A remembrance guide for children

A toddler in a yellow rain jacket and wellie boots walks through a A toddler in a yellow rain jacket and wellie boots walks through a cemetary with poppies at some of the tombstones. with poppies at some of the tombstones.

Every November we give pause and thanks to the men and women who have bravely served our country. It is a time for silent reflection and sombre tributes. 

Ahead of this year’s Remembrance Sunday, how will we teach our children and young people why it’s so important?

To help families and educators, this short informative guide provides advice and suggestions on how to explain remembrance. 

Please note, this is a general guide and all activities, events and information given should be age appropriate and based on the needs and skillset of the children and young people.

Poppies

We wear poppies in November as a mark of respect.

Poppies grew on the battlefields after the First World War and soon became the symbol of remembrance for all wars. The flowers are also featured in the famous war poem, In Flanders Fields.

At home, in a classroom setting or young group, a discussion can be had on the importance of the poppies symbol and the money raised from selling them, followed by an arts and crafts session for children to design their own poppy picture. Or why don’t you create a poppy garden at home or in the classroom to demonstrate the importance of the symbol.

The Scottish Poppy Appeal is hosted by Poppyscotland, with money raised from the annual campaign going to support the Armed Forces community in Scotland, including Serving, Veterans and Service families.

For more information on the Poppyscotland campaign.

Writing for Remembrance

Encourage children and young people to write an article or poem about Military life and Remembrance Sunday. 

These pieces could even be a collaborative writing project, which opens up discussions about the significance of Remembrance Sunday, Armistice Day and the poppy appeal.

Books, poems and animation

Books are an excellent source of information to read and discuss with children. Please review the material first as some content may be appropriate only for older children.

Books for Remembrance

In addition to educational literature, here is a selection of books which may be of interest:

  • The Poppy Story – an illustrated paperback aimed at children 4-7 years old, it tells the story of the poppy and remembrance, with particular reference to Scotland. Schools can order a free copy of The Poppy Story book for their school library by emailing learning@poppyscotland.org.uk
  • Ava’s Poppy – recommended for 3+ years, the Marcus Pfister book features a short story and illustrations on the lifecycle of a flower and a prompt for discussions about the symbol of poppies.
  • Flo of the Somme – This book pays tribute to the bravery of all animals who risked their lives during World War 1. Written by Hilary Robinson and illustrated by Martin Impey, it follows the adventure of Mercy Dog Flo, who is trying to reach the injured on the battlefields with her first aid kit. It is aimed at children 4-11 years.
  • One Boy’s War – suitable for 9-11 years, the book by Lynn Huggins-Cooper, is told from the view of a 16-year-old boy who goes to fight in World War 1.

Poems for Remembrance

There are also a number of poems, including:

Remembrance video

Watch a short animation: 

The BBC also has a BAFTA-nominated animation, Poppies, which follows a young rabbit through the poppy fields. This will work best as an introduction for young students to Remembrance and Armistice Day.

The film can be watched on the BBC’s CBeebies page.

As always, please review the material first as some content may be appropriate only for older children.

Museum visits

At this time of year, the weather can be unpredictable. Museum and exhibition visits provide a rich educational experience while staying dry.

There are several sites across Scotland, including the National War Museum, which is based within Edinburgh Castle, The Black Watch Castle and Museum in Perth, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum inside Stirling Castle, and The National Museum of Flight, located at East Fortune Airfield near Edinburgh.

More options are available on VisitScotland.

During these visits, children and young people can view the memorial names and any exhibitions with follow up discussions about what they saw and why it’s important to always remember. 

Observe the two-minute silence

At 11:00 on Remembrance Sunday (10 November 2024), a two-minute silence will be observed across the UK. Wreaths will be laid at war memorials and other public spaces. 

Take the time to silently reflect and pay tribute to those who have lost their lives while serving their country. 

On Monday 11 November, there will be a two-minute silence for Armistice Day. Observed every year since 1919, the 11:00 silence takes place as the First World War ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 – six hours after the Armistice had been signed.

Website resources 

A number of supporting and partner organisations will have resources to view and download for support families and educators.

Here is a selection of these sites:

  • Poppyscotland has free learning materials, including lesson plans and information for the classroom, youth groups and families. Find out more on its learning resources page here.
  • The Royal British Legion has a range of free resources and free events for school children, educators, youth groups and families. Discover more on its website.
  • Education Scotland provides a resource which can be used to develop appropriate learning and training experiences around conflict and war. A link to this resource is available here.
  • Never Such Innocence, a charity which began as a World War 1 commemorative project for children and young people, has a number of resources and activities. You can access the charity’s top tips and lesson plans here and further resources here.
  • Little Troopers is a charity which provides tools to improve the wellbeing of Military children. It has several resources for families and education professionals. Little Troopers also runs a six-week programme covering topics such as belonging, creative writing, resilience, emotional awareness and mindfulness. Find out more on the Little Troopers website.

And not forgetting Forces Children’s Education.

This has a number of resources for families and educators to support children and young people. This includes files to download, view and watch online. We also have information on additional support needs.

Keep in touch

During these times, it’s important to involve and encourage children and young people to learn more about Remembrance Sunday and why it is so important.

We would love to see what you do and how the children and young people got on.

Please tag Forces Children’s Education across our social media channels – Facebook, X and LinkedIn. 

T&Cs: All information included above has been provided in faith and may be subject to later revision. Where links are provided to external content, we cannot accept any responsibility for content or accuracy.

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