2020 Virtual Veterans Day Ideas and Resources
To support schools engaged in remote or hybrid learning, we’ve developed sample lessons appropriate for use outside the traditional classroom structure. These lessons are provided for Elementary, Middle, and High School; however, educators are welcome to adapt any of these lessons they deem appropriate for use in their classroom.
These ideas are provided to help meet the legislative requirements of RCW 28A.230.160 (Educational Activities in Observance of Veterans Day) while in a virtual learning environment.
Virtual Veterans Day Ideas by Grade Band
Grades K-5
Video Introduction:
- All About the Holidays: Veterans Day from PBS Learning Media (1:16)
Class Discussion:
- What is a veteran?
- What do veterans do?
- Do you know any veterans?
Class Brainstorm:
- What are some characteristics of a veteran?
Examples: brave, smart, strong, selfless, loyal
Encourage students to consider veterans they know (family, community, etc.) when brainstorming characteristics of a veteran.
Individual Activity:
- Giving a medal is one way the military thanks a veteran for helping our country.
- Show students one or more examples of military medals (see below).
- Optional: Identify the parts of the medal and explain the symbolism.
- Students choose a characteristic of veterans (brave, smart, selfless, etc.) and design a medal to honor veterans who show that characteristic.
- Students may share their drawings with the class and explain what characteristic a veteran would need to show to be awarded this medal.
Eagle represents the United States
“Valor” means personal bravery
Green laurel wreath represents victory
Minerva (Roman goddess of wisdom) with an owl on her helmet represents wisdom.
Grades 6–8
Video Introductions:
- All About the Holidays: Veterans Day from PBS Learning Media (1:16)
- Veterans Day Facts from History.com (2:16)
Class Activity:
- View the “Columbia Calls” WWI army recruitment poster and poem (see below).
Class Discussion:
- Why were people in 1918 encouraged to join the military?
- Why do you think people join the military today?
- What types of sacrifices are made by military veterans?
- How is your life impacted by the service of military veterans?
Individual Reflection:
- Write a thank you letter to a veteran.
- Consider sending your thank you letter to a Veteran Service Organization
COLUMBIA CALLS
Dedicated to the People of the United States
Awake! ye men from dreams of Peace —
Nor sleep when danger’s near,
But fling Old Glory to the breeze —
There are no cowards here!
Our fathers fought; like heroes died,
For years their blood they gave
That honor, home and Peace be ours:
Awake! Thy country save!
Our flag for honor ever stands
To lift the weak. To lead the free.
America, our blessed land,
Is calling, calling thee.
From North to South; from Sea to Sea,
I hear the answering cry;
“Thy sons forever shall be free
For thee will live and die!”
Then fling Old Glory to the main
Beneath her stars enroll,
For cowardice shall never stain
The glory of her folds.
The Stars and Stripes shall lead us on
A mighty host for right —
That Peace shall reign forevermore
And war from Earth take flight.
Grades 9–12
Video Introductions:
- History of the Holidays: Veterans Day from History.com (3:28)
- Veterans Day Facts from History.com (2:16)
Individual Activity:
- Select a veteran profile from the Veterans History Project oral history archive. Use the search feature to look for digitized veteran profiles, or browse the collections below:
· Courage, Patriotism, and Community
· African Americans at War: Fighting Two Battles
· Women at War
· Asian Pacific Americans
· Hispanic Americans
· Jewish Veterans of World War II
· Willing to Serve: American Indians
· The WASP: First in Flight
· Healing with Honor: Medical Personnel
· LGBT Veterans
· Medal of Honor Recipients
· Veteran Changemakers
· Athletes in Uniform - Browse the materials in the veteran’s profile. These profiles may contain an audio or video interview, written materials, and even art or poetry. (You will need to select a profile that has been digitized to be able to access these materials online.)
Individual Reflection:
- Write a journal entry or use another classroom technology to record your thoughts on the following questions:
- Why did this veteran join the military?
- What was their experience in military service?
- How do you think their military service impacted the rest of their life?
- What can we do to show gratitude for the service of veterans?
Class Discussion:
- Encourage students to share their reflections.
Virtual Veterans Day Resources
General Videos
· All About the Holidays: Veterans Day from PBS Learning Media (1:16)
· Veterans Day Facts from History.com (2:16)
· History of the Holidays: Veterans Day from History.com (3:28)
· JBLM Veterans Day Observance 2020 from Joint Base Lewis-McChord (10:43)
· Preston Sharp: Honoring Those Who Served from History.com (3:41)
· Legends of the Wall (traveling Vietnam veterans memorial stops in Spokane) from PBS.org (8:04)
Library of Congress Online Resources
Veterans History Project
· Veterans History Project Homepage
· Veteran Stories By Theme
Sample Veteran Stories Collections:
· Courage, Patriotism, and Community
· African Americans at War: Fighting Two Battles
· Women at War
· Asian Pacific Americans
· Hispanic Americans
· Jewish Veterans of World War II
· Willing to Serve: American Indians
· The WASP: First in Flight
· Healing with Honor: Medical Personnel
· LGBT Veterans
· Medal of Honor Recipients
· Veteran Changemakers
· Athletes in Uniform
Other Library of Congress Online Resources
· Veterans’ Stories: Struggles for Participation (primary source set)
· “Stars and Stripes” (WWI army newspaper collection)
· Patriotic Melodies Collection (archival collection, including audio recordings and sheet music)
US Department of Veterans Affairs Online Resources
· Veterans Day 2020 Teacher Resource Guide
History.com Online Resources
· Veterans Stories (collection of resources)
· True Stories of Pearl Harbor Veterans (collection of short videos)
Examples of Notable Veterans
Navajo Code Talkers in WWII
· Article and dictionary from the Central Intelligence Agency
· Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian website
· Major General Clayton B. Vogel’s Recommendation Letter Page 1 Page 2 from National Archives
· An Unbreakable Code video by Department of Veterans Affairs (3:08)
· Navajo Code Talker Explains Role in WWII video by the Associated Press (2:20)
Japanese American Soldiers in WWII
· Nisei [Japanese American] Veterans of WWII from Densho.org
· 442nd Infantry Regimental Combat Team (page of resources) from PBS.org
African American Soldiers in WWII
· Tuskegee Airmen documentary from Lucasfilm
· African Americans in WWII (page of resources) from PBS.org
Women in the Military
· Female WWII Pilots article from NPR
· Female WWII Pilots Honored with Gold Medal article from NPR
· African American Women in the Military (collection of resources) from Library of Congress
· African American Women in the Military During WWII blog post from National Archives
“Hamilton’s Own” 1st Battalion 5th Field Artillery Regiment
· Hamilton’s Own article from the American Battlefield Trust
· “The Army Goes Rolling Along” Song Collection from Library of Congress
· Lieutenant Colonel Charles C. Rogers Medal of Honor from Army Publishing Directorate
African American Soldiers in the Civil War
· Massachusetts 54th Regiment (collection of resources) from Massachusetts Historical Society
· Black Soldiers in the Civil War (collection of resources) from National Archives
· Sergeant William H. Carney article from National Park Service
Desmond Doss
· Desmond Doss blog post from Library of Congress
· Medal of Honor letter from Library of Congress
Sen. Tammy Duckworth
· Famous Veterans: Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth from military.com
· Meet Tammy Duckworth video from tammyduckworth.com (3:14)
· Time Beyond 9/11: Portraits of Resilience from the National Museum of American History
Sen. Martha McSally
· 1st Air Force Female Pilot in Combat Reflects on Career from the US Air Force
· In 1993 Capt. Martha McSally stared down the general who opposed women flying combat missions video from The Washington Examiner (5:58)
· Public Law 102–190 (see Title V Part D: Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces) from US Government Publishing Office
Doris “Dorie” Miller
· The Story Behind an American Hero video from the U.S. Navy (3:13)
· Cook Third Class Doris “Dorie” Miller from Naval History and Heritage Command
· Dorie Miller military recruitment poster from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery
Audie Murphy
· Honoring Vets: Audie Murphy video from US Department of Veterans Affairs (1:57)
· Audie Murphy article from militarytimes.com
· Audie Murphy’s Medal of Honor Citation from the National Museum of American History
National Park Service Online Resources
· American Soldiers Breaking Barriers during WWII
· WWII Oral History Collection
· The Last Letter of Major Sullivan Ballou
National Archives Online Resources
· Veterans Day Resources page (collection of resources)
· Military Resources page (collection of resources)
· The Unwritten Record: Armistice Day 1918 (blog post with links)
