8 Ways to Celebrate Veterans Day and Real-Life Heroes in Your Preschool Classroom
Our communities are so fortunate to have many real-life heroes like firefighters, police officers, garbage collectors, and of course, teachers, in addition to the heroes we celebrate on Veterans Day. While preschoolers may not understand the realities of veterans, they can grasp concepts like gratitude, love, and helping others.
Teaching preschoolers about our veterans and other community heroes is a meaningful way to help them understand their world and all the people who keep them safe.
Here are eight ways to celebrate Veterans Day and real-life heroes in your preschool classroom.
Go on a Flag Scavenger Hunt
If you are in a walkable neighborhood, take preschoolers on a walk to spot the American flags in your community. If you aren’t able to take a walk, print out photos of American flags displayed in different places and hang them around the classroom for students to find. Once the flag hunt is complete, read the book F Is for Flag by Wendy Cheyette Lewison.
Invite Veterans to Class
Plan a day for preschoolers to honor the veterans in their lives. Activities can include giving those special friends or family members a handmade gift from their preschooler, having a snack together, performing a song, or hearing a story like, Hero Mom or Hero Dad by Melinda Hardin.
Looking for a way to teach your preschoolers about caring for the real-life heroes in their community? Download this free “All Kinds of Heroes” activity from Preschool With a Purpose for free!
Make Thank You Cards for Veterans and Community Heroes
Have preschoolers make thank you cards for veterans in their lives or collect the cards to send to a veterans organization such as Soldiers’ Angels. Make cards for helpers in the community, such as nurses, veterinarians, postal workers, garbage collectors, and more. Have a class discussion about the people in the community who help us every day and the importance of showing them gratitude and appreciation.
Community Helper Dramatic Play
Fill the costume bin with some simple dress-up items to let preschoolers imagine themselves as firefighters, doctors, police officers, postal workers, nurses, grocery clerks, and more. Include some signage, props, and forms to encourage pretend play based on what little ones see happening in the world around them.
Popsicle Stick Flag Craft
Bring out the paint and popsicle sticks! Preschoolers will love creating their own popsicle stick flag craft to gift a veteran or bring home to proudly display. Popsicle sticks, paint, and glue are all that’s needed to make this patriotic craft. Follow up by reading Story of the Star Spangled Banner by Patricia A. Pingry.
Create an “Our Town” Class Book
Letting kids be the authors of an “Our Town” class book about where they live is a great way to demonstrate the concept of community and all the people and places that make one. Ask preschoolers to help create a list of places in the community, such as a hospital, post office, zoo, bakery, gas station, mall, fire station, and more. Have each student draw a picture of one of the places from the list and tell what happens in that place and why it matters to the community. Use presentation book covers from an office supply store to assemble a book and protect the drawings. The book can stay in the classroom for preschoolers to page through and be added to throughout the year.
Community Helper Storytime
Stuff the classroom bookshelves with books celebrating community helpers and read a different one each day while the class is learning about these important everyday heroes. Here Come the Helpers by Leslie Kimmelman, They're Heroes Too: A Celebration of Community by Pat Brisson, Whose Hands Are These by Miranda Paul, and Pizza at Sally’s by Monica Wellington are some examples of wonderful books to include.
Easy Shapes Fire Truck Craft
Few things excite preschoolers more than fire trucks! This easy shapes fire truck craft combines learning about basic shapes and creating an adorable fire truck. Provide students with pre-cut shapes, a piece of cardstock, and glue to assemble their craft. Talk about the shapes that make up the fire truck as kids work on their creations, then follow up with a story about firefighters such as, Firefighters by Nora Simon.
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About the Author:
Valerie Williams is a seasoned writer and editor who has spent her career creating content in the parenting and women's wellness spaces. Her bylines include Scary Mommy, SheKnows, Forbes Health, and others. When she's not helping women and families live their best and healthiest lives, she's spending time with her husband and teen kids, walking her dogs, reading, cooking, or attending HIIT classes at the gym.