Lessons Activities and Resources to Support the Commemoration of Veterans Day

Veterans Day
Lesson Plan
GRADE LEVEL/COURSE: Social Studies, PreK - 5
TITLE:
Veterans in My Family
OBJECTIVES:
1. To create a visual of students’ family members who are or were veterans.
2. To develop an appreciation for people who have served the United States in
times of war and times of peace.
SUGGESTED TIME:
Two - three class periods
MATERIALS/AIDS NEEDED:
1. K-W-L Chart
2. White stars cut from construction paper (stars must be large enough to write the
name of a veteran, branch of service, and war or conflict in which they served.)
3. Red and Blue ribbon to staple stars when completed.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES:
1. Draw a K – W – L Chart on the board or on a large sheet of paper.
2. Ask students what a veteran is. Ask if they know anyone who is a veteran.
3. Record student responses on the KNOW, WANT TO KNOW part of the K-W-
L chart.
4. As a homework assignment, have students ask if anyone in their family
(grandparents, parents, cousins, siblings, aunts or uncles, or whomever they
wish to include) served in any branch of the United States military during
peacetime or wartime. Ask them to collect the names of these individuals, the
branch of service they (are) were in, their rank, and the war (s) and/or
conflict(s) in which they served. (Include veterans who served during times of
peace, as well.) Students may also include any commendations received by
the veteran.
Example: Capt. Sheronda Smith, US Navy, Vietnam War
(Note: Lower elementary teachers may prefer to cut out stars and send them
home with students along with a description of the project.)