Free Remembrance Day Activities For Kids of All Ages
Are you wanting to commemorate Remembrance Day (Veterans Day) in your classroom this year? If so keep reading for Remembrance Day activities you can do for free with kids of all ages.
These holiday activities for kids are a great way to understand and learn a little more about the importance of why we remember.
Remembrance Day is November 11th and Remembrance Sunday is the closest Sunday to the 11th.
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Remembrance Day facts for kids
- Remembrance Day was first observed in 1919 throughout the British Commonwealth. It was originally called “Armistice Day” to commemorate the armistice agreement that ended the First World War. On Monday, November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m. On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
- From 1921 to 1930, Armistice Day was held on the Monday of the week in which November 11 fell. The first Remembrance Day was observed on November 11, 1931.
- Every year on November 11 at 11 am, there is a minute of silence to honor and remember the men and women who have served. And continue to serve during times of war, conflict, and peace.
- The poppy is the symbol of Remembrance Day.
- Most of the Commonwealth member states, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, observe the tradition of Remembrance Day on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
- Many nations that are not members of the Commonwealth also observe Remembrance Day on November 11. Including France, Belgium, and Poland.
- The United States used to commemorate Armistice Day on November 11. However, in 1954 they changed the name to Veterans Day (it is still celebrated on November 11th).
- The word ‘armistice’ means a truce or peace arrangement. It comes from the Latin word ‘arma’. Meaning arms and ‘stitium’, meaning ‘a stopping’, giving us the meaning: to put down your arms (weapons).
- World War I was the first armed conflict where aircraft were used.
- The conditions in WWI trenches were so horrifying that they gave their name to numerous ailments that occurred there. These include: ‘Trench Foot’ (a fungal foot infection). ‘Trench Nephritis’ (inflammation of the kidneys), and ‘Trench Fever’ (a painful infection caused by lice).
Activities for Remembrance Day
Step into a world of creativity and learning with our vibrant Remembrance Day coloring pages designed especially for kids!
Get ready to embark on a coloring adventure that teaches you about heroes and the heartwarming stories behind this special day.
From the iconic poppies to the Last Post bugle call, these pages are not just fun to color. They're a fantastic way to remember and honor the brave souls who've made a difference.
Dive in, express your artistic flair, and discover the magic of Remembrance Day with our free, downloadable coloring pages.
Learn all about the poppies planted at the Tower of London in 2014 marking 100 years since the end of the war.
The British Legion has lots of FREE teaching activities for kids of all ages that can be used in either school or in homeschool, and are all linked to the UK National Curriculum.
Uncovering stories of those who served in the Great War.
Lest the Ages Forget provides teachers with a unique opportunity to educate K-12 students using primary sources and to enhance their historical thinking.
This handprint poppy art wreath is perfect for younger children, but older kids can enjoy it too.
Create charming egg carton poppies for a variety of Remembrance Day crafts with just an egg carton, paint, and tissue paper.
This easy and enjoyable craft is perfect for commemorating Remembrance Day, Veteran’s Day, and Anzac Day, adding a touch of heartfelt creativity to your projects.
Engage kids in a heartwarming Remembrance Day activity with easy-to-make melted wax poppies.
By using crayon shavings, wax paper, buttons, and pipe cleaners, children can craft beautiful poppies for various purposes, such as creating displays, wreaths, or even poppy brooches, all while remembering and honoring loved ones.
This creative project offers a meaningful way to teach children about remembrance and encourage their artistic expression.
Using red cupcake liners, a paper plate, black paper, green buttons, scissors, and glue, you can assemble a beautiful wreath that holds special meaning and honors the occasion.
This heartfelt craft is a unique way for the kids to remember and show their respect.
Get ready for Remembrance Day with delightful and versatile puffy tissue paper poppies craft suitable for all ages. This engaging activity allows toddlers and preschoolers to crumple tissue paper, while older kids can twist it around a pencil to create tufts.
The process is not only a wonderful sensory experience but also reinforces fine motor skills and creativity. Using minimal supplies like tissue paper, a paper plate, scissors, and glue, kids can craft beautiful poppies to honor this significant day.
The National WWI museum and memorial have put together an amazing interactive timeline that the kids will love.
How long did World War I last? Who fought whom? Journey through the story of the Great War with our Interactive WWI Timeline, covering the world events of 1914 ‑ 1920.
Learn all about the history of the Remembrance Day poppy with this youtube video.
Twinkl has over 3,000 FREE worksheets for Remembrance Day for kids in KS1 – KS3
Add this worksheet to your lesson plans in November and help the children understand the poem 'In Flanders Fields'.
Take Time to Remember is an activity booklet for young children that introduces concepts of remembrance in an accessible and fun manner. Brightly illustrated, it contains six activities:
- Remembrance maze
- Connect the dots
- Let's colour
- Spot the differences
- Word search
- Remembrance puzzle
Remembrance day books for elementary students
These are the best 3 Remembrance Day books for kids to add to their studies on WWI.
We absolutely love National Geographic books as the images and photos are excellent. There are over 100 images in this book.
Learn all about the leaders of the war, the tactics used to win, and much more.
This is a wonderful rhyming story about two friends.
The book takes readers on a journey of friendship set against a changing landscape of innocence, war, and then finally, peace.
This is a great book to use as a read aloud in the classroom or at home.
Another wonderful book on WWI that both children and adults will enjoy.
The images are excellent, and the facts are very detailed, a perfect book when studying WWI.
Poppies: Blood swept lands and seas of red
We are very proud to own one of the 888,246 poppies that were part of the art installation “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red“. Held at the Tower of London between August 5th and 11th November 2014.
It is proudly displayed in our home, and last year our son when studying Remembrance Day asked all about our poppy. This in turn inspired me to write this post.
What Remembrance Day activities have you got planned, let me know in the comments below.
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Last Updated on 17 April 2024 by Clare