As Memorial Day approaches, it's important to take the time to honor and remember the brave men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country.
This Memorial Day, celebrate the holiday with fun and meaningful activities that teach your kids about its significance.
Here are some creative and educational Memorial Day crafts and activities for kids.
Memorial Day Lessons
Read Books About Memorial Day
Visit your local library or bookstore to find books about Memorial Day and the military. Reading stories about soldiers and their sacrifices can help kids understand the significance of the holiday.
Watch Patriotic Movies or Documentaries
Choose family-friendly movies or documentaries that highlight the bravery and sacrifices of members of the armed forces. Use these films as a starting point for discussions about patriotism, service, and gratitude.
Flag Etiquette Lesson
Take some time to teach your children about flag etiquette and the proper way to display and handle the American flag. Discuss why we lower the flag to half-staff on Memorial Day and the importance of showing respect for this symbol of our nation.
These free American flag coloring pages help kids to understand the symbolism behind the American flag as they read the facts and color the flag craft.
Facts about the American flag:
The American flag is a symbol of freedom
The flag's 13 red and white stripes represent the original 13 colonies.
The flag's 50 white stars on a blue background represent the 50 states.
Each color of the American flag has a meaning:
Red: valor and bravery
White: purity and innocence
Blue: vigilance, perseverance, and justice
A star is added to the flag when a new state joins the United States.
The American flag was last modified on July 4, 1960, when Hawaii became a state.
Memorial Day Field Trip
Attend a Memorial Day Ceremony or Parade
Many communities hold a Memorial Day parade or ceremony at local parks and memorials to honor veterans and fallen soldiers. Bring your kids to experience the patriotic atmosphere, moments of silence, and flag ceremonies.
Visit a Veterans Cemetery
Take a trip to a local veterans’ cemetery or memorial park. Place flags or flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers to emphasize the significance of Memorial Day and to show respect for those who have served.
Memorial Day Crafts for Kids
Engage your kids in crafting activities that honor the military. Memorial Day crafts provide an opportunity for creativity and teach children about the importance of the holiday.
Make a Memorial Day Poppy Craft
Poppies are pretty, red flowers that are also a symbol of remembrance. Creating a poppy craft is a wonderful way to honor and remember fallen soldiers. Help your kids create their own paper poppies using red tissue paper, a black button or pom-pom, green pipe cleaners, scissors, and glue. These can be worn as pins or displayed as a beautiful reminder of the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women.
Here's a simple step-by-step guide to making a poppy craft.
Materials Needed:
Red tissue paper
Black button or black pom-pom
Scissors
Glue
Green pipe cleaner (optional)
Green construction paper or cardstock (optional)
Instructions:
1. Cut out the petals.
Take 1-2 sheets of red tissue paper and fold the paper into a 10"x10" square. Use scissors to either cut out a circle or a rounded petal shape, similar to the shape of a poppy petal. The petals don't need to be perfect. In fact, irregular shapes make the flower more natural looking.
2. Form the flower base.
Take the top sheet of tissue paper and crumple it into a ball to form the center of the flower. Layer additional petals around the center, crumpling them slightly as you go to give the flower dimension. Continue adding petals until you're happy with the fullness of the flower.
3. Attach the center of the flower. Use glue to attach a black button or black pom-pom to the center of the flower. This represents the poppy's dark center.
4. Create the stem and leaves (optional). If you'd like to add a stem and leaves to your poppy, take a green pipe cleaner and twist one end to create a small loop. Glue the looped end of the pipe cleaner to the back of the flower to serve as the stem. Cut out leaves from green paper and glue them to the stem.
5. Let the flower dry. Allow your poppy craft to dry completely before handling it further.
6. Display or wear the poppy. Once dry, your poppy craft is ready to be displayed or worn. You can attach a safety pin to the back of the flower to wear it as a pin, or simply place it on a table or in a vase as a Memorial Day decoration.
Additional Tips:
Experiment with different shades of red tissue paper to create variation in your poppy petals.
Add touches of black paint or marker to the petals for added depth and realism.
Cut varying sizes and shapes of petals to create a unique poppy design.
Craft a Patriotic Wreath
This easy patriotic wreath craft for kids is simple and only takes a few supplies.
Materials Needed:
Paper plate
Red, white, and blue construction paper or cardstock
Scissors
Glue
String
Instructions:
Cut out 1-2 inch squares of paper. Different sized squares look nice on the wreath. Heads up - the smaller the squares, the longer it takes to complete the craft.
Lightly fold the paper plate in half to cut out the middle portion of the plate.
Glue the squares onto the plate in a wreath pattern.
Cut a hole at the top of your wreath and place a string to make a hanger.
Hang the wreath on your front door or in a window to show your patriotic spirit.
Cutting a few stars out of construction paper for the wreath looks really nice, or you can use star stickers. You can also add ribbons, beads, and buttons.
I’ve also used this craft for toddlers using the entire paper plate and dot markers. Give your toddlers blue and red dot markers and have them color the plate. Then add the string to hang up their wreath.
Memorial Day Remember and Honor
Set aside time as a family to reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day. Discuss the importance of honoring the memory of fallen soldiers and the ongoing commitment to supporting those who serve in the military.
Create a Memory Jar
Create a memory jar filled with notes of appreciation and remembrance. Decorate a mason jar with patriotic colors and symbols. Throughout the day or week, encourage family members to write down memories of loved ones who have served or messages of gratitude for those currently serving. Place these notes in the jar and then read them aloud together as a family, to create a sense of unity and appreciation.
Your kids may not know that they have relatives who have served in the military, especially great-grandparents. Before making your memory jar, create a family tree and highlight the members of your family who have served.
Make Care Packages for Troops
Get your kids involved in putting together care packages for deployed troops. Include items like non-perishable snacks, toiletries, magazines, and handwritten letters of appreciation.
Organizations like Operation Gratitude can help you send these packages to service members overseas.
Write Letters to Veterans
Encourage your kids to create handmade thank you cards or draw pictures to send to veterans in nursing homes or military hospitals. Showing gratitude and appreciation can brighten the day of those who have served. Contact a veterans' organization or nursing home in your community to find out when and where you can drop off the cards.
Host a Memorial Day Picnic
Plan a family picnic or barbeque with a patriotic theme. Make red, white, and blue snacks, play outdoor games, and spend quality time together while honoring the holiday.
My kids love to help me in the kitchen to make these patriotic snacks:
Popsicles We layer pureed strawberries, Greek yogurt, and blueberry puree in a popsicle mold, and then freeze for a frozen treat. You can also buy red, white, and blue popsicles from the store.
Fruit Flag We arrange strawberries, blueberries, and bananas in the shape of a flag. We cut the strawberries in quarters or halves for the red stripes, slice bananas for the white stripes, and use blueberries for the stars/blue background. To serve, everyone adds some fruit to a bowl of yogurt.
Chips and Salsa We place blue corn chips in a large bowl. In another bowl, we pour the red salsa and add a dollop of white sour cream on top.
Celebrating Memorial Day
Memorial Day is more than just a long weekend or the unofficial start of summer. It's a time to honor our heroes and teach the next generation to do the same.
By participating in these crafts and activities, children can gain a deeper understanding of Memorial Day and develop a sense of appreciation for the sacrifices made by our military personnel and their families. These experiences can help instill values of patriotism, empathy, and gratitude from a young age.