Remembrance day is coming up in a few weeks. As well as the 2 minute silence, I always like to make an extra effort and mark this special day in my classroom as well. It's a wonderful opportunity for Character Education and teaching empathy. I've added a few more ideas to my bank of resources and I want to share them with you!
Before doing any activities, it's handy to teach your students what the significance of the poppy is all about. This video explains it well:
Idea 1: Get Crafty
If you have the time and opportunity to get a little crafty in your room, there are some fantastic poppy themed craftivities around! These would make gorgeous displays, and if prepared a few weeks in advance, they could also be sold to raise money for charity. In the UK, our charity is the Royal British Legion who offer lifelong support for the Armed Force community: this would be great, creative way for your school to contribute to the local community! You can find the original source of these activities here.
If you have the time and opportunity to get a little crafty in your room, there are some fantastic poppy themed craftivities around! These would make gorgeous displays, and if prepared a few weeks in advance, they could also be sold to raise money for charity. In the UK, our charity is the Royal British Legion who offer lifelong support for the Armed Force community: this would be great, creative way for your school to contribute to the local community! You can find the original source of these activities here.
Find these at "Mum In the Mad House"
I think anything wearable would work particularly well for raising money: e.g. badges, hair clips, necklaces, head bands etc. plus, the paper plants are pretty cute too!
Idea 2: Video
Usually when we all do the 2 minute silence I think it's hard for some of our students to know exactly what to think about... You know they don't really "get it" if you see them giving each other looks, or worse, if they start giggling. I think a good way of ensuring they understand the significance of this mark of respect, is to show them a video 5 minutes before the silence that will really ring home why we are doing this. By having a visual, hard hitting resource to refer to, it will make much more sense in their heads:
Usually when we all do the 2 minute silence I think it's hard for some of our students to know exactly what to think about... You know they don't really "get it" if you see them giving each other looks, or worse, if they start giggling. I think a good way of ensuring they understand the significance of this mark of respect, is to show them a video 5 minutes before the silence that will really ring home why we are doing this. By having a visual, hard hitting resource to refer to, it will make much more sense in their heads:
| Idea 3: Relaxing colouring pages Another way of ensuring they are taking real time to think of those who died for us, is by marking out a space of 15-20 minutes for them to reflect on the video while colouring in some Remembrance Day Quotes. This resource is actually brand new to my TpT store and includes 5 quotes marking respect of those who lost their lives. You could play some videos about Remembrance day or the "Last Post" trumpet music while they colour for a real impact. These will look lovely decorated in your classroom or even in the staffroom afterwards. |  |
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Idea 4: Ready to Go PowerPoint and Activities
If you want to go into more detail on Remembrance Day and teach your students the history of the day as well as encourage them to reflect on their learning with fun literacy and design activities, then I have a resource that is all ready to go for you: it includes a PowerPoint and fun printables.
If you want to go into more detail on Remembrance Day and teach your students the history of the day as well as encourage them to reflect on their learning with fun literacy and design activities, then I have a resource that is all ready to go for you: it includes a PowerPoint and fun printables.
Idea 5: Free Writing Prompt
Finally, I have added a free resource in the VIP Area for your students to complete a piece of writing on what they would say to those fallen heroes who sacrificed themselves so we could live. This will really get them thinking hard about the subject and getting in touch with their emotions, all whilst working on their literacy skills. You can download this for free, along with a range of other free resources, in the VIP Area. For help in registering click here.
Finally, I have added a free resource in the VIP Area for your students to complete a piece of writing on what they would say to those fallen heroes who sacrificed themselves so we could live. This will really get them thinking hard about the subject and getting in touch with their emotions, all whilst working on their literacy skills. You can download this for free, along with a range of other free resources, in the VIP Area. For help in registering click here.
Download this free writing prompt from the VIP Area
I hope this has given you some ideas for incorporating Remembrance Day in your classroom this year. Do you have a question? Something to add? Let's chat in the comments below - I respond to every comment :)
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