Veterans Day in the Classroom

Resources for Grades K-5

Activities

• Three ways students can thank veterans  
  Printable activities from Scholastic for grades K-4
• Military Uniforms (PDF, 1 pg.), reading comprehension activity
• Veterans Day Crossword (PDF, 1 pg.)

Background Resources

Veterans History Project, Library of Congress
Archive of veteran interviews from WWI to the present and two dozen interviews with pilots and crew members from WW II to the present.

Over 200 Years of Service: The History of Women in the U.S. Military
A look at the history of women in the military, and how their roles have changed over the years, from the USO.

Veteran's Day: For Teachers and Students Teacher Resource Guide (PDF, 33 pgs.)
From the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Video

• Take a Veteran to School Day

Printables

• Remembrance Day or Veteran's Day Coloring Pages
• Veterans Day Crafts, Projects, Worksheets, Books, and Printouts

Children’s Literature

• Ansary, Mir Tamim. Veterans Day, 2nd Edition (Holiday Histories). Heinemann, 2001. Also in Spanish.
• Ashabranner , Brent. Always to Remember: The Story of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Scholastic, 1992.
• Ashabranner, Brent. Remembering Korea: Korean War. 21st Century, 2001.
• Ashabranner, Brent. Their Names To Live By. 21st Century, 1998.
• Brill, Marlene Targ. Veterans Day (On My Own, Holidays). First Avenue Editions, 2005. (also in Spanish)
• Bunting, Eve. The Wall. Clarion Books, 1992.
• Cotton, Jacqueline S. Veterans Day (Rookie Read-About Holidays). Children's Press, 2002.
• De Capua, Sarah. The Vietnam Memorial (Cornerstones of Freedom). Children's Press, 2003.
• Ferry, Joseph. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial (American Symbols & Their Meanings). Mason Crest Publishers, 2002.
• Henry, Heather French. Pepper's Purple Heart: A Veterans Day Story. Cubbie Blue Publishing, 2003.
• Landau, Elaine. Veterans Day: Remembering Our War Heroes (Finding Out About Holidays). Enslow Elementary, 2002.
• Nelson, Robin. Veterans Day (First Step Nonfiction). Lerner Publications, 2005.
• Peter, James S. The Saga of Black Navy Veterans of World War II. International Scholars Press, 1996.
• Rosinsky, Natalie. Vietnam Veterans Memorial (We the People). Compass Point Books, 2006.
• Sevastiades, Patra McSharry. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Library of American Landmarks). PowerKids Press, 1994.
• Schuch, Mari C. Veterans Day (Pebble Books). Capstone Press, 2003.
• Worsley, Arlene. Veterans Day (American Holidays). Weigl Publishers, 2006.

Resources for Grades 6-8

Lesson Plans

Veterans Day and the Meaning of Sacrifice
In this PBS NewsHour lesson plan, will identify important veterans in their lives, examine an interactive timeline of military history and study issues facing veterans today. 

The Veteran in a New Field, 1865
Students in grades K-12 view and interpret Winslow Homer’s 1865 painting The Veteran in a New Field. Teachers can access lesson plans on EdSitement to help students analyze the symbolism in the painting and put themselves in the shoes of someone in history. 

Women Aviators in World War II: "Fly Girls"
Students in grades 6-8 explore the contributions of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) during World War II.

Activities

• Military Uniforms (PDF, 1 pg.), reading comprehension activity
• Veterans Day Crossword (PDF, 1 pg.)

Background Resources

Veterans History Project, Library of Congress
Archive of veteran interviews from WWI to the present and two dozen interviews with pilots and crew members from WW II to the present.

Over 200 Years of Service: The History of Women in the U.S. Military
A look at the history of women in the military, and how their roles have changed over the years, from the USO.

Veteran's Day: For Teachers and Students Teacher Resource Guide (PDF, 33 pgs.)
From the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Video

• Take a Veteran to School Day 

Printables

• Remembrance Day or Veteran's Day Coloring Pages
• Veterans Day Crafts, Projects, Worksheets, Books, and Printouts

Resources for Grades 9-12

Lesson Plans & Activities

Veterans Day and the Meaning of Sacrifice
In this PBS NewsHour lesson plan, will identify important veterans in their lives, examine an interactive timeline of military history and study issues facing veterans today. 

Background Resources

Veterans History Project, Library of Congress
Archive of veteran interviews from WWI to the present and two dozen interviews with pilots and crew members from WW II to the present.

Over 200 Years of Service: The History of Women in the U.S. Military
A look at the history of women in the military, and how their roles have changed over the years, from the USO.

Veteran's Day: For Teachers and Students Teacher Resource Guide (PDF, 33 pgs.)
From the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Video

• Take a Veteran to School Day