Description
What our Holidays: Memorial Day lesson plan includes
Lesson Objectives and Overview: Holidays: Memorial Day is a high-interest reading comprehension lesson plan. As such, students will practice various close reading and comprehension skills. In addition, they will determine the central idea or theme, understand more about multiple celebrations, and learn why some celebrations are symbolic representations of important events. This lesson is for students in 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade.
Classroom Procedure
Every lesson plan provides you with a classroom procedure page that outlines a step-by-step guide to follow. You do not have to follow the guide exactly. The guide helps you organize the lesson and details when to hand out worksheets. It also lists information in the yellow box that you might find useful. You will find the lesson objectives, state standards, and number of class sessions the lesson should take to complete in this area. In addition, it describes the supplies you will need as well as what and how you need to prepare beforehand. For the activity, you’ll need red, white, and blue paper; markers; glue; scissors; and decorative items if you want.
Teacher Notes
The paragraph on this page gives you a little more information on the lesson overall and describes what you may want to focus your teaching on. It explains that you can teach this lesson in a whole-class setting or as an independent, small-group activity. The blank lines are available for you to write out any thoughts or ideas you have as you prepare.
HOLIDAYS: MEMORIAL DAY LESSON PLAN CONTENT PAGES
History of Memorial Day
The Holidays: Memorial Day lesson plan contains two content pages. Memorial Day is a special day in the United States when we honor and remember the brave men and women who have died while serving in the military. It is a day filled with gratitude and respect for those who sacrificed to protect our freedoms. Americans observe Memorial Day on the last Monday of May each year. It is a time for them to come together to reflect on the courage and dedication of our soldiers.
The history of Memorial Day goes back to the Civil War, which took place from 1861 to 1865. After the war ended, people began to hold ceremonies to honor the soldiers who had lost their lives. These ceremonies often involved decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, which is why the holiday was originally called Decoration Day. The first official Memorial Day was observed on May 30, 1868.
As time passed, it became a national holiday. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a federal holiday, and the date was set to the last Monday in May. This change allowed for a long weekend, giving people more time to honor the fallen and spend time with family. The day is full of parades, ceremonies, and moments of silence to remember those who served our country.
Traditions
One of the most important traditions on Memorial Day is visiting cemeteries and placing American flags on the graves of soldiers. Many families also bring flowers and wreaths to lay on the graves. These acts of remembrance show that we will never forget the sacrifices made by our military members. In Arlington National Cemetery, a special ceremony is held yearly where the president of the United States lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
This important holiday is also a time for communities to come together in celebration. Many towns and cities hold parades that feature marching bands, veterans, and floats decorated in red, white, and blue. These parades are a way to show pride in our country and to honor those who have served. It’s a time for everyone to wave flags and cheer—hoorah!—for the heroes who protect our freedom.
In addition to parades, many spend Memorial Day enjoying outdoor activities like picnics, barbecues, and sporting events. This is a fun way to celebrate our freedoms, thanks to the brave men and women who have defended our country. It’s also a time to spend with family and friends, appreciating the peace and safety we enjoy.
School and Home Celebrations
Another important aspect of this holiday is education. Schools often teach students about the history of the holiday and the importance of remembering those who have served. Many students participate in projects or write essays about Memorial Day, helping them understand its significance and why it is important to honor our military.
For veterans and their families, Memorial Day can be an emotional time. It is a day to remember their friends and loved ones who did not return home. While it is a day of remembrance, it is also a day of pride, knowing that their sacrifices have helped protect our nation. The holiday reminds us to be grateful for our freedoms and never take them for granted.
Memorial Day is not just about the past; it is also about the present and the future. It reminds us to support our current military members and to work toward a peaceful world. By honoring those who have served, we show our commitment to the values they fought for, such as freedom, justice, and democracy.
The beloved holiday is a day of profound significance in the United States. It is a time to honor and remember the brave men and women who have given their lives for our country. Through parades, ceremonies, and acts of remembrance, we show our respect and gratitude for their sacrifices. Memorial Day reminds us that freedom is not free, and we must remember those who have paid the ultimate price to protect it.
HOLIDAYS: MEMORIAL DAY LESSON PLAN WORKSHEETS
The Holidays: Memorial Day lesson plan includes two worksheets: an activity worksheet and a practice worksheet. Each one will help students solidify their grasp of the material they learned throughout the lesson. You can refer to the classroom procedure guidelines to know when to hand out each worksheet.
HONOR PAST VETERANS ACTIVITY WORKSHEET
For the activity, students will write a messages thanking a fallen soldier. The worksheet provides a few examples of the types of messages students might want to use for their cards.
REVIEW PRACTICE WORKSHEET
The practice worksheet lists 10 questions based on the content. These questions all relate to the content pages, so students will need to refer to them often for the answers. In addition, each question provides which reading tool the question corresponds to, such as text feature, vocabulary, or comprehension.
Worksheet Answer Keys
At the end of the lesson plan document is an answer key for the practice worksheet. The correct answers are all in red to make it easier for you to compare them with students’ responses. If you choose to administer the lesson pages to your students via PDF, you will need to save a new file that omits these pages. Otherwise, you can simply print out the applicable pages and keep these as reference for yourself when grading assignments.
