|
Remembering Those Who Gave Their Lives:
Lessons for Memorial Day
What does Memorial Day mean to your students? Do they grasp the
significance -- or the sheer number -- of American men and women
who have died serving their country so the rest of us might enjoy
freedom? Included: Five lessons help students understand the meaning of Memorial Day -- plus links to more than 2 dozen more lessons!
The first official Memorial Day celebration was held in the United
States in May 1868. On that day, which was then called Decoration
Day, people remembered the war dead by decorating their graves with
flowers.
To learn more about the history of Memorial Day, see
Memorial Day History.
More
Memorial Day
Lessons
* Don't miss more lesson activities from Education World in
our Memorial
Day Archive.
* Organnizers of the Veterans
History Project are collecting and preserving "audio- and
video-taped oral histories, along with documentary materials
such as letters, diaries, maps, photographs, and home movies,
of America's war veterans and those who served in support of
them." Project organizers invite middle and high school teachers
and their students to participate.
* How about designing your own Memorial Day WebQuest? Arrange
students into groups. Each group will take responsibility for
part of a Memorial Day program. Separate groups could handle
music, a Memorial Day speech, arranging for special guests,
and a poetry reading. Individual students might take responsibility
for the opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the playing
of Taps.
* Still looking for ideas? While searching the Net we found
many. Click here for more than 2 dozen additional lesson ideas.
|
Today, we still
take time to honor those who serve and have served, especially those
who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives. But do your students
understand the true significance of the day? In order to help them
put Memorial Day in perspective, Education World editors offer...
FIVE LESSONS FOR TEACHING ABOUT MEMORIAL DAY
Education World provides five lessons to help students
learn about the purpose and significance of Memorial Day. Click
each of the five lesson headlines below for a complete teaching
resource. (Appropriate grade levels for each lesson appear in parentheses.)
Memorial Day Shoebox Parade
Create a timeline of U.S. conflict and a Memorial Day Shoebox Parade
to commemorate soldiers who fought for freedom. (Grades 3-12)
Mapping Your State's Role in the Vietnam War
Teach the significance of Memorial Day by creating a map showing
the hometowns of your state's Vietnam War dead. A stunning visual
reminder! (Grades 2-12)
The Wall Inspires Letters to Veterans
Eve Bunting's moving book, The Wall, inspires students to
write letters to veterans at local veterans' hospitals. (Grades
K-12)
Memorial Day: Graphing Our History of Sacrifice
Learn about the significance of Memorial Day by using an online
graphing tool to graph America's war history. (Grades 3-12)
Thinking About Our Troops
A handful of ways for kids to connect with America's soldiers serving
around the globe. (Grade K-12)
Article by Gary Hopkins
Education World®
Copyright © 2009 Education World
Originally published 05/16/2003
Last updated 04/24/2009
|
