Remembrance Day In Canada

 Today I took part, well, actually the family took part in a Remembrance Day Service.   In small town Ontario, these days often happen on the Sunday before Remembrance Day.   I have to admit, we'd not been to one before as normally hubby is preaching!   But being off this year (due to job loss) meant we had the opportunity to go, my lad was well intrigued.

It was interesting listening to him and his dad talk on the way home about his thoughts about the soldiers, why we walked so slowly in the parade, if wars still happen and so forth.  I kept my mouth quiet as I was just enjoying listening to them chat. 

Anyways, what brings me to this topic?   Well.. remembrance day is coming up on November 11th, think it's called Veterans Day in the states.   Regardless of the name, it's a a time when we remember those who have gone on before. Those who fought for our freedom, who gave their lives, or sometimes their sanity, or body parts or .... So much blood and spirit and time given.   For what... so we could live lives according to our own wishes. Lives not encumbered with racism or genocide or hatred or dominance of a political ideology we abhor.   That's what they fought for.    Do we really appreciate that?   Do your children appreciate that?

It's a hard one you know?  To help children see this bigger picture when they often aren't connected to anyone who fought in the great wars, or sometimes in the current wars being fought in our recent history?

I thought therefore I would search out some resources to help in the teaching of our children.  :)  

You could go and visit some memorials.  Here's a list of some of them. Some of the links include lesson plans, so seriously... go check out that Canadian Government page. 

Historica Canada has a lesson plan centered around Flanders Field and some addition activities you may want to use to teach your students.  Integrating the arts in the study of history is a very good thing to do. 

Hey...did you know this fact about poppies? 
Following the First World War a French woman, Madame E. Guérin, suggested to British Field-Marshall Earl Haig that women and children in devastated areas of France could produce poppies for sale to support wounded Veterans. The first of these poppies were distributed in Canada in November of 1921, and the tradition has continued ever since, both here and in many parts of the world. (source)

Cubes for Teachers Blog, has put together a Remembrance Day list of activities.

Teaching Rocks has put together a list of art ideas for Remembrance Day.

Did you also know that the poppy is the symbol of Remembrance day?   Around here the scouts are often seen outside shopping centres and in stories, standing quietly, not loudly proclaiming their wares, just standing quietly while people come and go.  But you know what happens?   People stop, drop a dollar or five into the box and take a poppy or two.   It's all done quietly, often with a thank you by the person buying.   It's a good thing to do.  :)

Veteran's Affairs put together a list of Teacher's activities for their students. 

Debbies Unit Factory has a whole list of activities to try. Learning about poppies, the poem of the unknown soldier, remembrance day and more.

Have you heard about the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red  Exhibit?  Done in England 888,246 ceramic poppies placed to commemorate British and Colonial lives lost during WW1.   Wikipedia has an article about it.

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