Veterans Day is a holiday that celebrates those who have fought for our freedom! It is the perfect time to show appreciation to veterans, write letters to veterans, and read a book about veterans. If you need lesson plans, a variety of activities, writing prompts, or other ideas for teaching about this holiday and the military service, check out this great list of 44 patriotic activities below! These activities span across different areas of content and can serve as excellent educational activities.
1. Kid’s Books for Veterans Day
Students in your elementary classroom may have never heard about Veterans Day, so a great place to start is with some read-aloud picture books. This national holiday means many things and has a lot of history, so sharing kid-friendly stories and images can help the classroom discuss this important topic.
Learn More: I Can Teach My Child
2. A Million Thanks: Letter Writing
This organization collects letters people write and distributes them to troops all over the world. Provide your students with some prompts and ideas for what to write, then give them some paper to write their own letters to veterans who will really appreciate them!
Learn More: A Million Thanks
3. Branches of Military Craft
Here is an interactive activity that will explain the different branches of the military in a way elementary students can visualize and understand. You can print out and cut the pieces for games and extension activities!
Learn More: Fantastic Fun and Learning
4. DIY Forever Flowers
Another in-class way to show appreciation for veterans is to make these adorable forever flowers using patriotic paper. With your class, watch the video tutorial and try out some of these DIY flower designs.
Learn More: YouTube
5. Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day
Here is a printable activity that asks students to compare and contrast these two patriotic holidays. You can have an open and honest discussion about what each holiday represents and see if students have any personal accounts from family or friends who have served in the military.
Learn More: Think Grow Giggle
6. Classroom Paper Link Display
Get inspired by this creative approach to national pride by using red, white, and blue paper strips to piece together a flag! You can do this for any country, just get the colored paper you’ll need and help your kiddos cut and tape the pieces.
Learn More: Pinterest
7. Veterans Day Info Scavenger Hunt
Once you have spent a lesson or two teaching your class the facts and history of Veterans Day, see how much they can remember by giving them a scavenger hunt to complete in pairs or small groups.
Learn More: Jillian Starr Teaching
8. Build a Soldier
This free printable color craft of a military soldier is the perfect resource for your Veterans Day lesson plan. It incorporates constructing the pieces to build the solider (cutting and gluing skills), as well as space to write, and once completed and shared with the class, it can be hung up as patriotic decoration!
Learn More: A Touch of Class Teaching
9. Timeline in History Overview Lesson
Give your elementary class an overview of how Veterans Day came to be on November 11th, what groups were involved in its creation, and what organizations observe this holiday. You can make this a vocabulary lesson, highlighting terms such as military, freedom, soldier, etc.
Learn More: Time 4 Learning
10. Patriotic Sing-Along Songs
There are tons of simple and educational songs for kids about Veterans Day. This link has many videos you can choose and play in your class for kids to sing along with and maybe even have a little dance party!
Learn More: Living Montessori Now
11. Classroom Visits
There are organizations you can connect with to find veterans in your local area. Another option is to ask your students if they have any family or friends who are veterans who would be willing to visit the class during the week of Veterans Day and talk about their personal experiences and share some facts.
Learn More: Beth’s Music Classroom
12. Color By Number
There are tons of fun and creative color-by-number pages available online you can access and print for free! Find a design your students will love and have them complete in class or as a homework activity.
Learn More: Crayola
13. Attend a Parade!
Check out this link to see what events are happening in your area around Veterans Day, encourage students to attend, or make it a class field trip! This federal holiday is celebrated on and around November 11th every year in many cities all over the world.
Learn More: Military
14. Remembrance Wreath
There are various foods, customs, traditions, and even flowers associated with Veterans Day or what some countries call “Remembrance Day”. This poppy craft uses egg cartons to make these sweet flowers, some paint, and glue to piece together this token of appreciation.
Learn More: No Time for Flashcards
15. Poetry Reading and Creative Writing
You can use this famous poem for inspiration or provide some helpful writing prompts to get your students in the mindset of gratitude and appreciation for military veterans. Pick a few other poems, read them together, and have a whole class discussion.
Learn More: PlanBee
16. Planting Poppies
Does your elementary school have green space that could use a pop of color? This link will show you how to plant and take care of poppies. Have your students help you plant seeds/taproots and watch the flowers grow over the months leading up to November.
Learn More: Gardening Know How
17. Active Duty Care Packages
Did you know your school can get involved in sending care packages to active troops all over the world to brighten a soldier’s day? See what items are on their “wish list” and have students bring an item or two to class and contribute to a class box!
Learn More: Hero Care Packages
18. Remembrance Bulletin Board Display
This picture craft incorporates many mediums of art including photography, color theory, paper folding, and student participation. Kids love seeing themselves on display so ask students to pose for this sweet gesture and make a big impact at your school.
Learn More: Pinterest
19. DIY Poppy Stones
Remembrance stones are a low-prep resource you can make and use with your students as a small and simple reminder to show respect and appreciation to veterans. They can bring in their own stones and paint them with phrases like “thank you” and “always remember”.
Learn More: Happy Hooligans
20. Aid for Homeless Veterans
Unfortunately, many military veterans have to deal with difficulties when coming back from active duty. Some individuals may have trauma, lost jobs/relationships, and financial instability, also there are many disabled veterans. This website shows what items they may need and what your school can do to contribute.
Learn More: USA Cares
21. Build a Soldier Writing Activity
This writing activity is a great way to celebrate this national holiday. There are differentiated templates, depending on your students’ needs. They can be displayed with this cute coloring sheet template to showcase a crafty little soldier. Students can write about soldiers or the holiday.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
22. Active Duty Care Packages
Veterans Day is a great time to sponsor a soldier or create a care package for active troops. Students can all pitch in and bring a few things to include in the package. Don’t forget the handwritten cards!
Learn More: Veterans United
23. Veterans Day Virtual Scavenger Hunt
Technology is a great way to enhance teaching these days! Use this virtual scavenger hunt to let students reinforce their own learning by finding facts around the web. Students could do this independently, in small groups, or with partners.
Learn More: Education World
24. Veterans Day Flipbook
This adorable flipbook covers all the bases of Veterans Day. Students can learn about the holiday, more about veterans, and the branches of service. This flipbook is student-friendly and can be colored and shared with family afterward.
Learn More: Appletastic Learning
25. Thank You Letters
Use this simple, but cute template for having your students write thank-you notes to veterans. You can fold the notes into cards. These would also be good for mounting on construction paper and hanging in the hallways for decoration.
Learn More: Appletastic Learning
26. Bring A Veteran to School
Allow students to invite a veteran to school with them for a classroom visit. Have many veterans come into your classroom so your students can express appreciation through patriotic songs, art, and poetry. Have students give thank you letters to them as they leave.
Learn More: Kids Creative Chaos
27. Compare and Contrast Veterans Day and Memorial Day
Students can learn more about two important holidays. They can read up and learn more about Memorial Day, during your teaching unit about Veterans Day. Then, they can compare and contrast the two holidays. They can write an essay using the information they learn.
Learn More: Think, Grow, Giggle
28. All About Soldiers
All about soldiers writing is a great way to incorporate what students know about soldiers. Students can list adjectives, write poems, or just sentences that explain more about the soldiers they have been learning about.
Learn More: Teach Starter
29. Flag Collage Project
This art project is great for all grade levels! Let students create this beautiful version of our American flag! Have them collect and glue pieces of paper of each color to the correct places. Display this in the hall or front of the school for military veterans to see as they enter the school.
Learn More: Deep Space Sparkle
30. Branches of Service Puzzles
Part of an activity bundle, these branches of service puzzles have each picture that go together. Students will see the uniforms, objects that represent each branch, and pictures of service men and women from each branch. These are easy to print, laminate, and cut.
Learn More: Fantastic Fun & Learning
31. Veteran Day Poppy
Poppies are a popular thing to see around Memorial Day and Veterans Day. This is a simple, yet touching craft that students can easily make. You can attach a sweet poem to it and younger students can look for sight words, while older students can write their own poems.
Learn More: Mr. Wheeler’s First Grade
32. Nonfiction Veterans Day Writing
This reading and writing combo serves as a great comprehension activity for students. Pair some picture books, or possibly even a few video clips, with this writing prompt and have students produce some nonfiction writing to go along with what they have read about and learned.
Learn More: Mrs. Wheeler’s First Grade
33. Patriotic Thank You Banner
This patriotic banner will make a wonderful display for your classroom, hallway, or other places around your school. It’s a great investment to make as your kids will be able to hang it around their school every year and you can even invite them to decorate it with a bunch of hearts or personalized thank you messages.
Learn More: Lofaris
34. Heart Craft
Let students create a camo heart for displaying in the hall or serving as cards for veterans. Students can tear strips of construction paper and glue them into the heart template to form a representation of the camo that soldiers wear.
Learn More: A Classroom on Cloud Nine
35. Our Heroes Display
Creating a hero display at school is a great way to bring ties from your student’s homes into the school. Celebrate the soldiers and service men and women in your students’ lives by honoring them and their connections to the boys and girls in your class.
Learn More: Pinterest
36. Soldier Craft and Adjective Activity
Teaching parts of speech is not always easy. There are many parts and students get bored. This is a fun way to incorporate teaching adjectives into your Veterans Day unit. Have students craft a soldier and use sentence frames, or create their own, to help describe the soldiers.
Learn More: Pinterest
37. Wall of Thank You
A great way to show appreciation for veterans is to create a “thank you wall” for them. Attach photos of them in uniform, even include famous veterans, and display them with a card that has their name and military information. Make sure you include the red, white, and blue theme!
Learn More: Amy McGough’s Portfolio
38. Breakfast for Veterans or School Assembly
Invite veterans to come into the school or classroom for a special program. Have school students invite veterans to their elementary or middle school for a special breakfast or assembly to honor them. Include American veterans, but don’t forget disabled veterans and female veterans.
Learn More: Beth’s Music Classroom
39. A Soldier Is…
A great way to start this activity is whole group and by using this anchor chart. Read nonfiction books that tell more about soldiers and have a group discussion about what characteristics soldiers need. Make notes so students can reference them when they go to do their own, independent writing.
Learn More: Life in First Grade
40. Stained Glass Soldier Craft
This adorable craft will be a big hit! Students will enjoy creating this suncatcher-type craft for Veterans Day. It is bright and colorful and nice for adding some patriotic decoration to your school or classroom in preparation for a school assembly for this federal holiday.
Learn More: Clever Patch
41. Directed Drawing
Directed drawings are a big favorite for many elementary students. This one features a veteran in military gear. Students will listen to directions and use them to create a drawing. They will then color them. These serve as a wonderful bulletin board display!
Learn More: First and Kinder Blue Skies
42. Branches of Service Hat
As students learn more about the different branches of service, they will begin to notice the different uniforms. Students can create these adorable hats that showcase men and women from each branch. This is a great activity to pair with informational literature.
Learn More: Katie Roltgen Teaching
43. Patriotic Q-Tip Painting
Especially good for young students, this Q-tip painting activity is a great way to create a patriotic heart. This artwork is easy to do because students simply need a Q-tip and some paint. Print these templates and students will be busy creating their own flags.
Learn More: Sparkling in Primary
44. Veteran Themed Math Memory
Add some fun to everyday math activities! This math memory game is a great way to work on number recognition and counting. It is all made with the Veterans Day theme, so it is perfect to use at this time of year!
Learn More: Sparkling in Primary
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