First off, I always use the Zerox site "Let's Say Thanks" to send postcards to the military service people. (This website is not currently operating- I do hope it returns as it is a favorite of mine.)
Then I read the story The Wall by Eve Bunting which is also a Reading Rainbow video.
This song is a wonderful resource too!
We also read and illustrate this poem:
I also have a Veterans Day Pack if you are interested.
(The poem above is included in the pack)
To wrap up our learning my school holds a special Veterans Day assembly where we invite military friends and family to be honored through songs sung by our student chorus. A high school honor guard also is part of the program. My class will also be writing veterans special letters of thanks.
What are your plans for Veterans Day?
I recently started a Facebook Group for teachers to share ideas, questions, and inspiration.
Come Join the group!
This sounds SO great! I've downloaded the poem to share with our first-grade team, who always does such a fantastic Veterans' Day program. The kiddos study the branches of the military and learn patriotic songs to sing to the Veterans in the assembly, during which they hand them notes of thanks that they've written and pictures that they've drawn. We set up a table at the entrance to our school, saving a seat for the soldier who hasn't returned, just like the cover of the book America's White Table by Margot Theiss Raven. And we write HERO in the salt on the plate. We can NOT thanks these brave men and women enough!!!
ReplyDeleteWe also launch our Santas for Our Soldiers drive that day to collect supplies for care packages to send to troops that we know of who are on active duty overseas instead of home with their families over the holidays. It's my favorite project all year!
Barbara
The Corner On Character
A book I love to read on Veterans' Day is America's White Table by Margot Theis Raven. I set up the table just like in the book. It is very touching for me because my brother is aslo a veteran.
ReplyDeleteSuch great ideas! Thank you for sharing these!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the ideas! I shared that video with my students today, it was very touching! I love the poem, I'd love to share it with my students tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteSally from ElementaryMatters
What a great day for the kids and a good way to reinforce understanding of Veterans Day. Glad you are there for these students!
ReplyDeleteI came here from the "Teaching Blog Addict" site because this is a great idea for our Linky Party too this week. The theme is 'Veterens Day' this time.
Would you like to add your post to our site? We're somewhat new, yet getting good traffic already and ranking very well for the search engines.
We'd love to host your 'link' there this week too!
Pam Hoffman
http://conservationofeggs.blogspot.com/2011/11/5th-conservation-linky-honor-our.html