Remembrance Day - KS2

Remembrance Day, also known as Armistice Day, commemorates the end of World War One when an agreement to stop fighting was reached on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month in 1918. The truce is called the Armistice.

It is now held to remember all those who have died in wars and is marked by a two-minute silence at 11:00am every 11th November. It is also an opportunity for people to learn from history and to think about the importance of peace.

After World War One, many people felt it was wrong to celebrate at the end of the war because so many had died.

When the church bells struck 11 o’clock on 11 November 1919, one year after the war, people all over the country bowed their heads; buses and trains stopped moving; shopkeepers stopped serving; and the electricity was cut off to stop trams from running.

A number of traditions have come from Remembrance Day including reading poetry, poppies and even jelly babies- they were originally called peace babies.

Discover more about World War One. Find out:

• How World War One started
• What life was like in the trenches
• How children helped the war effort

Poppies have become a globally recognised symbol of Remembrance Day. The reason poppies are used to remember those who have given their lives in battle is because they are the flowers which grew on the battlefields after World War One ended.

John McCrae, a famous wartime poem, referenced poppies in his famous poem 'In Flanders Fields'.

"We shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders Fields".

The poppy is still worn by millions of people every November.

The poppy has been a flower that artists have drawn, painted and sculpted over many decades.

Create your own poppy artwork in a style of your choice.

• Pointillism: Georges Seurat was one of the most famous pointillist artists.

• Pop Art: Andy Warhol was a famous pop art artist.

• Mixed Media: Use a combination of styles, tools and materials to create your masterpiece.

Some soldiers wanted to describe the horrors of the war so that people at home could understand how it felt.

Laurence Binyon was an English poet. In 1914, he wrote 'For the Fallen'.

Rupert Brooke and Siegfried Sassoon were also British soldier poets as well as Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian field surgeon who wrote one of the most famous poems, In Flanders Fields.

Wilfred Owen is one of the most famous poets of WW1. He wrote one of the most famous war poems ever written, Dulce et Decorum Est which is still studied and read today.

• Read and listen to 'For the Fallen' by Laurence Binyon or 'In Flanders Fields by John McCrae.

• Think about how the poem makes you feel. What can you see or hear? What kind of language do the poets use to create these feelings?

Have a look at the thinking points below and think about your answer to each question. You could even write them down on a piece of paper or discuss them with somebody else if you want to.

• Why is it important for people to remember those who served and died in wars?

• Why is peace important?

• Why do you think people continue to wear poppies over 100 years later?

Step back in time and embark on an exciting adventure to explore the wonders of ancient civilisations! In this interactive history game, you'll travel to the heart of legendary societies like Ancient Egypt and the Maya Civilisation. Become an explorer, archaeologist, or ruler as you solve puzzles, collect fact cards, and unlock secrets of the past.

But history doesn’t stop there! The game also takes you to the battlefields of World War I. Move through the trenches, discover life in wartime Britain and take part in the Christmas Day Truce.

Are you ready to uncover the mysteries of the past and make history come alive? Your adventure through time begins now!