November is a busy month in Social Studies. With elections, Native American Heritage Month, and Veterans Day, your Social Studies block is precious space. Would you like some new ideas for Veterans Day activities?
Voluntary Sacrifice
Primary Kids learn better when they participate in real life activities. It is important to not let Veterans Day go by without helping your students understand the sacrifice Veterans make for them and their family! Kids need to realize that many other countries don’t have the choice to serve.
What Is Veterans Day
If they are not from a military family, young kids might not even know about it. They might have heard the name, but not understand why we celebrate service people.
Your Veterans Day activities could begin with a bit of background knowledge. about military service. Students need to understand that service is voluntary. They need to see why we should be feel gratitude toward these American heroes.
Learning About the Military
Most Social Studies curriculums for 1st and 2nd grade include objectives on job skills. Students need exposure to different career choices. It’s tough to find enough time during the year to research the many careers available.
Providing a little information about each branch of the military covers this objective. It also helps kids understand what the service members experience.
Service and Sacrifice
It may be a bit difficult for young students to understand the sacrifice of the military. They need to realize that service members choose to leave the safety of their homes to serve America.
Service members struggle through basic training. They attend classes and study to learn a special job. Then, they put themselves in danger so that we are kept safe. This is all voluntary. America does not force them.
Grattitude
The toughest activity for primary students is writing. Writing uses every skill at once. Most students write at least once per day, mostly for the teacher. Veterans Day is the perfect opportunity to write for a purpose. .
Kids can practice letter writing skills while connecting with community members. They can thank veterans for their service. Helping your students practice gratitude is life changing. It can set the tone for them as caring members of the community.
Veterans Day Activities
You have many choices when it comes to Veterans Day activities. The more explicit and interactive, the better:
- Write thank-you notes and send home with veteran family members or send to Veterans Hospital in your state.
- Have pairs record messages on their device thanking veterans
- Make school banners for Veterans Day to display in the drop off line.
- listen to veteran stories at Library of Congress History Project
- Project Free Digital Magazine Hooray for Veterans
If you are a busy teacher, and need a done-for-you resource for Veterans Day, click left or right.
I hope you grabbed a few ideas you can use.
Happy Teaching!!
Jacque Jones
Loves everything Gilmore Girls, Pikmin, & Kindle
Taught K-2. Teacher Author