Memorial Day gives us all a chance to remember and think about those who serve and protect us in some of the most horrific conditions imaginable. Much of the time they are thousands of miles away from home, family, and comfort. They serve in cultures vastly different from that with which they are familiar, and are asked to do things that would unhinge many of us. Those who return home are all affected in many ways by their experiences, and some are scarred, or broken, for life. Memorial Day is the perfect time to allow students to share their deployment experiences with classmates, and send a message of encouragement and hope to military personnel. Deployed parents or friends of your students are great recipients. Students could:
- Make a video greeting which can be emailed
- Create a card
- Write a letter
- Construct a poem
- Compose a song
- Design a banner with a small group
Simply giving the students access to red, white, and blue construction paper, and some star stencils allows them to make original, creative, and diverse products which can be easily sent overseas. Younger students may finger paint and dictate short notes or questions. I hope you’ll take some time this year to talk about deployment and how it affects families with the students you serve. Stars and Banner Stencils
Books for Children about Military Deployment
Thematic Teacher 