These writing and craft activities help teach kids about Veterans Day, Remembrance Day and Anzac Day. They suit kids in Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten, First Grade or Second Grade.
A Guide for Educators: Teaching Kids About Veterans Day
Veterans Day is a special occasion to honor the brave people who served in the military, safeguarding our nation. I know introducing this topic to young children can feel challenging, so here are a few tips to help. These are relevant to teaching kids about Anzac Day and Remembrance Day too.
Start with a Basic Explanation
Begin by explaining that a veteran is anyone who has served in the military, such as a soldier or nurse.
Incorporate Stories and Videos
Select age-appropriate children’s books or short videos. For example, on Anzac Day I like reading the story Anzac Ted by Belinda Landsberry.
Use Visual Aids
Show kids symbols associated with remembering veterans such as poppies. I like creating a bulletin board board to help with this.
Engage in Crafts and Activities
Arrange crafts and activities related to Veterans Day, that encourage kids to say thank you to veterans for their service.
Teach Respect and Gratitude
Educate children how they can show respect and gratitude towards those who have served our country. For example, they can write a thank you note and participate in the one to two minutes of silence.
Veterans Day Crafts and Activities for Kids
I’ve created a variety of simple craft templates and writing activities to hopefully make your life a bit easier! The craft templates are easy to prep and you just need a few everyday materials such as scissors, glue, tape, crayons or paint. You can check out some of the soldier and poppy crafts below.
<<<Grab these soldier craft templates and activities here>>>
<<<Grab these soldier craft templates and activities here>>>
I’ve created some bulletin board printables too. The “Lest We Forget” banner is useful for displaying near your student’s work.
<<<Grab these bulletin board printables here>>>
If you’re a teacher in Australia or New Zealand, you may also like the bear soldier craft – particularly if you plan on reading your students the story Anzac Ted. I usually get the kids to paint a poppy background and then we glue the bear on top.
<<<Grab these Remembrance Day activities and crafts here>>>
I hope you find these crafts and activities useful for teaching young kids about veterans and why it is important to honor them on these important holidays.
Teddy Bear Hospital
The following Teddy Bear Hospital dramatic play center may help kids develop empathy and how to care for wounded teddy bears.
Teddy Bear Hospital Dramatic Play
