Blog 4- Memorial Day Reading Plan

Memorial Day Reading Plan 
Addison Mathes

My reading plan for Memorial Day is stretched over a full school week, 5 days. When creating this plan for first grade, I realized how important it is to teach young students about gratitude, respect, and remembering others in an age-appropriate way. I wanted students to understand that Memorial Day is more than a day off from work or school. It is a special time to honor the people who served and protected our country and to remember those who made sacrifices for our freedom. 

I chose to use picture books because I feel that first graders learn best through stories, illustrations, and classroom discussions. At this age, students are still developing their reading skills, so read0alouds provide opportunities for them to listen, ask questions, and engage with the text. The books I selected introduce Memorial Day themes in a gentle and meaningful way that young children can understand. I especially liked using books that focused on families, heroes, American Symbols, and kindness because those topics connect well to students' everyday lives. By making those connections, students are more likely to stay engaged and understand the importance of what they are learning. 

Here are the books I chose: 

Links: 

Storytime Channel for Kids: Memorial Day Read Aloud-The Wall by Eve Bunting

Hero Dad | Read Along | Reading Books For Kids - YouTube 

Rolling Thunder - Memorial Day (Read Aloud) - YouTube 

🇺🇸 F is for Flag 🇺🇸| Read Aloud for kids! | Patriotic Books for Kids! 

The Red Poppy Promise: A Heartfelt Memorial Day Story for Kids 🌺 

The books I selected each bring a unique perspective to the lesson. Some focus on honoring military members and their families, while others focus on symbols of patriotism and remembrance. Together, these books help students develop a well-rounded understanding of Memorial Day and why it is celebrated across the United States. The stories also encourage students to think about bravery, sacrifice, gratitude, and respect.

One thing I learned while creating this plan is how easily reading can connect with social studies and classroom community lessons. Students are not only practicing important literacy skills such as listening, vocabulary development, comprehension, speaking, and critical thinking, but also learning empathy, respect, and citizenship. This lesson shows that reading can be used as a tool to help students better understand the world around them.

I also think that young students are capable of having meaningful discussions about important topics when information is presented in a way they can understand. Through discussions, students can share their ideas, ask questions, and learn from one another.

I am most excited about the Red Poppy Craft. I feel like the students will love it and remember it! The red poppy is an important symbol of remembrance, and creating a hands-on project helps students connect with the meaning of Memorial Day in a meaningful way. I believe activities like this help students retain information because they are actively involved in the learning process rather than simply listening to a lesson. I am also excited about the class discussions because I think students will enjoy sharing their thoughts on heroes and discussing ways to show gratitude to others.

I chose this route to teach reading because young learners need opportunities to connect emotionally with texts. When students care about a topic and can relate it to their own lives, they become more engaged readers. Memorial Day provides a wonderful opportunity to build literacy skills while also teaching kindness, gratitude, and respect for others. Through literature, students can explore important themes and gain a deeper understanding of why we honor those who served our country. 

I also believe that integrating reading with social studies makes learning more meaningful. Instead of teaching reading skills in isolation, students can apply those skills while learning about an important historical and cultural topic. This approach helps students see the value of reading as a way to learn new information and better understand the world around them. 

Creating this plan helped me better understand how powerful children's literature can be in the classroom. The lesson not only supports literacy development but also encourages students to become thoughtful, respectful individuals.