, it just wasn’t something I thought much about.
However, when I moved to Washington State, I found myself surrounded by military bases and began learning more about the military and military life. Some dear friends whose husbands were serving in the Army at the time invited us into their homes on base, took us to ceremonies, and even brought us along to watch a training exercise where soldiers jumped out of Black Hawk helicopters! As you can imagine, my boys were thrilled!
Living in Washington State has given me a whole new perspective on the military and brought some wonderful military families into our lives. Veterans Day quickly took on a new meaning, both in our lives and in my classroom.
But Veterans Day has a way of sneaking up on me every year! It falls right between Halloween and Thanksgiving, two incredibly busy times of year in the classroom. Unfortunately, it didn’t always get the attention it deserved. And sometimes we weren’t even in school on Veterans Day, which made it even more challenging.
So, a few years ago, I finally sat down and created some Veterans Day resources I could use in my classroom. I wanted activities that didn’t require tons of preparation but still gave students an opportunity to learn about veterans, understand their service, and recognize the importance of the day.
Veterans Day Activities
I have to say, I’m really proud of this resource! I worked hard on it, and I’m so happy with how it turned out.
I wanted to create something with more depth than simply having students write a thank-you note to a veteran. I wanted my students to understand who veterans are, the different ways they have served our country, and why we honor them.
And I think I’ve done just that!
Learning about Veterans
We began by talking about what we already knew about veterans. Who is a veteran? What does it mean to serve in the military? What kinds of jobs do people in the military do besides wearing cool uniforms and using weapons?
We used the anchor charts I created to help guide our discussions, answer questions, and hopefully learn something we didn’t know before. I wanted to make sure my students walked away understanding that people who serve or have served in the military have many different roles, but they’re also regular people, just like us.
Writing a Note to Veterans
Once I felt we’d established that understanding, we moved on to writing notes to veterans. These didn’t necessarily have to be thank-you notes, although most of them were. Students could express their appreciation, but they could also share something they’d learned from our discussions.
Exploring the Branches of the Military
After the notes were finished, I wanted students to think a little more about the military itself, particularly the different branches and what they do. I wanted them to make a more personal connection to what we’d learned.
We briefly explored the six branches of the military, and then students completed a short writing prompt about which branch interested them most and why. It was interesting to see which branches they chose and their reasons!
Making Tissue Paper Poppies
And what holiday is complete without a craft?
I asked students if they’d ever seen someone wearing a red poppy. I got a few yeses, but mostly nos! So we learned about the history of the poppy and how it became a symbol of remembrance. Then we made our own tissue paper poppies to wear or take home.
💚 Grab Veterans Day Activities from TPT
Veterans Day Expanded Response with Because But So
This resource includes four Veterans Day writing prompts that encourage students to expand their sentences using because, but and so.. There are versions with illustrations and versions where students can add their own drawings. Anchor charts are also included to support their writing.
💚 Grab Veterans Day Expanded Response Writing from TPT
FREE Veterans Day Printables
Veterans are Special FREE Writing Prompt
This activity is great if you don’t have a ton of time but still want to honor veterans in your classroom or at home. Simply print the template and have students complete the writing prompt. They can also color the picture and cut it out.
💚 Download FREE Veterans are Special Writing Prompt
FREE Veterans Day Word Search
This Veterans Day freebie is great for morning work or early finishers! Students review Veterans Day vocabulary as they complete the word search.
💚 Download the FREE Veterans Day Word Search
Wrapping it Up
I hope you’ve found something here to help you honor veterans this November, whether in your classroom or at home. And I hope I’ve saved you a little time along the way!
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