Remembrance Day activities for primary school
A collection of engaging Remembrance Day resources
11 November marks Armistice Day, also known as Remembrance Day. This collection of remembrance day activities has been designed to help your key stage 1 and key stage 2 children understand the significance of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, and to explore what life may have been like for those on the frontline.
For Remembrance Day activities for secondary schools, try our English Remembrance resources, History Remembrance Day resources or our form tutor resources.
Creative and craft activities
Bring remembrance to life with hands-on creative activities. You'll find poppy templates for display work, and a comprehensive art choice board with activities, teachers notes and templates suitable for EYFS, KS1 and KS2. These remembrance day activities provide meaningful ways for children to express their understanding through art and craft.
Educational activities
Our 'What is Remembrance Day?' assembly offers a complete resource to introduce the topic to the whole school. For deeper learning, explore worksheets covering life in the trenches and the D-Day Landings, alongside our World War Two teaching pack containing 31 teaching ideas with accompanying resources. You may also like to browse our World War Two resources, which focus on life at home.
Literacy and language activities
Develop literacy skills through remembrance with our poetry analysis of 'In Flanders Fields' – a complete lesson with PowerPoint and printable resources. The collection also includes reading comprehension activities specifically focused on Remembrance Day, helping children to build understanding whilst practising key reading skills.
Support your children's writing with structured worksheets, including 'Write a letter to a soldier' and 'Diary of a WW1 soldier' activities. These writing frames provide scaffolding for children to step into the shoes of those who lived through the wars, developing empathy alongside their writing skills. You'll also find templates for acrostic poems.
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Understanding Remembrance Day
What is Remembrance Day?
Remembrance Day, observed on 11 November, commemorates the armistice signed at 11am on 11 November 1918, ending World War One. It honours armed forces members and civilians who died in conflict. The red poppy, inspired by John McCrae's poem 'In Flanders Fields', is the enduring symbol of remembrance.
Why do we observe two minutes' silence?
The two minutes' silence at 11am provides a moment of national reflection. The first minute remembers those who died in conflict; the second is for the living – those who returned and those affected by war. This tradition began in 1919 and continues across UK schools, workplaces and public spaces.
The significance of the poppy
The red poppy became a symbol of remembrance because these flowers grew on battlefields after World War One. The Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal raises millions annually to support serving and ex-serving Armed Forces members and their families. Teaching children about the poppy helps them understand this visual representation of remembrance and sacrifice.
How to mark Remembrance Day
Age-appropriate discussions
For EYFS and KS1, focus on remembering helpers and the importance of peace. KS2 children can explore World War history, timelines, key events and personal stories.
Interactive learning experiences
Hold a school assembly where children read poems, share learning or perform songs. Invite a local veteran to speak, visit a war memorial, or take virtual tours of the Imperial War Museum.
Cross-curricular activities
Integrate remembrance across subjects: explore war statistics or timelines in maths, map conflicts in geography, study wartime technology in science, and discuss courage and peace in PSHE.
Whole-school initiatives
Create a remembrance display with children's artwork, poetry and research. Hold a poppy-making workshop to create a large installation, or organise sponsored silences to fundraise for the Royal British Legion.
