Memorial Day School Activities
Unless they have a relative or friend in the military, most children think of Memorial Day as the holiday right before the end of school. It doesn't have significance to them, and they don't understand what the day represents. Teaching students about the history and importance of the day and impressing upon them the sacrifices that were made can be done with special in-class activities.
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War Memorials and Cemeteries
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The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located at Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Share research about the different cemeteries and war memorials across the country. Two of the most well-known are Arlington Cemetery and the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, also known as "The Wall." Discuss when each memorial was opened, the significance of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery, and how many visitors stop to see these memorials each year. Share some of the many personal poems and stories written by people who have visited the cemeteries and memorials. Have the students write something about how they might feel if they were there.
Branches of the Military
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Teach the students about the various branches of the military, their involvement in past wars, and what they currently do for our country. Show pictures of the uniforms and the flags that represent each branch. Younger students can color a flag of the branch of their choice, and the flags can be displayed in the room. Invite a member of the military to speak to the class. Have him wear his uniform and be ready to tell about the branch he is in and what he has experienced in the military.
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Graph Lives Lost
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Create a bar graph so students can visualize lives lost. If the idea of lost lives seems too vague for the students to grasp, create a visual with a bar graph. Starting with the Revolutionary War, graph all the wars the United States has been involved in, and the lives that have been lost in each war. This can be done as a class project or individually. Older students can do their own research on the Internet. Graphs can be made with a computer program, on a whiteboard or with poster board for the younger children. Discuss the different wars and whether they think the sacrifices of lives was worth the outcome.
Support Our Military
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Have the class write a letter to our troops. Challenge the students to think about the troops now serving our country. Just because we don't see them, we can't forget the job they are doing for us. Log onto amillionthanks.org and learn about how to write a letter of appreciation to our military. Write a letter as a class, or if the students are older, each one can write a letter. Speak with your class about the sacrifices being made, families that are left back home and how a letter can help lift their morale and make military personnel feel supported.
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References
- Photo Credit Freedom Isn't Free image by 14ktgold from Fotolia.com arlington cemetery image by Ritu Jethani from Fotolia.com pencil draw graph image by Anatoly Tiplyashin from Fotolia.com escribir image by drakis from Fotolia.com
