As we approach Memorial Day, May 31 in 2010, we have a profound opportunity to renew our patriotic commitments and honor those who have died while serving this great nation. We’ll all observe the solemn day in our own way, but parents with young kids might find it helpful to print out a handful of free resources to aid the whole family’s understanding of what an important day this is.
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs website is a great starting place for anyone looking to brush up on the history of Memorial Day and learn the story of taps and the significance of the poppy as the official memorial flower.
Apples4theTeacher Memorial Day Printable Coloring Pages, Activities & Games
Check out Apples4theTeacher for a handful of free printable graphics including a man placing flags near graves, a soldier saluting the flag, helmets of soldiers in front of memorial crosses, a child holding a flag with the caption “Memorial Day,” a soldier playing taps at graves, and so on.
The helpful site also has a number of other “Memorial Day Activities and Games” including information about the special holiday, relevant short stories, patriotic craft ideas, word searches, memorial poems, picture-unscramble puzzles and other fun challenges.
LeeHansen Parenting Patriotic Coloring Section for Kids
The Parenting Section of LeeHansen.com also hosts a handful of patriotic printable pictures for coloring. Memorial Day Poppies are featured along with other generic American symbols such as a Statue of Liberty poster, an Uncle Same top hat, a Betsy Ross flag, the Liberty Bell, a patriot pride ribbon, stars and stripes, and the head of an American bald eagle.
HomeSchoolHelperOnline Memorial Day Coloring Sheets
The homeschooling aid features links to four graphics explicitly labeled as “Memorial Day” pieces–two of Civil War soldiers, one of a military medal ceremony and one soldier with a rifle–but the site also has “Flag Day” and “Fourth of July” categories with relevant picks under each.
Links to Free Recipes, Crafts, Activities & Games on “Annie’s Memorial Day Kids Page”
AnniesHomepage is a great one-stop shop for crafts such as windsocks, pins and magnets; activities and games like word seeks, mazes and a quiz; recipes and a number of other relevant Memorial Day links. Annie’s page also has information about other holidays such as Armed Forces Day.
About.com’s Homeschooling Memorial Day Printables
About.com has a few printable coloring sheets of images such as the Tomb of the Unknowns and a small selection of activities, vocabulary, challenges, quizzes and fact sheets.
You can also check out “Free Veterans Day Materials for Kids” for a few more patriotic links.
Sources:
“Annie’s Memorial Day Kids Page.” AnniesHomepage.com.
“Coloring Worksheets – Homeschool Helper.” HomeschoolHelperOnline.com.
Memorial Day Activities and Games.” Apples4theTeacher.com.
Memorial Day Color Pages – Fun Memorial Day Color Book Page Readers for Kids.” Apples4theTeacher.com.
“Memorial Day – Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs.” VA.gov.
“Memorial Day Printables – Memorial Day Wordsearch.” About.com.
Patriotic Coloring Pages (Colouring Sheets) – Free Printable Activity Pages for Remembrance Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Flag Day.” Parenting.LeeHansen.com.
