Memorial Day is a time to honor and remember the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives for our country. As teachers, we can help students understand the significance of this holiday through engaging and meaningful lessons. If you’re looking for Memorial Day activities for students, this post is packed with creative ideas to foster reflection, learning, and appreciation. From interactive escape rooms and patriotic coloring activities to virtual tours and letter writing, these activities will make Memorial Day both educational and memorable for your 4th and 5th graders. Keep reading to find ready-to-use resources, hands-on projects, and a freebie to bring impactful Memorial Day lessons into your classroom!
Memorial Day Word Search or Crossword Puzzles
Kick off your Memorial Day Activities for students with a themed word search or crossword puzzle that introduces key vocabulary like “veteran,” “honor,” and “sacrifice.” This is a simple yet effective way to build background knowledge while keeping students engaged. A word search is also a perfect activity if you’re short on time at the end of the school year, as it requires minimal prep while still reinforcing important concepts.
Memorial Day One-Pager Activity
One-pagers allow students to creatively express their understanding of Memorial Day. Have them summarize the holiday’s meaning using illustrations, key facts, and personal reflections. This is a great Memorial Day activity for differentiation, as students can design their one-pagers in various ways.
Not familiar with one-pagers? Read all the ways they can be used in your classroom here.
Virtual Tour of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia is home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, one of the nation’s most famous memorials. Students can explore this historic site through a virtual tour offered by Arlington’s education program. The program also provides free Memorial Day resources for teachers, making it a great way to bring history to life in the classroom.
Invite a Veteran to Speak to Your Classroom
Invite a veteran or military family member to share their experiences. If a speaker isn’t available, consider watching a kid-friendly video about Memorial Day and discussing it as a class.
Flag Etiquette & Symbolism
Teach students about flag etiquette (why it’s flown at half-staff, when to salute, etc.) and the symbolism of the stars and stripes. On Memorial Day, the flag should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon, then raised to full staff until sunset to honor the fallen. As a creative extension, have students design their own flag representing what freedom and remembrance mean to them.
Looking for a fun and engaging way to reinforce this lesson? Check out my American Flag and Pledge of Allegiance Color by Code Resource! This hands-on activity helps students connect with the history of the flag and the meaning behind the Pledge of Allegiance in an interactive way.
Memorial Day Escape Room
With Memorial Day landing at the very end of the school year, it can be a challenge to keep students engaged and learning.
Engage your students in a fun and interactive Memorial Day escape room or scavenger hunt! This activity encourages teamwork and critical thinking as students solve clues related to Memorial Day history, symbols, and traditions. You can create a digital escape room using Google Forms or set up a physical scavenger hunt in your classroom where students find and answer historical fact cards.
Looking for ready-made resources to save time? Here are a few done-for-you Memorial Day resources that include engaging puzzles, historical facts, and interactive challenges to make learning about Memorial Day both educational and exciting!
Letter Writing to Veterans
Although usually reserved for Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day is also a great time to thank our veterans!
Encourage students to write heartfelt letters to veterans or active military personnel. This not only improves writing skills but also helps students express their gratitude. To make it easy, grab my FREE Memorial Day Letter Writing Pack, which includes six different stationery designs perfect for this activity!
It is definitely one of my favorite Memorial Day activities for students!
Memorial Day Acrostic Poems
Use acrostic poems to encourage creative writing. Have students choose words like HONOR or RESPECT and write phrases that begin with each letter. For example, “H” could be for heroes who protect our land. My Memorial Day Freebie Pack includes two acrostic poem blackline templates to make this activity even easier for your students!
Observe the National Moment of Silence
At 3:00 PM, observe the National Moment of Remembrance to honor fallen heroes. Afterward, have students write a short reflection about why Memorial Day is important and how they can show appreciation for those who serve.
Grab your FREE Memorial Day Activities for Students Pack!
To help make your Memorial Day activities simple and impactful, I’ve created a FREE Memorial Day Activities for Students Pack that includes:
✅ Two acrostic poem blacklines (HONOR & RESPECT)
✅ Six letter-writing stationery templates for veterans and active military members
Download it now and bring meaningful Memorial Day activities for students into your classroom!
How do you celebrate Memorial Day in your classroom? Let me know in the comments! 
