Remembrance Day

 


Get the children involved and help them to understand what Remembrance Day is all about with our collection of Remembrance Day activities for kids aged 2-11. Explore below for our collection of colouring pages, crafts, worksheets, puzzles and printables. spanning a wide range of ages and abilities, from toddlers to KS1, poppies to poetry, for fun and learning at home or at school.

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."
From "For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon

What is Remembrance Day?

Remembrance Day for KidsRemembrance Day, or Poppy Day, is held in Commonwealth countries to remember members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty, as well as all those who have been involved with and affected by war and conflict. Originally declared a special day in 1919 by King George V to remember the soldiers killed in the First World War, now we remember soldiers from all wars who have given their lives.

As the First World War was formally declared over "at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, we traditionally hold two minutes of silence throughout the Commonwealth on 11th November every year. In addition, the second Sunday of each November is known as Remembrance Sunday, and church services remember our fallen soldiers while the King, members of the Royal Family, politicians and old soldiers lay poppy wreaths at the Cenotaph in London (near the Houses of Parliament).

Leading up to Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday we buy small paper "poppies" to show that we are remembering the sacrifices of those who died, and also to raise money to support serving and ex-Service personnel and their families. People who have lost a loved one in service put small wooden crosses near war memorials around the country, and local branches of the Royal British Legion lay wreaths.

Why do we hold a two-minute silence?

We have held a 2-minute silence at 11 o'clock on Remembrance Day (and at 11 o'clock on Remembrance Sunday) since 1919, when King George V asked the nation to stay silent so that "the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead".

What is the difference between Remembrance Day and Armistice Day?

What we now know as Remembrance Day was originally known as Armistice Day, after the armistice signed on 11th November 1918 to end the First World War. An armistice is a formal agreement to end fighting. After the Second World War, most nations of the Commonwealth changed the name to Remembrance Day. In America the name was changed to Veterans Day.

Poppies at the Cenotaph
Poppies at the Cenotaph

When Is Remembrance Sunday?

Remembrance Sunday is always the second Sunday in November. In 2023 Remembrance Sunday will be 12th November.

Why Do We Wear Poppies?

A Canadian doctor, John McCrae, wrote a poem in 1915 about the devastation he saw in the Flanders area of Belgium and in northern France during the First World War. The land lay destroyed by terrible battles, and many men were buried there. But despite the devastation of battle, the wild poppies survived. Dr McCrae's poem was published in Punch magazine, and the poppy became the symbol of remembrance. We have a printable version of his poem here: Remembrance Day Poems

Veterans Day

In 1938, a legal holiday was established in the United States on 11th November, "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" In 1954 the name of the holiday was changed to Veterans Day, and it became a day to honour US veterans of all wars.

Remembrance Day Colouring Pages
Here is our collection of Remembrance Day colouring pages for all ages, for school or home, or...
Remembrance Day Crafts
Whether you are looking for quick and easy Remembrance Day crafts for toddlers or more engaging...
Remembrance Day Poems
The poem In Flanders Fields, by Canadian Dr John McCrae, was the reason that poppies are now the...
Remembrance Day Printables
We've got an assortment of Remembrance Day printables, including poppy and soldier templates,...
Remembrance Day Puzzles for Kids
Print and enjoy these Remembrance Day word search puzzles and Remembrance Day word scramble - the...
Remembrance Day Worksheets
Use these Remembrance Day worksheets and learning resources in the classroom or home. We've...
The Cenotaph
Learn a little about the Cenotaph with your children, and download a poster, colouring page and...

How Should You Wear Your Poppy?

In recent years there has been a story doing the rounds on social media which gives precise instructions for wearing your poppy with the leaf pointing to 11 o'clock. I spoke to the Royal British Legion to check this story after receiving complaints that our poppies' leaves were pointing in the wrong direction. I was assured that there is no "correct" way to wear a poppy except "with pride".

The Cenotaph

The Cenotaph is our official memorial to all those from Great Britain and the Commonwealth who have given their lives and service in the World Wars and later conficts. Learn more about the Cenotaph here and explore our Cenotaph resources.

More About Remembrance Day

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"If we are to maintain our peace and freedom, we must always remember."

Remembrance Day Resources at Activity Village


Stories from the Wars

Wojtek, the Soldier Bear
Wojtek, the Soldier Bear

Simpson and his Donkey
Simpson and his Donkey


Watch a Remembrance Day Video

Although Activity Village vetted these videos before putting them here on the website, we did not create the content and cannot be held responsible for the content therein. Please supervise children while watching video-sharing websites.

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