FREE Remembrance Day Activities For Kids of All Ages
Are you wanting to commemorate Remembrance Day (Veterans Day) in your homeschool this year? If so keep reading for Remembrance Day activities you can do for free with kids of all ages.
Remembrance Day is November 11th and Remembrance Sunday this year is November 14th (the closest Sunday to the 11th).
Learning about our history is so important, if you are looking for a homeschool history curriculum check out our latest post. If you are reading this post before 5th November, check out our educational bonfire night activities too!
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” at the Tower of London between August 5th and 11th November 2014. If you want to see what it looked like check it out here, it was very impressive.
**Disclosure there may be affiliate links included in this post.**
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Remembrance Day Facts
- Remembrance Day was first observed in 1919 throughout the British Commonwealth. It was originally called “Armistice Day” to commemorate 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 11am, there is a minute silence to honour 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’ (an inflammation of the kidneys) and ‘Trench Fever’ (a painful infection caused by lice).
FREE Remembrance Day Activities for Homeschool
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.
Twinkl has over 5,000 FREE worksheets for Remembrance Day for kids in KS1 – KS3
Active History has lots of free resources for Remembrance Day activities for kids over the age of 11.
History of the Flanders Poppies | The meaning of the poppy on Remembrance Day
Interactive WWI Timeline from the National World War I museum.
Scavenger hunt questions all about WWI is something you can do with older children. They don’t come with answers though, so if you are unsure you can either google it or email the National World War I Museum and they will let you know the answers.
Handprint poppy wreath perfect for younger children, ut older kids can enjoy it too.
Remembrance Day Books for Kids
We love books and these are our favourite books about Remembrance Day for kids.
Where The Poppies Now Grow is a beautiful children’s picture book.
National Geographic Kids Everything World War I: Dig in With Thrilling Photos and Fascinating Facts
The Story of the First World War for Children (1914-1918) In association with the Imperial War Museum
Remembrance Day Poems for Kids
Encourage your children to either write out one of these two Remembrance Day poems or for older children maybe rewrite the poem in their own words. Or write an article about what it must have been like for the soldiers in World War I.
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.Take up our quarrel with the foe:
In Flanders Fields
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
BY JOHN MCCRAE
For the Fallen
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England’s foam.But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
For the Fallen
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
BY LAURENCE BINYON
What Remembrance Day activities have you got planned, let me know in the comments below?
Last Updated on 12 October 2021 by homeschoolof1
