Veterans Day, observed annually on November 11, is a significant occasion for classrooms to pay tribute to real-life heroes, understand the importance of service, and engage in enjoyable hands-on activities. There are numerous ways to honor Veterans Day and plenty of holiday resources available to assist educators in planning enriching and interactive lessons centered around gratitude, service, and patriotism.
Bring Veterans Day to the forefront with creative crafts
Veterans Day serves as a time to honor those who have served in the US military. In the classroom, this spirit can be embraced through crafts inspired by remembrance and gratitude. Students can craft heartfelt thank-you cards for local veterans or create vibrant poppies to share with their families. With a wide range of creative possibilities, students are sure to find a project that resonates with them.
- Veterans Day Craft
- By TNB Creations
- Grades: K-6th
- This seven-page craft allows students to color a picture, write a letter, and assemble the pieces to create a meaningful bulletin board display.
- Patriotic Agamographs | Nice September 11th Craft Activity
- By Art with Jenny
- Grades: 3rd-8th
- This resource offers American and Canadian designs, including soldiers, flags, and remembrance themes for September 11th.
- Veterans Day Craft in English and Spanish Manualidad del DĂa de los Veteranos
- By Bilingual Scrapbook
- Grades: K-2nd
- Available in English and Spanish, this resource allows students to create a pants-and-boots craft, explore pages about the different branches of the military, and engage in writing prompts.
Inspire young minds with Veterans Day books
Stories are a powerful way to connect children with Veterans Day. Reading books like The Poppy Lady by Barbara E. Walsh or The Wall by Eve Bunting can introduce students to the history and significance of the day. After reading, students can create their own Veterans Day books, fostering meaningful discussions and deepening their understanding of the holiday.
- America the Brave Veterans Day Voting and Elections
- By Reagan Tunstall
- Grades: K-2nd
- Celebrate Veterans Day and Election Day with a lapbook that includes an American flag craft book and a thank-you paper for veterans.
- Veterans Day Activities and Book
- By Nikki and Nacho
- Grades: K-1st
- This resource provides a Veterans Day book, comprehension worksheets, and graphic organizers in both English and Spanish.
Spark gratitude with Veterans Day writing activities
Elementary Veterans Day activities go beyond understanding the history; they also delve into the concept of gratitude and how to express it. Writing activities give students the opportunity to convey their appreciation while honing their writing skills. Whether writing letters to veterans in the community or crafting notes of thanks to family members who are veterans, students can practice their writing techniques while expressing gratitude.
- Veterans Day Activities – Fact Hunt, Doodle Infographic, and Poetry Writing
- By Brain Waves Instruction
- Grades: 4th-7th
- This resource offers opportunities to practice writing and learn interesting facts about Veterans Day through a fact hunt and acrostic poem activity.
Honor Veterans Day with an interactive slideshow
An interactive slideshow can refocus attention on the veterans we honor, sparking class discussions and serving as a convenient option for substitute teachers. Keep students engaged and learning about Veterans Day through interactive Google Slides that cover the significance of veterans and the armed forces.
- Interactive Google Slides for Veterans Day
- By First Grade Hip Hip Hooray
- Grades: 1st-2nd
- Engage students with interactive activities on Google Slides that explore the role of veterans and allow them to design thank-you posters and write about their learnings.
- US Veterans Day Reading Writing Activities Bulletin Board Thank you Cards Letter
- By The Little Ladybug Shop
- Grades: 3rd-4th
- This resource includes a PowerPoint presentation on Veterans Day, a flipbook for writing letters to veterans, and additional activities for students to engage with.
Plan an entire Veterans Day unit for extended learning
Having a variety of activities on hand can keep all students engaged while teaching about Veterans Day for an extended period. From simple flag crafts to making dog tags, celebrate the significance of veterans’ service while ensuring age-appropriate activities are available.
- Veterans Day Activities
- By Latoya Reed
- Grades: K-2nd
- This bundle includes engaging activities focused on Veterans Day, such as word searches, bubble maps, Venn diagrams, letter-writing pages, and foldable thank-you cards.
- Veterans Day Activities Worksheets & Word Wall
- By Fishyrobb
- Grades: 2nd-3rd
- This resource offers printable activities like a Veterans Day passage, reflection sheets, and coloring pages, perfect for in-class use.
Quick and easy Veterans Day activities for kids
Celebrating Veterans Day doesn’t have to be complicated. Quick and simple activities like creating a gratitude chain, hosting a digital scavenger hunt, designing blackout poems, and decorating stars with messages of thanks can be engaging and meaningful for students.
- Create a Gratitude Chain: Students write reasons for gratitude towards veterans on paper strips, linking them together to create a chain for display.
- Host a Digital Veterans Day Scavenger Hunt: Students locate key symbols associated with Veterans Day on designated websites.
- Design a Veterans Day Blackout Poem: Students create poems by blacking out words from an article about Veterans Day.
- Decorate Stars with Gratitude: Students write messages of thanks on paper stars for display.
- Personalize a Hero Badge: Students design hero badges honoring veterans.
- Make a Service Hat: Students create hats representing different military branches.
- Celebrate My Hero: Students draw and write about a veteran they admire.
- Host a Veterans Day Dance Party: Play patriotic music for students to dance and sing along.
- Color for Veterans Day: Provide Veterans Day-themed coloring pages for students to decorate the classroom or lockers.
Government resources for teaching about Veterans Day
Teaching about Veterans Day can be challenging, especially for younger students. Resources like the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Education Association, Wounded Warrior Project, and the Library of Congress offer tips, activities, lesson plans, and primary sources to aid educators in teaching about Veterans Day effectively.
Plan a memorable Veterans Day for kids with TPT
Make Veterans Day memorable for students by facilitating discussions on patriotism, gratitude, and sacrifices made for our freedoms. Utilize resources from Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) to guide your lesson plans, whether it involves creating military hats, crafting thank-you cards, or engaging in other activities that help students understand the significance of this important day. Make learning both meaningful and enjoyable as students explore why Veterans Day holds such importance.
