Memorial Day is coming up soon. Memorial Day is a time to honor and mourn people in the military who have died while serving the United States Armed Forces. There are a lot of ways you can teach your students about how to pay their respects to members of the military who have lost their lives and honor their families on Memorial Day. Here are some ideas for teaching elementary students about Memorial Day.
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I wrote differentiated nonfiction guided readers to teach students what Memorial Day is all about while also practicing comprehension skills. There are three levels for you to use, along with vocabulary and comprehension questions, making it a perfect small group activitiy!
My favorite read alouds for Memorial Day pair nicely together. I recommend first reading Maya Lin: the Artist-Architect of Light and Lines. She is the architect that designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. After reading Maya Lin’s story, The Wall by Eve Bunting is a wonderful picture book that shows the true meaning of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Wall is the story of a little boy and his father who visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to find the name of the grandfather he never knew.
Have your students write a letter to someone in the armed forces. They could also write a letter to a family member who lost someone. You can find a soldier to write to through the Anysolder.com website.
In my Virtual Field Trip to Arlington National Cemetery, students will learn about the history of Arlington National Cemetery and Memorial Day, the Arlington House, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy.
I hope you and your students enjoy these ideas for learning about the Memorial Day holiday!
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