Remembrance Day - Learning More About Our History

Today you will be learning more about World War I by watching a video and reading an article. After you learn more, you will do some writing to share your thoughts and feelings with others about Remembrance Day through a poem. We are doing this because Remembrance Day is November 11th and because this is very significant part of our country's history, it t is important to take time to reflect and learn.

Students will read and watch a video to learn more about Remembrance Day

Students will write a poem and create a piece of art to display for others to reflect upon

To start, let's look at some examples of the poems from past students.  You will be following the same pattern.

“I am . . .”

Poems of Remembrance - Shared Writing by Room 4 

I am a surviving fighter

I wonder if there will ever be an end

I hear the whistling wind

I see destruction among the field of peaceful poppies

I want to see my family again

I am a strong solider

I am frightened and haunted by the past

I wonder if my family is safe

I hear the soldiers shuffling in the gravel

I see my little brother crying

I want the war to stop

I am a child

I am a symbol of the fallen

I wonder why there are so many of me

I hear the survivor’s tears thud like raindrops on the ground

I see the sun rising in the distance

I want people to stop digging holes in front of me

I am a cross

I am a guardian

I wonder if my child will come back from the war

I hear the news on the radio

I see people gathered, waiting for the soldiers’ arrival

I want them to be home, safe and sound

I am a caring mother and I am a protective father

I am proudly worn on the hearts of many

I wonder if everyone knows what I’m for

I hear hopeful songs from the children

I see that there is a chance for us all

I want people to wear me with honour and respect

I am a poppy

After reading over the poems, do you notice a pattern? We will be writing poems just like these.  It can be about the same topics or one that you choose. 

Before we write, let's watch a video to build our prior knowledge. 

What are some of the images you saw that you might want to incorporate into your poem?  Turn and talk with the neighbour next to you.

Now you will read an article to get some more information. This article specifically talks about World War I but you may want to use some of these words in your poem. As you read through it, highlight words that you may want to use. If time, answer the questions as a class and fill in the crossword.


It is now time to write your own poem.  This morning you built your prior knowledge and now you will use these ideas to begin writing.  In your blue note books, write down the following:


                                          ______________________________________   (the line is for your title)

I am

I wonder

I hear

I see

I want

I am



Use this format to write your own poem. 

Be sure to re-read each line of the poem multiple times.  Compare it to the other sample poems.  Can you be more descriptive? Can you use more juicy words? Are you sharing a message that is respectful to people affected by war?

Once you feel like you have finished, please read it over with a few students, then to an adult so they can check for spelling and grammar.  Next you will work on your good copy.  These will be displayed on our bulletin board in the hallway. Good copies will be on large cue cards.

Period 6

Finally we will create some artwork to go with our poems. These will only use the colours RED, BLACK, GREY and WHITE.  Take a look at the samples below.  Notice that there are three perspectives - close up, middle ground and background.  We are drawing using different perspectives because we are writing about war from different perspectives.  These pictures will go along with our writing. They will be made on smaller cue cards. Be sure to draw on the side without lines.

Using the paper provided, create a picture that would fit well with your topic or within the theme of Remembrance Day,  Be sure to be respectful.  Though war is violent and sometimes deadly, this is not what we will depict on the pictures.  Instead we want to think of pictures that can respectfully represent a message of Remembrance.  

Check out these samples.  Ms. Kurtz also has samples that she can show you.

Please hand in your finished pieces to your teachers.  If it is not done, it is for homework.  We want to have these displayed by Tuesday so it coincides with Remembrance Day.