Teach About Military Service Through Veterans’ Stories
Find Veterans Day activities and lesson plans for preK-12, including thank-you cards, worksheets, historical readings and personal interviews. Elementary resources introduce service and appreciation through writing and classroom projects. Middle and high school materials invite students to examine veterans’ experiences through history, literature and discussion.
StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative brings veterans’ and family members’ perspectives into these lessons. Their accounts give students a personal connection to military history and opportunities to consider how service affects relationships, family life and the transition home.
What You’ll Find in this Collection
- Veterans’ stories: StoryCorps interviews, including “War does change you.”, that offer personal perspectives on military service and family life.
- Elementary activities: Thank You Veterans Cards, Thank A Vet Postcards and other writing projects that help students express appreciation.
- Middle and high school resources: Stories, speeches, songs and historical readings in The Meaning of Veterans Day, alongside lessons and discussion materials for secondary classrooms.
- Military family support: Resources such as Supporting Children and Family Survivors of Military Line-of-Duty Deaths that offer guidance for educators and caregivers.
Choosing Veterans Day Activities for Your Students
Start with a question that fits your students’ ages and your instructional goals. Younger students might discuss what service means before writing a thank-you message. Middle school students can examine how a historical speech describes service, while high school students might compare that speech with a veteran’s personal account.
Preview individual resources for reading demands and sensitive content, especially accounts involving combat, loss or family separation. Give students room to respond to the materials without requiring them to share personal or family experiences.
Explore the collection to plan a Veterans Day lesson that helps students recognize service and consider the experiences of veterans and their families.
