Memorial Day Lesson Ideas

Resources for K-5

Lesson Plans

Memorial Day: Graphing Our History of Sacrifice

Students in grades 3-12 use an online graphing tool to graph the history of America's war dead to understand the significance of Memorial Day.

Activities

Crafts

Remembrance Day or Veteran's Day Crafts

Printable coloring pages for students in grades K-2.

Coloring Pictures

Interactive Memorial Day color book pages for students in grades K-5.

Puzzles

Memorial Day Kids Crossword (K-3)

Printables

Memorial Day Printables

10 activities including word search, crossword, coloring pages

Memorial Day

Word search, word scramble, alphabet patterns

Remembrance Poppy Coloring Page

Patriotic Memorial Day Coloring Sheet

Remembrance Day and Veteran's Day Themed Coloring Pages

Background Resources for Educators

Read Across America Booklist

The books in this list can help young people understand the significance of Memorial Day and the importance of honoring those who have died in service to the United States.

Memorial Day Resources

From the Department of Veterans Affairs

The Other Decoration Day Speech

Text of speech given by Frederick Douglass at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, on Decoration Day, May 30, 1871

• Memorial Day History
• Americans Killed in Action, Numbers, American War Library
• The Poetry Foundation: War
• The Memorial Day Poppy

Resources for 6-8

Lesson Plans

Memorial Day: Graphing Our History of Sacrifice

Students in grades 3-12 use an online graphing tool to graph the history of America's war dead to understand the significance of Memorial Day.

Americans at War Learning Resources

Includes lesson plans for grades 4-12 students, oral history interviews, first person reenactments, video, and an interactive game in which students examine objects to identity a character from the Civil War.

The Massachusetts 54th Regiment: Honoring the Heroes

Students in grades 6-8 analyze The Robert Gould Shaw and Massachusetts 54th Regiment Memorial, read and answer questions about Shaw and the 54th regiment, pose for a photograph like the men in the sculpture, and then create a comic strip featuring one of the heroes of this regiment.

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, examine portrayals of women in World War II posters (and newsreels), and compare them with personal recollections of the WASPs.

Background Resources for Educators

Read Across America Booklist

The books in this list can help young people understand the significance of Memorial Day and the importance of honoring those who have died in service to the United States.

Memorial Day Resources from the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs

"The First Decoration Day"

A brief description of the May 1st, 1865 Charleston, South Carolina Memorial Day celebration.

The Other Decoration Day Speech

Text of speech given by Frederick Douglass at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, on Decoration Day, May 30, 1871

• Memorial Day History
• Americans Killed in Action, Numbers, American War Library
• Poems about War
• The Poetry Foundation: War
• The Memorial Day Poppy

Resources for 9-12

Lesson Plans

Memorial Day: Graphing Our History of Sacrifice

Students in grades 3-12 use an online graphing tool to graph the history of America's war dead to understand the significance of Memorial Day.

Americans at War Learning Resources

Includes lesson plans for grades 4-12 students, oral history interviews, first person reenactments, video, and an interactive game in which students examine objects to identity a character from the Civil War.

The Red Badge of Courage: A New Kind of Courage

Following a close reading of Chapter 23 of The Red Badge of Courage, students in grades 9-12 compare it to a more traditional tale of combat. Using their new understanding, students will select one of three published endings best suited to their understanding of Crane's exploration of values in the novel.

Edith Wharton: War Correspondent

Students in grades 9-12 read chapters of Edith Wharton's book, Fighting France, From Dunkerque to Belfort, explore an American correspondent's experiences during World War I, and create their own correspondence report.

Background Resources for Educators

Read Across America Booklist

The books in this list can help young people understand the significance of Memorial Day and the importance of honoring those who have died in service to the United States.

"The First Decoration Day"

A brief description of the May 1st, 1865 Charleston, South Carolina Memorial Day celebration.

The Other Decoration Day Speech

Text of speech given by Frederick Douglass at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, on Decoration Day, May 30, 1871

• Memorial Day History
• Americans Killed in Action, Numbers, American War Library
• Poems about War
• The Poetry Foundation: War
• The Memorial Day Poppy

Video

To Appomattox and Beyond: The End of the War and a Search for Meanings

Describes what may be the first Memorial Day celebration in Charleston, South Carolina on May 1st 1865.