Veterans Day - Part 1

Have you decided what you're going to do with your preschoolers on Veterans Day? While they may not get the full significance of the holiday, there are many ways that you can help your kiddos make connections.

Activity Introduction

Q: What is a veteran? A: A veteran is someone who used to be in the military. There are five branches in the United States military - U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard. All of these branches help keep us safe and protect our freedoms every day.

Q: What is Veterans Day? A: Veterans Day is observed every year on November 11th. It is a day set aside to honor and thank all of the men and women who are serving or have served in the military. While it is mainly to honor the men and women who are still living - who, while they did not die in the line of duty, made many sacrifices to serve and protect our Country's great legacy of freedom - we often also honor and remember those who gave their lives while in service (even though Memorial Day is the 'official' day on which we honor their memory).

With these new ideas in mind, introduce a few famous veterans that your students might have heard of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, etc. and ask if your students know any veterans. {Source for other famous vets}

Veterans Day Poem

We found this poem floating around Pinterest - written by Cheryl Dyson - and thought it might make a good shared reading activity.

It's also a great jumping off point for discussing...

• New vocabulary - i.e. honor, freedom, brave, bold, rights, pride, etc.
• The characteristics of a soldier/veteran