Are you looking for ways to celebrate Veterans Day with your students? Veterans Day celebrations at your school might not look quite the same this year, but it’s still important to honor those who have served. Whether you are in the physical classroom with students or meeting virtually, we have ways you can challenge your students academically while honoring Veterans in your local community and learning about our most decorated Veterans, the Medal of Honor Recipients.

Secondary Lessons for the In-Person Classroom

An Unlikely Hero – This lesson, focusing on Medal of Honor Recipient Gary Littrell, asks students to consider the values that make a hero. After completing the main content of the lesson, your students can take on the extended activity, preparing interview questions for local Veterans and presenting their interview results to the class.

My Challenge to You – This lesson introduces students to the concept of challenge coins. For a Veterans Day twist on the activity, ask your students to interview a local Veteran (in person or virtually), and then create a challenge coin design representing that Veteran’s experience. The challenge coin designs can be hung in the school or sent to the Veterans as a thank you!

Secondary Lessons for the Virtual Classroom

Portrait of a Service Member – This lesson challenges students to develop insightful questions to learn more about a Veteran. All parts of this lesson can be completed remotely.

Selfless Service – This lesson asks students to share stories of those they know who have served others. For Veterans Day, you can ask all students to share a story of a Veteran who has served others, either during formal military service or in the community after their time in the military came to an end.

Elementary Lesson for the In-Person Classroom

Medal of Honor State Research Project – In this lesson, students are challenged to research the Medal of Honor Recipients from a specific state while also learning facts about that state. This lesson is a great opportunity for your students to learn about some of your state’s most decorated Veterans.

Elementary Lesson for the Virtual Classroom

F is for Flag – This lesson offers younger elementary students the chance to learn about the American flag. For a Veterans Day connection, ask students to write the name of a Veteran they know on their completed flag. They can hang the flag in their room during virtual class and tell everyone the name of the Veteran they wrote.

However you choose to honor Veterans Day with your students, we hope that you will take some time to share your thanks with those who have given so much to defend our country.

You can learn more about the Character Development Program and our elementary and secondary resources here.