Remembrance Day in the Classroom

7. Videos Adding multimedia to your event is an effective way to educate your audience. It also allows you to hear stories from Canadian veterans from all over the country. Consider tailoring media according to your guest speakers and their service. If you are hosting a Memory Project speaker, use the Record of Service summary of conflict videos to give students and guests context about your speaker’s service. If you are unable to host a speaker, the Memory Project also offers videos with veterans’ testimonies of their experiences, as well as a Remembrance Day address. Consider showing one or two Heritage Minutes from the list of military-related Heritage Minutes from Historica Canada. Be sure to screen any media in advance to make sure the selection is appropriate for your event and does not contain any sensitive subjects. 8. Memory Project Speaker Encourage students to take notes and/or pay close attention to the guest speaker(s) during the ceremony, as Activity 4 will have students reflect on the speaker’s stories. Inviting a Memory Project speaker to your event is a useful way to learn firsthand about the experiences of veterans or active military members. If you choose to include a speaker, be sure to connect with them before the event and ensure you have the technology they may need for their presentation. Once the speaker has finished, make sure the MC thanks them for their visit. 9. Poems Have students or guest speakers participate in the ceremony by reading significant poems like In Flanders Fields or Why Wear a Poppy . Teacher Tip: If you completed Activity 2 with your class, select a few students to read their own poems and/or reflections during the ceremony. 10. Wreath Laying Consider laying a wreath during your Remembrance Day event. Wreath laying is a common part of the ceremonies held on November 11, as a way to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by Canadian veterans. A wreath laying is an important ceremony, with many practices to consider. Please follow A Guide to Commemorative Services by Veterans Affairs Canada to plan the wreath laying. Order a wreath from your local Legion HERE . 11. Close Event Be sure to end the event by thanking your guests and allowing the audience to ask questions. Consider preparing questions in advance and allowing your speaker(s) to decide which ones they feel comfortable answering. TEACHER TIPS i. Make sure to Book a speaker in advance. ii. Once the Memory Project team has connected you with a speaker, be sure to communicate with your speaker to ensure that they know what to expect from the visit. Obtain permission in advance of the visit if you plan to record the speaker or take photographs. iii. Ask your speaker about their service ahead of your event so you can prepare your students to ask thoughtful questions. iv. Once a speaker has been scheduled, as a class, come up with a list of interview questions to ask your speaker during their visit (if you plan to have a Q&A portion). You may want to use the Host a Speaker Kit on the Memory Project website to help formulate your questions. v. Encourage your students to listen carefully and respectfully to the speaker, as they will use the speaker’s presentation for their activities. ONLINE EVENT Use our helpful How to Host an Event Via Video Call toolkit to convert an in-person event to an online event. If you are including outside guests or speakers, be sure to discuss the layout and required technologies with them before the event. Remembrance Day in the Classroom A Teacher Resource Kit 7.