How will your students observe Remembrance Day this year?

Made with teachers and students in mind, the modules can easily be integrated into individual classrooms, or can be used as part of school-wide Remembrance Day observances.  Each of the four modules is geared to a different learning level and explores age-appropriate Remembrance Day themes and questions. Activities in the Discover More section of each module can also provide a way for students to share their work with other members of the school community during ceremonies or assemblies. The modules also provide questions that students can reflect on during a moment of silence.

Students can complete the activities in as little as one period, but, depending on student needs or interest, teachers can easily adapt the modules into multiple lessons. The modules are best used in the day(s) leading up to your school’s Remembrance Day assembly. The modules can also be used directly on Remembrance day in lieu of an official assembly.

Honouring Bravery’s Remembrance Day modules draw on the contributions and perspectives of many groups, including those who have historically been marginalized when discussing Canada’s military history.  Our aim is to ensure that the lived experiences of many diverse Canadians are reflected in our Remembrance Day content and that students see themselves within the stories being told.

Remembrance Day can be a very emotional time for students and families. We also recognize that students have a variety of lived experiences and that some students may find topics surrounding war difficult to hear. Our Remembrance Day packages include opportunities that foster empathy and promote emotional reflection and discussion, which align with trauma-informed pedagogy. Before starting any Remembrance Day lesson, we recommend that teachers remind students that:

• Everyone reacts differently to learning about topics like war and peacekeeping. These types of topics may cause us to feel sad, upset, angry, or may make us feel none of these things. All these emotions are totally normal.
• The classroom is a safe place. To ensure this, everyone should be respectful of other student’s thoughts and feelings.

Some teachers may also find it helpful to designate a space in their classroom for students to sit and reflect on how they are feeling through drawing or writing. Other teachers may find it helpful to provide mindfulness or physical movement breaks during the lessons, which helps promote self-care.

Yes. The modules can be adapted to become an independent student activity that can be done from home, or remotely. Where classroom discussions are not possible, the class discussion questions in the modules can be easily adapted by families or small peer-groups.