Veterans Day

Resources about Veterans and Veterans Day back to top

101 Ways to Thank a Vet - MilitaryAvenue.com

http://www.militaryavenue.com/Content.aspx?Name=ways_to_thank_veteran

Some creative ways to demonstrate your thankfulness towards our Veterans.

Books about veterans - Kids Thank A Vet

www.kidsthankavet.com

There are many books for children that deal with American Veterans. This site lists some for consideration.

Books about veterans - Themed Reviews

www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/th_veteransday.html

The following recently published books are about Veterans Day, wars involving American soldiers, or the impact veterans have on their friends and family. Browse through this feature and those from previous years to discover more.

Church resources - FreeChurchForms.com

http://www.freechurchforms.com/veteransday.html

Free certificates, poems and more.

Church resources - MinTools.com

http://mintools.com/resources-3.htm

Ministry resources for the church.

Coloring page for Veterans Day

Link

Flag education (VFW)

http://www.vfw.org/Community/Flag-Education/

We’re your one-stop shop for all things flag-related. From flag etiquette and history to a large stock of "Old Glory" itself available at the VFW Store. Look no further for all things red, white and blue!

National Veterans Day Poster and Essay Contest (Paralyzed Veterans of America)

website

Veterans Day is the one day of the year dedicated to thanking the men and women who have made countless sacrifices for our country. This Veterans Day, children can express their thanks for America’s veterans by entering Paralyzed Veterans of America’s (Paralyzed Veterans) eighth annual National Veterans Day Poster and Essay Contest. It is a great opportunity for children to express what America’s veterans mean to them. For teachers and parents, it’s an opportunity to teach children about our nation’s veterans, the service and sacrifices they made for our country, and the contributions they continue to make in our communities today.

This year’s competition is open to students in grades 1–8. The grand prize winners—one student from the poster contest and one student from the essay contest—will receive an award plaque and an all-expense paid trip for the student accompanied by a parent or guardian to Washington, DC, for Veterans Day 2011. All poster and essay entries must be received by September 30, 2011.

Origins of Veterans Day (Gettysburg Flag Works)

http://www.gettysburgflag.com/OriginsofVeteransDay.php

Explains the origins and history of Veterans Day.

Parade listing (Vet Friends)

www.vetfriends.com/parades

U.S. Veterans Day Parade Directory

Patriotic crafts (Kids Thank A Vet)

www.kidsthankavet.com

There are many patriotic crafts that are fun and easy to do. Here are some suggestions that can be done for special holidays or whenever you feel patriotic.

Teacher resources - 2011 Veterans Day poster

http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/gallery.asp

Teacher resources - Classroom victory garden

www.classroomvictorygarden.org

The goal of The Classroom Victory Garden Project is to teach elementary students about the role of community in WWII through interdisciplinary curriculum designed to connect the past and the present. Millions of Americans grew Victory Gardens in their backyards - and on rooftops and in windowboxes - during WWII to supplement their wartime rations and help spur victory. That can-do spirit can offer your young students an age-appropriate entree into the lessons and history of WWII.

Teacher resources - Military.com article

www.military.com/veterans-day/celebrate-veterans-day.htm

Veterans Day is a great time to educate your children about the history of this holiday and the sacrifice and dedication of our U.S. veterans. So, how do you celebrate this holiday in a creative and constructive way with your children? -- How to Teach Kids About Veterans Day

Teacher resources - Take a Veteran to School Day

http://www.history.com/topics/take-a-vet

Take a Veteran to School Day is a national program developed by HISTORY to link veterans with students. Schools and communities invite veterans of all backgrounds to share their stories and receive thanks for their years of service. Teachers, register your Take a Vet to School Day event today and we'll send you 30 free Take a Veteran to School Day wristbands while supplies last. Click here to register!

Launched in 2007, thousands of schools nationwide have participated in Take a Veteran to School Day. From single class visits to all-school assemblies, these events provide a way for students to learn more about the history of Veterans Day and about the experiences of veterans from all backgrounds and walks of life. Inviting veterans to share their stories connects generations while helping our young people learn about the past. View and download the resources on this site to get started organizing your event!

Teacher resources - Veterans Administration (VA Kids Teachers Page)

www4.va.gov/kids

Resources about VA, veterans and patriotism.

Teacher resources - Veterans Administration (VA Kids K-5th Grade)

www4.va.gov/kids

Kids Learning about VA - Topics include: About VA, cool facts about veterans, about the flag, games and activities, links.

Teacher resources - Veterans Administation (VA Kids 6-12th Grade)

www4.va.gov/kids

Kids Learning about VA - Topics include: About VA, about veterans, about the flag, games, links, VA volunteer and scholarship information.

Teacher resources - Veterans History Project

http://www.loc.gov/vets/stories/ and

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/veterans/#

Stories from the Veterans History Project, from World War I up to and including the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Teacher resources - Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in the Classroom

http://www.vfw.org/Community/VFW-in-the-Classroom/

The VFW strives to thank our nation’s educators year-round by arming them with helpful resources and visits to local classrooms. Loving America and all it stands for is what we do best. Let us help you educate our future leaders.

Teacher resources - Wreaths Across America resources

www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/education.html

Along with recognizing the sacrifices of the past and present, Wreaths Across America™ counts educating our children as one of the chief missions of our campaign. Without that connection to the future, we will fail to remember that freedom isn't free.

Site includes middle school downloadable curriculum, Daisy Dog and the Parade of Purpose coloring book, Million Memories Project and the Red Hat Brigade.

Teacher resources - Kids Thank A Vet (activities, songs, clip art)

www.kidsthankavet.com

Classroom activities which coincide with the Students Thank a Veteran program can be adjusted to all grade levels. Many of these suggested activities can be done in a class period or extended throughout the school year.

Teacher resources - TeacherVision

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/veterans-day/teacher-resources/6674.html

TeacherVision's cross-curricular Veterans Day lessons, printables, and resources helps students understand the contributions veterans have made to the country. There are Veterans Day worksheets to honor heroes, facts about flags, pop-up art books to make, literature guides, patriotic songs, historical references, and many more fun and educational activities for your students of all grade levels.

Teacher resources - The Teacher's Corner

http://seasonal.theteacherscorner.net/veterans-day/

The Veteran's Day pages will provide you with great activities and lessons to help you and your students honor our country's heroes. Ideas within the Veteran's Day pages include: scavenger hunts, lesson plans, printable worksheets, and Internet resources.

Teacher resources - The Teacher's Guide

http://www.theteachersguide.com/Veteran's%20Day.htm

Veterans Day resources for the classroom.

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A teacher asks for advice about Veterans Day back to top

October, 2011 - Operation We Are Here received this e-mail from a teacher:

"I am a teacher at a high school on Long Island, New York. We would like to do something special for this coming Veterans Day. We were thinking of some kind of collection of items that we could send to the military overseas. Do you think this is a good idea? Or is there something better that you need for us to do? We would start it now, and them we plan on having a school assembly honoring our Veterans just before Veterans Day."

In response to her request, I asked OWAH Facebook members for their advice. Their response is listed below, and I think it provides excellent insight and direction for this teacher and others. The needs of our deployed military personnel are well-supplied by many non-profit organizations. However, there are many needs and opportunities for service to:

- home front families

- wounded warriors and their families

- loved ones of the fallen

- veterans, especially the older generation who did not receive the support that

compares to our current generation of veterans

Here is what they said:

If your school is near a VA Hospital, your students could visit veterans in the hospital. Visitors are always valued by hospitalized veterans.

Oodles of people from corporations, to non-profits, to individuals organize untold numbers of efforts to send things to the troops. Consider instead finding families back home to help or bless with a cheer up. Maybe a home cookied meal, a restaurant gift certificate, babysitting, or painting/redecorating a room.

If you ask service members how you can support them - 99% of the time they answer, "just take care of my family". I would suggest the children put together packages/letters of appreciation to the kids/spouses of deployed, wounded and surviving service members. Various organizations can assist in disseminating the packages

I agree do something great for the veterans in the VA hospital, these guys never received the appreciation they deserve when they were off fight wars so many years ago, like our troops get now.

As a spouse/family of a deployed soldier, I like the idea of doing something for the families. It would be nice to just know someone cares.

Are you close to a military base? There are Family Readiness Groups (FRG's) that support the families while the soldiers are deployed. If you are not near a base, then contact your VFW or your local AmVet representative. These numbers are available online. You could also connect with a local news channel about what you want to do and send a "shout out" to military families that may live in your community. Thanks for wanting to help our military - God bless you!

If close to a VA hospital or VA nursing home, go for a visit. Something to show appreciation for the warriors of our past, the Vets. Maybe a coffee and donuts reception somewhere.

Have students who are connected in some way to the military write a short essay about that person (cousin, sibling, friend, grandparent) and then create a video collage of these essays to be shown at the Veterans Day assembly to help the "military" become more personal to those who have no connection.

Remember, it's not just the neediness of the family members, but the loneliness. Our family often gets ignored because we are so self sufficient and can take care of most of our needs with the extra pay they get while away. It doesn't change the feelings of being alone...