This What Would a Soldier Say? Worksheet gives 1st Grade students three writing prompts about a soldier they want to thank, with room to write in their own words on Memorial Day.
This Memorial Day Word Families Worksheet asks 1st Grade students to read fifteen words and write each one under the -ake, -ell or -ar family it belongs to. An answer key is included.
This happy holidays national holidays activity has 1st-3rd grade students match picture clue cards to ten U.S. holidays and their dates. Answer key included for easy checking.
This make the world a peaceful place to live worksheet helps 1st grade students write kind ways to help at home, at school, and in town, building early writing skills and caring hearts.
This Draw a Memorial Day Picture Worksheet helps 1st graders read a short passage about the holiday, draw a way to thank our heroes, and write about their picture to build reading and writing skills.
The Write a Memorial Day Letter to a Soldier Worksheet guides 1st graders through a friendly letter with a printed greeting, roomy writing lines, and a closing, building real-world writing skills.
This Memorial Day Middle Sounds Activity helps Kindergarten and 1st grade children hear the short vowel in CVC words with red, white, and blue picture clip cards. Answer key included.
Remembering heroes, first-grade style
First graders learn that Memorial Day is a day in late May when Americans remember the people who served in the military and gave their lives for our country. We keep it simple and gentle: it is a day to say thank you and to remember. Kids learn a few traditions, like flying the flag at half-staff in the morning and placing flags or flowers at memorials. The click moment is when they understand the difference between a day for fun and a day for remembering.
Young kids need big ideas in small, kind words. These moves keep it meaningful and age-appropriate.
Start with a short read-aloud and a simple question: "What does it mean to remember someone?" Model one sentence of your own, then let kids write theirs. Keep the talk warm and focused on gratitude.
Why it works: showing first, practicing together, then letting kids try alone is the "gradual release" model teachers have relied on for decades (Pearson and Gallagher, 1983).
Try it withWhat Would a Soldier Say? WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →Kids write a short thank-you letter to a soldier or veteran. Give a sentence starter like "Thank you for..." and let them add a drawing. If you know a local veteran group, they love receiving these.
Why it works: kids understand an idea best when they touch it, then draw it, then write it, the order the U.S. Department of Education recommends for elementary math.
Try it withWrite a Memorial Day Letter to a Soldier WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →Some first graders say more with crayons than words. Let them draw a flag, a memorial or a parade, then label it with one or two words. Share a few pictures and talk about what each one shows.
Why it works: pairing a picture with each word gives kids two ways to remember it, a well-tested principle of how people learn (Mayer, 2009).
Try it withDraw a Memorial Day Picture WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →Holiday themes are a great way to sneak in phonics and reading.
WorksheetsRead and sort Memorial Day word families. Phonics practice with a patriotic twist.
Open Memorial Day Word Families Worksheet →
ActivitiesKids listen for the middle sound in each word and mark it. Perfect for a center.
Open Memorial Day Middle Sounds Activity →
WorksheetsKids draw and write about one way they can make the world a kinder place.
Open Make the World a Peaceful Place to Live Worksheet →Teacher favorites right now: What Would a Soldier Say? Worksheet, Memorial Day Word Families Worksheet and Happy Holidays National Holidays Activity.
Keep it short and kind: Memorial Day is a day to remember the soldiers who died keeping our country safe, and to say thank you. Then share one tradition, like flying the flag.
Memorial Day remembers service members who died. Veterans Day, in November, thanks everyone who has served. A simple way to say it: Memorial Day is for remembering, Veterans Day is for thanking.
It is the last Monday in May. Many classrooms teach it the week before, since school is often closed that day.
Not when it is framed around gratitude and remembering. Focus on thank-you letters, flags and kindness rather than war details, and first graders handle it beautifully.
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