TeachersFirst Memorial Day Resources
Memorial Day is more than a long weekend — it is a powerful opportunity to help students pause, reflect, and develop a deeper understanding of the sacrifices made by the men and women who served our country. This collection brings together a thoughtful mix of resources spanning history, literature, writing, art, civics, and multimedia to help educators bring meaning and context to this important national holiday across all grade levels and subject areas. From exploring the origins of Memorial Day and the stories of individual veterans to creating tribute artwork and writing heartfelt letters of gratitude, these resources invite students to engage with themes of honor, remembrance, and civic responsibility in age-appropriate and meaningful ways.
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Memorial Day Facts for Kids - Homeschool Pop
Grades
2 to 5This site includes advertising.
tag(s): holidays (283), memorial day (26), veterans (37)
In the Classroom
Have students write letters or create cards expressing gratitude to active-duty military members or veterans. Introduce students to symbols often associated with Memorial Day, such as American flags and poppies. Students can create a labeled illustration or short explanation describing what each symbol represents. Have students write a short paragraph or journal entry explaining why Memorial Day is important. Encourage them to include one fact they learned from the video and a personal reflection on how to honor others.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Memorial Day Lessons - Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Grades
K to 12tag(s): holidays (283), memorial day (26), veterans (37)
In the Classroom
Have students watch a short video about a Medal of Honor recipient included in the lesson. Pause at key moments and ask students to jot down traits like courage, sacrifice, and perseverance. Follow with a class discussion or turn-and-talk to build comprehension and empathy. Have students learn about the National Moment of Remembrance and plan a simple class observance. Assign small groups to explore symbols of Memorial Day (poppies, flags, the White Table). Students can create a mini-poster or digital slide using Canva Edu reviewed here explaining the meaning and historical significance, then present them to the class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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21 Meaningful Memorial Day Activities for Kids - We Are Teachers
Grades
K to 7tag(s): crafts (109), holidays (283), memorial day (26), veterans (37)
In the Classroom
Select a picture book or short text about Memorial Day and read it aloud. Pause for discussion using questions about the theme, purpose, and how people honor those who served. Have students create a simple timeline using MyLens, reviewed here of the history of Memorial Day, including its origins after the Civil War and how it is observed today. Teach the meaning behind the red poppy symbol. Have students create a poppy art project and write a short paragraph explaining its significance.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Memorial Day Activities That Take Ten Minutes or Less - Literacy in Focus
Grades
4 to 8tag(s): holidays (283), memorial day (26), poetry (195), veterans (37)
In the Classroom
Introduce students to the poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae. Students can identify imagery, tone, and theme, then discuss how the poem connects to the purpose of Memorial Day. Have students create a Venn diagram using the Interactive 2 Circle Venn Diagram by ReadWriteThink, reviewed here comparing Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Provide students with a short informational passage about Memorial Day. Have them annotate for key ideas, unfamiliar vocabulary, and important details.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Memorial Day Ideas - DLTK's Site for Kids
Grades
K to 3This site includes advertising.
tag(s): crafts (109), memorial day (26), preK (318), veterans (37)
In the Classroom
Create the crafts that are on the site. While completing crafts on the American flag, have students use Kiddle, reviewed here to learn about the history of the American flag. Use the Memorial Day vocabulary word lists or word wall cards from the site. Introduce a few words (such as soldier, flag, freedom, honor), display them, and have students write a short poem or paragraph using at least 3-5 words.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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2026 Patriotic Memorial Day Activities for Kids - Red Ted Art
Grades
K to 5This site includes advertising.
tag(s): crafts (109), holidays (283), memorial day (26), preK (318), veterans (37)
In the Classroom
Have students use Mootion, reviewed here to create a video recording using AI to share facts about Memorial Day. Students can use Figjam, reviewed here to create a timeline of events that led up to the establishment of Memorial Day as an official U.S. holiday. Have students virtually interview a veteran.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Memorial Day Activities for Students - Teach with Tina
Grades
4 to 6tag(s): holidays (283), memorial day (26), veterans (37), virtual field trips (137)
In the Classroom
When visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, students can use Stickies.io, reviewed here to share an interesting fact. Students can create their own digital escape room using Genially, reviewed here. Finally, students can create a classbook sharing their acrostic poems in Book Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Resources for Memorial Day - TeachingHistory.org
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): holidays (283), memorial day (26), veterans (37)
In the Classroom
Students can interview veterans either virtually or in person. Students can compare and contrast Memorial Day to another U.S. holiday using the Interactive 2 Circle Venn Diagram by Read Write Think, reviewed here. Students can create comics using Cartoon Comic Maker, reviewed here to share why we celebrate Memorial Day.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Honoring Memorial Day In The Classroom - Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): holidays (283), memorial day (26)
In the Classroom
Show one of the short videos featuring a Medal of Honor recipient (like Florent Groberg or William Swenson) from the Memorial Day resource page. Have students identify traits such as courage, sacrifice, or integrity shown in the story and discuss how those values connect to Memorial Day. Use the "Honoring Memorial Day" lesson plan to have students write letters to veterans or active-duty service members. Provide sentence starters or prompts from the site to help guide reflection and expression of appreciation. After learning about a recipient, have students design a poster that represents a core value they demonstrated (ex., bravery, loyalty). Encourage the use of symbols, quotes, and imagery. These can be displayed in a Memorial Day gallery walk.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Memorial Day in the Classroom: Resources for Teachers - Edutopia
Grades
3 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): memorial day (26), multimedia (59), virtual field trips (137), world war 1 (85)
In the Classroom
Watch a short History Channel video about Memorial Day (linked in the article). Then have students complete a quick-write on what they learned and how the holiday connects to their lives. Provide students with a set of facts from Time's article "7 Things You Didn't Know About Memorial Day." Have students highlight surprising or meaningful facts and create a mini "Did You Know?" classroom wall display. You can also create a virtual wall using Padlet, reviewed here for students to share what they found most meaningful. After learning about the purpose of Memorial Day, students can design a poster that honors the military. It may include symbols (like poppies or flags), quotes, and a short message of gratitude. This activity can also be done as a slideshow presentation using Google Slides reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Memorial Day 2025: Facts, Meaning & Traditions - History.com
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): civil war (143), flags (18), holidays (283), memorial day (26)
In the Classroom
After reading or summarizing the article, have students create a T-chart comparing the original purpose of Memorial Day (Decoration Day) with how it is celebrated today. Assign students to create a timeline using Time.Graphics Timeline Tool reviewed here or Timeline reviewed here of key events mentioned in the article, such as the end of the Civil War, the first Decoration Day, and the 1971 federal holiday designation. Students can use the article to write or illustrate a simple brochure or one-pager to teach younger grades about the history and importance of Memorial Day. They can use Canva Infographic Creator reviewed here to create it digitally.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Memorial Day Lesson Plans and Activities - Education World
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): critical thinking (171), memorial day (26)
In the Classroom
Have students create miniature parade floats inside shoeboxes (dioramas) to honor different U.S. wars or military branches. Assign students to write short essays or thank-you notes to veterans, then post them on a classroom "Wall of Peace." Have students use real data to create bar graphs showing the number of casualties in major U.S. wars. The graphs can be created digitally using ClassTools reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Memorial Day Lesson Plan Ideas - National Education Association
Grades
K to 12tag(s): crafts (109), memorial day (26)
In the Classroom
Create a classroom scavenger hunt where students find and decode symbols related to Memorial Day (ex., flag, eagle, poppy, dog tag). Have students write and decorate heartfelt letters to local veterans or active-duty service members. Use a simple chart or infographic to explore statistics about U.S. military history (wars fought, soldiers served, etc.). Read a picture book or short story that touches on themes of sacrifice or remembrance, such as The Wall by Eve Bunting. Assign students to write and deliver a short speech or poem answering the question, "What does freedom mean to me?" Students can share their poems using Adobe Express Video Maker reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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9 Memorial Day Activities - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Grades
3 to 8tag(s): american flag (8), american revolution (87), critical thinking (171), memorial day (26), symbols (18)
In the Classroom
Have students respond to a prompt such as "Why is it important to remember those who served?" Have students research a Revolutionary War figure or battle and design a fictional memorial to honor it. Assign students to write a short poem honoring fallen soldiers and combine it with visual symbols on a poster (ex., poppies, flags, eagles). Make a digital class collection of the poem by making a presentation on Canva Edu reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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US Memorial Day for Kids - Twinkl Educational Teaching Resources
Grades
2 to 7This site includes advertising.
tag(s): holidays (283), memorial day (26)
In the Classroom
Give students a worksheet with pictures or descriptions of key Memorial Day symbols (ex., red poppy, American flag at half-staff, soldier's grave, parade). Have students check off symbols they see and write what each one represents as they watch the video. After learning about Moina Michael and her poppy poem, have students write their short tribute poems or acrostics using POPPY or HONOR. Take students on a virtual tour of Arlington National Cemetery or Gettysburg using online resources.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Patriotic Music for July 4th and Memorial Day celebrations! - Celebrations Sounds
Grades
K to 12tag(s): holidays (283), july 4th (11), memorial day (26), veterans (37)
In the Classroom
Use this music as background when students work on projects, especially those for Memorial Day, July 4th, and Veterans Day. Share this one on your teacher web page just in time for summer so students and parents can enjoy patriotic background music during their holiday celebrations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Top 10 American Patriotic Songs | Iconic American Songs - U.S. Entrepreneur TV
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): july 4th (11), memorial day (26), sept11 (19), veterans (37)
In the Classroom
Choose a few of the more recent songs, and discuss why they are considered patriotic as a class. Then, use as background music when students work on projects for Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Veteran's Day.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ABMC Education - American Battle Monuments Commission & Dept of Veterans Affairs
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): battles (19), heroes (23), veterans (37), world war 2 (169)
In the Classroom
This site is a must-see for any teachers of World War II history. Take students beyond the information about battles to learn about individuals and their role and sacrifices. Be sure to take advantage of the extensive information included in each activity including assessments, lesson extensions, and adaptations. Have students choose one of the stories, then research the battle to learn more about the event's relationship to the war. Extend student learning by having them create maps using Zeemaps, reviewed here. Zeemaps allows students to create audio recordings AND choose various locations on a map of battle locations to tell the story of fallen heroes. Ask local veterans to visit your classroom and share their stories with your class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Betty H. Carter Women Veterans Historical Project - University of North Carolina Greensboro Unversity Libraries
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): 1940s (70), 1950s (33), 1960s (55), 1970s (30), 1980s (21), afghanistan (6), iraq (26), memorial day (26), middle east (51), oral history (14), primary sources (125), terrorism (41), veterans (37), world war 1 (85), world war 2 (169)
In the Classroom
Use this archive for rich, authentic primary source material on the lives of women in the military. Consider having students, individually or in groups, choose a veteran and present her story to classmates. Replace paper reports and enhance learning by using a tool like Google Slides, reviewed here. Supplement classroom materials associated with a wartime era with the photographs, posters, and diaries provided here. Use these stories as part of a special focus for Veterans Day, Memorial Day, or Women's History Month. The archive would also be a particularly rich resource for students considering National History Day Projects.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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PBS Newshour Classroom - PBS NewsHour Productions LLC
Grades
7 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): civil rights (220), elections (84), holocaust (42), memorial day (26), news (223), pearl harbor (15), poetry (195), veterans (37), women (186), world war 2 (169)
In the Classroom
Watch the news together on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Allow students to watch independently on laptops or at a learning station. Use any video or article as a current events writing prompt. Challenge students to create blog posts about them. If you are beginning the process of integrating technology, replace pen and paper and have students create blogs sharing their learning and understanding using Webnode, reviewed here. Don't forget the many free lesson plans (already aligned to Common Core standards). Click on the Lesson Plans link to explore the countless topics available (Poetry, Veterans, Elections, Ebola, Civil Rights, and more). For articles and videos about conflicts and tension, extend student learning by having your students engage in a debate using a tool such as Kialo Edu, reviewed here. Keep your class up-to-date on the news using this site. Provide this link on your class website for students (and families) to access both in and out of your classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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