Veterans Day 2024 Teaching Resources
Honor Veterans Day 2024 in your classroom with Veterans Day activities for preschool and elementary-level students, craft activities, worksheets, printables, and more resources to add to your lesson plans.
Download printable Veterans Day books, vocabulary word walls, cut and paste activities, and reading passages to help your students learn why we observe Veterans Day in the United States. You'll also find card-writing templates to send to veterans from your class. This collection of curriculum-aligned teaching resources was created by elementary school teachers who know what you need most when planning for Veterans Day observances at school.
Not sure what to teach about Veterans Day or how to mark this American holiday in the classroom? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a look at when Veteran Day is and some other common questions your students may ask!
What Is Veterans Day? A Kid-Friendly Definition
It may seem simple, but we have to start somewhere! If you're explaining this holiday to your class, here's a kid-friendly definition you can use:
Veterans Day is an American holiday when we honor and show our appreciation for all the veterans who have served our country. We use this day to say thank you to them for their bravery and sacrifices.
On Veterans Day, we also say thank you to people who are currently serving in the US military. It's set aside as a chance for every American to recognize and thank them.
When Is Veterans Day 2024?
The classroom calendar is chock full of things you must keep track of, and this November holiday is never the same day of the week!
Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11 every year in the US, which means it will be marked on Monday, November 11, 2024, falling nearly a week after Election Day.
What Is a Veteran? A Kid-Friendly Definition
Of course, if you're talking about Veterans Day, you may need to define "veteran" for your students as well. Here's how our teacher team defines this term for our students:
A veteran is someone who has served in the military. They made special sacrifices to help protect our country.
Veterans go by many names:
- Soldiers — Veterans who served in the US Army are called soldiers.
- Sailors — Those who served in the US Navy are called sailors.
- Marines — A veteran who served in the US Marine Corps is called a Marine.
- Airmen — Both women and men who have served in the US Air Force (now called the US Space Force) are referred to as airmen.
In this Veterans Day activity, a student shared what they know about US soldiers.
Why Do We Celebrate Veterans Day in November?
This question is a bit more complicated to answer.
Technically, the federal holiday recognizes the Armistice of November 11, 1918. This was the formal agreement that marked the official end of World War I.
This may be a topic you're covering in history class if you're teaching older students, but younger kids likely have never even heard the term "armistice."
If you're one of those teachers with younger kids, here's how you might explain this term and how it relates to Veterans Day:
An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting, and that is what what was signed to end the fighting of World War 1.
This signing of the armistice hapened on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The 11th month is November, which is why Veterans Day is held on November 11 every year here in the US, and many other countries celebrate the day as Armistice Day.
Why Is it Important for Students to Learn About Veterans Day?
Want to make sure students know Veterans Day isn't just another opportunity to get out of school for the day?
It's important for students to learn that Veterans Day is the one day that we set aside here in the US to honor all the members of our armed forces — both retired and active duty — and to understand the value of these community members. Unlike Memorial Day, which is dedicated to those military members who have died, Veterans Day is dedicated to all those who have served.
That may mean people in your family; it may even mean you. And it almost definitely means people in your students' families.
Classroom lessons on this holiday can help young kids understand the sacrifices made by veterans to protect our country and maintain our freedom, as well as provide an opportunity to teach students about the history of military conflicts and the role of veterans in shaping our nation's history.
It's also a day that's absolutely full of important history lessons for kids — like learning about its origin — and offers up lessons on gratitude and even letter writing as teachers assign students projects that involve writing thank you cards for veterans.
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Veterans Day Craft - Red Poppy Craft Template
Use this printable poppy craft template when commemorating Memorial Day and Veterans Day with your students.
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Veterans Day Thank You Cards
Show military servicemen and women appreciation with this set of 3 creative greeting cards for Veterans Day.
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Printable Dog Tag Veterans Day Card
Spend time writing letters to veterans and gift them a heartfelt Veterans Day dog tag thank you card.
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Veterans Day Crafts - Soldier Bear Template
Create the perfect Veteran’s Day bulletin board with our Veteran’s Day Soldier Bear Craft activity.
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Veterans Day Art Project - Collaborative Poppy Quilt
Create a poppy craft to display on Veterans Day with a printable collaborative quilt template.
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Veterans Day Worksheets
Inspire students to think and write about veterans with a printable set of Veterans Day Worksheets.
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Women In WWI – Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Read to learn about women in World War I with a printable reading passage and comprehension worksheet.
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Navajo Code Talkers Constructed Response Worksheet
Discover the impact of the Navajo Code Talkers on the outcome of World War II with a cross-curricular constructed response worksheet.
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Poppy Craft - Pop Art Template
Create unique Veterans Day poppy crafts with a printable roll-a-design poppy art activity.
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Veterans Day - 4th Grade Reading Comprehension Worksheets
Explore this 4th Grade Reading Comprehension pack and learn about the Veterans Day holiday.
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Veterans Day Worksheets - ABC Order
Support your students in reviewing the vocabulary and concepts surrounding the Veteran’s Day holiday with an ABC Order Worksheet.
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Collaborative Mural - Veterans Day Coloring Pages
Use this collaborative art project to build show-stopping Veterans Day bulletin boards.
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Veterans Day Headband
Get crafty and treat veterans like royalty with a printable Veterans Day crown template.
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U.S. Patriotic Holiday Discussion Cards
Spark discussions about U.S. patriotic holidays with a set of 16 patriotic-themed discussion cards.
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History of Veterans Day Timeline Worksheet
Sequence the history of Veterans Day with a Printable Veterans Day timeline cut and paste activity.
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Veterans Day Facts and Opinions Worksheet
Identify Veterans Day facts and opinions with a printable Veterans Day Worksheet.
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Veterans Day Activity Book - Printable Puzzles and Games
Have some Veterans Day fun with a printable Veterans Day activity book!
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Veterans Day Craft - Poppy & Flag Agamograph
Create an amazing optical illusion with this printable Veterans day craft activity.
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Veterans Day for Kids - Instructional Slide Deck
Guide your students to discover the origin of Veterans Day and how it is celebrated in the United States with a teaching slide deck.
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Veterans Day Google Interactive
Click, drag, and drop to learn about Veterans Day and the branches of the U.S. military with a Google Interactive activity.
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Veterans Day Writing Craftivity
Create the perfect Veteran’s Day bulletin board with a student-made Veteran’s Day writing and craft activity.
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Veterans Day Printable Book
Read and write about Veterans Day with a printable mini-book for primary readers.
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Veterans Day Worksheet - 5 Ws Summary
Uncover the history and purpose behind the Veterans Day holiday with a printable Veterans Day Worksheet.
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Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) Constructed Response Worksheet
Use our printable constructed response writing prompts for fourth grade to learn about the fearless Women’s Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs).
- Veterans Day 2024 Templates
- Veterans Day 2024 Worksheets
- Veterans Day 2024 Craft Activities
- Veterans Day 2024 Writing Templates
- Veterans Day 2024 Printable Card Templates
- Veterans Day 2024 Coloring Pages
- Veterans Day 2024 Puzzles
- Veterans Day 2024 Mini Book
- Veterans Day 2024 Task Cards
- Veterans Day 2024 Word Searches
- Veterans Day 2024 Brochure Templates
- Veterans Day 2024 Crossword Puzzles
- Veterans Day 2024 Word Walls
- Veterans Day 2024 Instructional Slide Decks
- Veterans Day 2024 Flipbooks
- Veterans Day 2024 Flashcards
- Veterans Day 2024 for Pre-K
- Veterans Day 2024 for Kindergarten
- Veterans Day 2024 for 1st Grade
- Veterans Day 2024 for 2nd Grade
- Veterans Day 2024 for 3rd Grade
- Veterans Day 2024 for 4th Grade
- Veterans Day 2024 for 5th Grade
- Veterans Day 2024 for 6th Grade