Our school last year added to our School Improvement Plan that we wanted
our students to grow as citizens as well as growing in math and reading.
One of the ways we are trying to promote citizenship is to show them what it means to be
an American.
Last year, we began having a Veterans' Day program.
This program was to cover multiple purposes:
1. To thank our town's veterans
2. To teach our students what a veteran is
3. To teach our students what the veterans have done for our country
Needless to say, the program was a huge hit and plans began for this year's program
which we had on Friday.
We met in the gym with parents and other visitors in the bleachers, the veterans in chairs in the middle of the gym and the students surrounding the veterans.
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| We probably had close to 60 veterans. |
Our third graders took an active role in leading our thoughts as we thanked these men and women.
As part of the assembly, we set a white table and explained the meanings of the different items
on the white table.
My students introduced and welcomed everyone to the program.
After the presentation of the flags, the pledge and national anthem,
our third graders sang "You're a Grand Old Flag."
Each grade level presented a song to the veterans at different times during the assembly.
More of my students quoted lines of poems that talked about a veteran's service.
They also talked to us about the military history.
Some of our veterans listening to the children.
We, then, played a medley of all the branches anthems. As their song was played, veterans of each branch stood. We also presented them with pins thanking them for their service.
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| The kids loved clapping along to the different anthems of the branches. |
Some of my students were pleased to have family members and friends who are veterans attend
the program.
The students said their favorite part was walking among the veterans thanking them for their service.
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| You see in the veteran's hand gifts that were made by the students in the school. Each veteran had a stack of thank yous in their chair when they arrived. |
All of Kim and my kids were super proud to have
"their own" veteran at the program, Mr. David (my dad).
Mr. David is a retired Air Force Pilot as well as a retired high school math teacher.
He works as a math interventionist in Mrs. Kim's room with all of our kids,
and they ADORE him!
I love teaching my students about our country as well as the men and women
who have helped to make it what it is today.
I read this book before the Veterans' Day assembly so they really understand the concept of
the white table.
We always go out and place flags out in front of the school around Veterans' Day as well.
When we do that, I read this book to them or we watch the YouTube video.
We also write thank you letters to veterans.
I ask for addresses from the students' parents of friends and family they know.
The kids take this job very seriously.
The letters are always so sincere and I love reading them.
We even hear back from some of them.
The kids love that!
I really believe it is so important to teach the kids about this part of our history.
Many might think they are too young to understand, but when I read my kids' letters telling the veterans
"Thank you for fighting for me!"
When I hear a first grader tell his teacher he may not be able to sing to the veterans because he might start crying thinking of how brave they have been,
I realize they understand WAY more than many adults.
Thank you for your service, veterans!
STUDENTS: What do you want to remember about the Veterans' Day program?
Meeting the veterans and thank them.Jacob
ReplyDeleteWhen we honor our vateans.
ReplyDeleteI remember when all third grade sung Your a Grand old flag.La'Tariyahna
ReplyDeleteI want to remember Mr.Roy smiling! I was happy that Mr.Roy was there.It was cool.
ReplyDeleteI want to remember all my friends speaking. The were so asome.I also want to remember singing The Grand Old Flag.It was fun.
ReplyDeleteBy Keara
I rembere me saying' today we honor them all includinding those who first stepped forward and bravey proclaimed we the people of the united states. Lilly Allllen
ReplyDeleteI want to remember all of the veterans and soldiers that was at the program.
ReplyDeleteby Kaylee
I think that the veterans were very proud of us. I think that all of the speakers looked so sereous. I think that it was realy cool whenever the two veterans held thhe Flags and soluted
ReplyDeleteI want to remember the prestantion of the flags.I want to remember hearing the other kids sing.I want to remember geting to shake the veterans hands.Most of all I want to remember the veterans chear.Brayden
ReplyDeleteI loved the Veterens day program because I love veterans.
ReplyDeleteChloe
I would want to remember how the veterans poote their hand close to their eyebrel.It was cool.when me and my brother play army me or him can do that. kyson
ReplyDeleteI wish my brother dalas was at the veteran's program that was on fryday. I loved the fact that my dad came to the veteran's program.My favorit part was the nashinol anthom.
ReplyDeleteI want to remember all those Veteran's that risked there lives for us.I want to remember all those ho was brave enough to die for us.
ReplyDeleteI want to remember those Veterans' that risked there lives for us.they are smart,and brave.thank you for sevring our contry.
ReplyDeleteraiden
ReplyDeleteI remember when the two veterans held up the American , and Tenneesee flag. I remember when we got to go around and tell some of the veterans thank you. I think the speakers did a wonderful job.
ReplyDeleteThe white table is what I want to remember about the program. I also liked how the chair stands were represented. I liked how the salt on the plates represented the veteran's tears. The final thing I liked about the program was the rose and the candle. Addison
ReplyDeleteI like when the army came with the flag and march.It was fun to sing a grand old flag. I like all the songs. I like when we took a picture with Mr. David.
ReplyDeleteIt was awesome! At the program I liked seeing all the veterans. I liked the song my class sang to the veterans. I think all the veterans enjoyed the program, and so did I! Samantha
ReplyDeleteI remember that the kinder gardin had a cute song. And that Mrs Becky class and Mrs Murphy class made a picher together Hannah
ReplyDeleteI remember that the students sang the Grand old flag.I I liked to see the Veterans.I liked the first grade song. I loved the Army. Journee
ReplyDelete