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This holiday is a time to remember the experiences of our service members, recognize their dedication to keeping our country safe, and thank them for their service.
You can help students understand the significance and importance of this holiday with Veterans Day lesson plans for the social studies and ELA classrooms:
Veterans Day commemorates U.S. veterans of all wars and branches of the military. It’s a dedicated day to pay tribute to all those who served their country. Help students understand the significance of this holiday and the traditions and tributes surrounding it with articles on topics like:
The history of Veterans Day, first known as Armistice Day.
Celebrations that took place on Veterans Day 2018, which marked the 100th anniversary of the official end of World War I.
What happens to the items visitors leave at war memorials, like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Learn more about the experiences of WWI soldiers
Armistice Day originally celebrated the end of fighting in World War I. Learn more about this war and the service members who returned home after it was over with resources like:
An explainer article that explores the causes and battles of World War I.
An article about Black soldier Henry Johnson, a member of the Harlem Hellfighters, an all-Black WWI regiment.
A primary source letter from British soldier Jonathan George Symons depicting his experiences in the trenches fighting against Germany and Austria-Hungary.
Discover the different regiments of American soldiers in WWII
World War I set the stage for World War II about 20 years later. Students can learn more about the different regiments and groups of service members who fought during this war with articles on topics like:
The all-female Russian aviation force known as the Night Witches.
How Black Americans served in the armed forces and contributed to the home front during World War II.
How Mexican-Americans and Puerto Ricans used their WWII military service after the war to improve their quality of life at home.
Explore the history and significance of the Vietnam War in the U.S.
Service members who fought in the Vietnam War often had a different homecoming experience compared to those who participated in WWI and WWII. This was primarily due to the public’s divided views on whether the U.S. should have gotten involved in the war in the first place.
An explainer article that looks at the causes of the Vietnam War and its impact on the United States.
An article that examines President Johnson’s decision to involve the U.S. in the Vietnam War and the consequences of his actions.
An interactive video that explores the creation and construction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor those who fought in the war.
Uncover the experiences of soldiers during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars
Many of the veterans your students know today may have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan in what was known as the War on Terror. Students can explore the causes of this war and veterans' experiences with articles on topics like:
The causes of the American-led global counterterrorism campaign, called the War on Terror.
The pros and cons of pulling American soldiers out of Iraq and Afghanistan after years of fighting.
The history and use of unmanned drones in battle, a new military tactic that began during this war.
Read about the Native American veterans memorial in Washington, D.C., that honors Indigenous service members.
Discover how Navajo Code Talker veterans are working to receive better housing benefits as a testament to their military service.
Learn about how one of the first Indigenous women to serve in Congress rose to the position as the daughter of a single mother who was a military member, and how she planned to represent Indigenous veterans during her tenure.
[Discover the significance of Veterans Day with ELA lesson plans](id-ela)
Students can explore what it means to be a veteran in the United States and how our service members return to civilian life when they leave active service in a military branch. Explore stories like:
A look at the Hero Dogs program, which trains puppies to become service animals for wounded veterans.
The life of Richard Overton, who, at 112 years and 230 days old when he passed away, holds the record for the oldest living man and oldest verified veteran in our country’s history.
How a writing workshop in Pennsylvania is helping women veterans tell authentic stories of their experiences while serving in the military.
Compare Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day
Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day are all patriotic holidays we celebrate yearly. But aside from taking place in different months, how are they actually different? Help students uncover what makes these holidays unique by:
Reading about the origins of Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day.
Completing a triple Venn Diagram with evidence from the readings to note what the holidays have in common and how they’re different.
Using the Venn Diagram to create a short story or poem highlighting the three holidays' similarities and differences.
Compare portrayals of military service in fiction and nonfiction
With this paired text analysis, you can help students explore fiction and nonfiction accounts of service during World War I to analyze their similarities and differences.
Assign the fictional story “The Bowman” by Arthur Machen, which tells of a British soldier who invokes St. George and his Agincourt Bowmen to save them from defeat during the Retreat of the Eighty Thousand.
Read a nonfiction text about the global impact of World War I.
Sometimes, our toughest experiences—individually or as part of the collective human experience—make for the most powerful artistic subjects. Have students explore poetry about war and veterans’ experiences with selections like:
“Dulce et Decorum est” by Wilfred Owen
“Before the Battle” by Siegfried Sassoon
“Everyone Sang” by Siegfried Sassoon
“To The Colored Soldiers” by Irvin W. Underhill
Dive into military-themed novels and books
If you’re looking for your next in-class novel or book, consider selecting one with military themes to pair with your Veterans Day lessons.
Our Novel and Book Studies collection features a range of fiction and nonfiction options to help you develop background knowledge on themes and major plot points in each story. Some of our popular military-themed titles include:
Keep the conversation going with more content and activities on Newsela
With multiple holidays throughout the year that remember our veterans, service members, and national independence, there are plenty of opportunities to create lessons around these topics in your classroom using Newsela’s products.
If you’re not a Newsela customer, you can sign up for Newsela Lite and start your 45-day free trial of our premium products. Then, you’ll have access to all the engaging, differentiated content you need to teach your students about Veterans Day and beyond!
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