Veterans Day Worksheets

Veterans Day is observed on November 11. It is a holiday that honors our military veterans and those that fought for freedom. We have a number of free worksheets to help you include this holiday in your classroom.

Classroom Activities for Veterans Day

Veterans Day gives us a chance to salute, honor and praise our soldiers who have made many sacrifices to protect our country. Students need to be taught the importance of Veterans Day to help them understand all the efforts behind the nation's freedom. It also helps them understand the significance of preserving this national freedom for the upcoming generations!

If you are a teacher looking for some ideas for classroom activities for this holiday, you have come to the right place. Read on to find out!

Seven Classroom Activities for To Consider

Here are seven classroom activities to help your students realize the significance of this day:

1. A Program Arranged for Veterans Day

Conduct a program to celebrate the day! Assign each of the students with certain tasks and responsibilities. For example, a group of students could be in charge of decorating the classroom with flags and Veterans Day banners. You can provide the artwork material and supplies to your students.

Assign students to write speeches and dialogues and make charts and posters for the program. You can also arrange for treats like cookies in the shape of the American flag.

Brainstorm ideas for the Veterans Day Program with your students. You can watch a movie or short clips highlighting the importance and sacrifices of the Veterans. Another great idea is to play come classic patriotic songs during the ceremonies.

Ensure that all the students take part in these classroom activities. Design a schedule for the entire program and hang it out to the students so they know how much time is allocated for each program on the list.

2. Writing a Letter to a Veteran

Writing a letter or making a handmade card is a great celebration of Veterans Day. Writing a letter to the Veterans will help the students develop a connection with the soldiers allowing them to understand the significance of being grateful and appreciating their sacrifices.

This activity makes for a great writing assignment.

According to a study, the letters received by Veterans are one of their most cherished and valuable items in the care package. Handwritten letters serve as an effective way to lift the spirits of the veterans who have been deployed for long durations. A serving Veteran describes these letters as "a ray of sunshine" amidst all the chaos.

Students could also be encouraged to write poetry for the Veterans. If distant learning has made it difficult for you to collect all the letters from the students, you can have them send the messages online. Then all you have to do is register with the Operation Gratitude program, and they will print all the messages on a postcard and send it to the Veterans.

3. Reading Books About Veterans

Having the students read books about Veterans is a great way to celebrate this holiday. There are several options for younger students to read on Veterans Day to help them understand what the day is about and why it is celebrated.

It would be a great idea to start by reading the first chapter of a book and then carrying out discussions to allow for a more in-depth understanding. Ask the students to make notes from the books and note down new words or phrases they have learned, which proves to be an effective way to improve their reading and comprehension skills.

Here are some of our top recommendations for books that are very timely for this topic:

- Letters to a Soldier by First Lieutenant David Falvey and Mrs. Julie Hutt's Fourth-Grade Class
- The Wallaby Eve Bunting, illustrated by Ronald Himler
- The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA by Brenda Woods
- Rolling Thunderby Kate Messner
- The Way To Stay In Destiny by Augusta Scattergood

4. Studying the History Behind American Symbols

Veterans Day is a great time to learn about the American symbols, why they were chosen, and what they represent. This activity makes for a great history lesson to study and analyze all the historical symbols to give students a better understanding of what these symbols mean to the nation as a whole.

An effective way to teach American symbols is by using visual tools like slide shows or handing out printable American symbol flashcards to the students.

Here is a list of some important symbols to discuss in your class around this time of year:

- The Liberty Bell
- The U.S. flag
- The Eagle
- Uncle Sam
- The Statue of Liberty
- The White House
- The Washington Monument

5. Studying About the American Wars

Another great way to incorporate history in your lesson plan on Veterans Day is to study some basic facts about the past American wars, such as their timeline. Some significant American Wars include the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Mexican-American War, and several others.

You can also play some animated clips on historical events for the students to gain their attention and help them remember significant historical facts.

6. Inviting Veterans as Guest Speakers

One of the most impactful activities for this time of year would be to invite a Veteran to speak before your class, which will be a great way for the students to realize the significance of Veterans.

Having a Veterans address your class in an age-appropriate manner for the grade you are teaching will serve as a meaningful way for the students to understand the true meaning behind this day.

7. Virtual Veterans Day Field Trip

Take your students on a fun virtual trip on Veterans Day! The best part about virtual field trips is that they take away the hassle involved in planning and coordinating them. You can take several virtual trips to the museum with your students to teach them some facts about American history.

We have listed some museums that offer virtual tours:

- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Complex, New York
- National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Washington, D.C
- The National WWII Museum, New Orleans, Louisiana
- The National WWI Museum and Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri

Wrapping Up

We hope this guide was useful in helping you prepare for some fun and educational classroom activities for Veterans Day! These activities will allow your class to understand the meaning and significance of this day!