Memorial Day Activities for Students
Celebrate Memorial Day and help your class understand the history and meaning of the holiday with this collection of Memorial Day activities for students. Including videos, printables, lesson plans, choice boards, and more!
Memorial Day Activities for Students
We’ve compiled a list of the best Memorial Day activities for students to teach them about the history and importance of this American holiday.
What is Memorial Day?
Memorial Day is an important national holiday that honors and remembers those who died serving in the U.S. military. Once known as Decoration Day, this holiday originated following the American Civil War, when many cities held observances in May for the families of soldiers killed in battle, and citizens placed flowers on the graves of the loved ones they’d lost.
Following World War I, its name changed to Memorial Day, and the day was used to honor those who died while serving the United States armed forces.
Originally observed on May 30 every year, Memorial Day is now observed on the last Monday in May. This was changed in 1971 to allow for a three-day weekend, enjoyed today as Memorial Day weekend.
How to Teach Your Students About Memorial Day
One of the best ways to teach students about Memorial Day is by incorporating it into various activities and lessons. Start by explaining the history and significance of the holiday, and the importance of honoring those who have served and sacrificed for the country. You can use various resources such as books, videos, and online articles to aid in this.
Next, integrate Memorial Day into your curriculum. For example, in history lessons, discuss the different wars and conflicts that the U.S. has participated in and the impact these have had on the country. In English lessons, read and analyze poems and stories written by veterans or about war.
You can also organize activities that allow students to express their understanding of the holiday. For instance, they could write essays or create art projects about what Memorial Day means to them. Or, they could research a particular war or veteran, and present their findings to the class.
Finally, encourage students to take part in Memorial Day commemorations. This could be attending a local ceremony, visiting a war memorial, or even writing letters of appreciation to veterans or currently serving military personnel.
Memorial Day Activities for Students
Browse our collection of Memorial Day activities for students, including printables, worksheets, and games. These activities teach students about the holiday and honor the men and women who lost their lives in American wars.
Help your students to understand the meaning of Memorial Day with lesson plans and teaching resources for learning about the U.S. Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War, as well as the heroes and heroines who have served the country in various ways.
Explore American history with social studies activities, build on students’ reading and writing skills with ELA activities that explore the connection between history and poetry, or develop students’ vocabulary with crosswords and word searches all about Memorial Day and the national anthem.
Memorial Day Videos
View our short videos about the history of Memorial Day and extend your students' knowledge with suggested extension activities for elementary, middle school, and high school grades.Memorial Day Printables
Your students will enjoy learning about Memorial Day with these printables. Build vocabulary with crosswords, word searches, and word scrambles, or get patriotic with American flag activities and Memorial Day coloring.- Memorial Day Activities for Elementary: Art and Writing Choice Board
- Memorial Day Coloring Pages Packet
- Memorial Day Crossword Puzzle Activity
- Memorial Day Word Search
- National Anthem Crossword Puzzle
- American Flag (in color)
- Memorial Day Activities
- Memorial Day Word Scramble
- Stars and Stripes -- First Draft
- Patriotic Songs
- American Patriotic Pencil Wrap
- More Memorial Day Printables
Memorial Day Lesson Plans
Help students understand the meaning of Memorial Day with lesson plans on the people, places, and events of World War I and World War II, as well as lessons that explore the connection between history and poetry.- The History & Poetry of "In Flanders Fields"
- World War I: People, Places, and Events
- Women and World War II
- Veterans Day Newspaper
References for Memorial Day
Refer to our encyclopedia-style references as a useful starting point for lessons and classroom activities for Memorial Day.- World War II: Timeline
- "Star-Spangled Banner"
- United States Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
- Battles That Changed History
- National Cemeteries
- U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor
- U.S. Casualties in the Major Wars
- More Memorial Day References
Art & Music Memorial Day Activities for Students
Help students feel patriotic for Memorial Day with these printables and activities. Sing patriotic songs, learn more about the national anthem, or get creative with coloring activities.- Patriotic Songs
- National Anthem Crossword Puzzle
- American Flag (in color)
- American Patriotic Pencil Wrap
- Memorial Day Coloring Pages Packet
- More Memorial Day Art & Music Activities
Language Arts Memorial Day Activities for Students
Combine American history and war history with Language Arts using these activities. Students will explore the poetry of “In Flanders Fields”, develop their essay writing skills, and read about important Americans in the civil war.- The History & Poetry of "In Flanders Fields"
- The Wall: Literature Guide for Teachers
- "In Flanders Fields"
- Three Famous Americans in the Civil War
- War and Peace
- Stars and Stripes -- First Draft
- More Memorial Day Language Arts Activities
American Flag Resources
Help students learn about the American flag as a Memorial Day activity. Activities include learning more about the flag's history and display requirements.Memorial Day Choice Boards
These Memorial Day activities for students in elementary grades and middle school include ELA and social studies activities. Use the activities to create themed learning centers, or for setting early-finisher, extension, and take-home tasks.- Memorial Day Activities for Elementary: Art and Writing Choice Board
- Memorial Day Choice Board for Elementary Grades
- Memorial Day Choice Board for Middle School
U.S. Civil War Lesson Plans & Printables
Use these warm-ups, references, and hands-on classroom activities to help students learn about the U.S. Civil War.- April Activities: Thomas Jefferson's Birthday & the Pony Express
- Chronology of Conscription in the U.S. -- Colonial Era to 1999
- Slavery & The Civil War Videos & Activities
- Memorial Day Videos & Activities
- A Classroom Divided
- Nonfiction Reading Warm-Up: The American Civil War
- The Underground Railroad
- More Popular U.S. Civil War Resources
World War I Lesson Plans & Printables
Explore the battles, weapons, and key events of World War I with these activities and printables. Includes a word search puzzle on major battles, a writing activity, and internet research about propaganda.- Battles of World War I
- Fourteen Points Writing Exercise
- The Lusitania
- WWI Propaganda
- Weapons of War
- Treaty of Versailles
- More World War I Teacher Resources
World War II Lesson Plans & Printables
Help students learn about and understand the events of World War II and the Holocaust with reading passages, a printable book with activities, and literature guides.- The Holocaust
- World War II Printable Book (5-12)
- Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl Discussion Guide
- Number the Stars
- Crack the Code -- The Holocaust
- WWII Printables Slideshow
- More World War II Teacher Resources
Vietnam War Lesson Plans & Printables
Use these reading passages, critical thinking writing activities, and literature guides to start discussions and help students understand the Vietnam War time period.- Events in the Vietnam War
- Historical Fiction Reading Warm-Up: Protesting Vietnam
- The Wall: Literature Guide for Teachers
- Okay for Now Educator Guide
- Anti-War Protests
- War Is... Author Notes
- When Zachary Beaver Came to Town Common Core Teacher's Guide
War Resources for Social Studies
Use these broader war resources in your social studies lessons to explore concepts of war and find ways to approach discussions about war and violence around the world.Recommended Memorial Day Activities for Students Resources
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CHOICE BOARDS
Memorial Day Activities for Elementary: Art and Writing Choice Board
Incorporate the meaning of Memorial Day into students’ learning with these art and writing activities for elementary stu... -
ACTIVITIES
Memorial Day Coloring Pages Packet
Celebrate Memorial Day in your classroom with these fun coloring pages Students from preschoolers to elementary grades ... -
ACTIVITIES
National Anthem Crossword Puzzle Activity with Answer Key
Challenge students to find important facts about the national anthem using this crossword puzzle activity, perfect for c... -
ACTIVITIES
Memorial Day Crossword Puzzle Activity with Answer Key
Help your students learn about the history and meaning of Memorial Day with this crossword puzzle and research activity.... -
ACTIVITIES
Memorial Day Word Search Printable Activity and Answer Key
Challenge students' vocabulary skills with this printable Memorial Day word search puzzle activity that features 24 them... -
CHOICE BOARDS
Holiday Choice Boards Essentials Kit
110-page holiday choice board bundle - student choice activities and worksheets for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas,... -
ACTIVITIES
A Classroom Divided Civil War Activity
A great way to interactively teach your students about the conflict between the average Americans who fought in the Civi... -
REFERENCE
Timeline: Conscription in the United States, 1620-Present
Does the U.S. still have the draft? Were there actually draft riots in America? Did half of George Washington's army rea... -
WORKSHEETS
American Flag Color Printable
Long may Old Glory wave! A full-color printable of the flag of the United States of America, for use on Memorial Day, 4... -
DAILY WARM-UPS
Nonfiction Reading Warm-Up: The American Civil War
Connect history and literacy with a reading passage on the American Civil War and comprehension questions. This printabl... -
TEACHING RESOURCE
Talking With Children About War and Violence In the World
Talking to students about Ukraine? Educators for Social Responsibility has prepared this guide for adults who are conce... -
EDITOR'S COLLECTIONS
Memorial Day Activity Packet
Help your students celebrate Memorial Day (May 31) with this themed packet of classroom activities for ELA and Social St... -
LESSON PLANS
The History & Poetry of "In Flanders Fields"
Learn about the history behind "In Flanders Fields" while reviewing tetrameter and sonnet form. This is an excellent les... -
GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS
Patriotic Stationery: Printable Pencil Wrap
Have students celebrate America by topping off their pens and pencils with these patriotic printable pencil wraps featur... -
VIDEOS
Veterans Day Videos & Activities
Learn about the significance of Veterans Day, November 11, through educational videos paired with extension activities. ... -
WORKSHEETS
Anti-War Protests
Use the words in this worksheet to complete the paragraph about anti-war protests. Encourage critical thinking with ques... -
BOOK GUIDES
The Wall: Literature Guide for Teachers
The Wall is the story, told from a young child's point of view, of a father and son who visit the Vietnam Veterans Memor... -
WORKSHEETS
Treaty of Versailles
Teach pupils about the five major peace treaties that ended World War I with this printable activity. In addition, pupil... -
WORKSHEETS
Mapping the War: World War II
This activity reinforces map skills while integrating the importance of geography in a historical understanding of the m... -
WORKSHEETS
Patriotic Songs
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WORKSHEETS
Memorial Day Word Scramble
Memorial Day, honoring military veterans who served in wars and armed conflicts throughout U.S. history, is celebrated o... -
ACTIVITIES
Memorial Day Educational Videos
Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May. Learn about the history and traditions of Memorial Day with these ed... -
BOOK GUIDES
Slaughterhouse-Five
Slaughterhouse-Five is about the complex journey of Billy Pilgrim. The novel follows Pilgrim through many chapters of hi... -
WORKSHEETS
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
An illustration and explanation of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This printable will be useful for classroom discuss...