Spotlight on Sources:
Welcome to Renzulli Learning’s Spotlight on Sources, some of our most engaging resources to excite and inspire your students!
As Memorial Day approaches, it's not just another long weekend or the unofficial start of summer; it's a time to reflect and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.
For educators, it's an opportune moment to instill in students the significance of this day beyond barbecues and beach trips. Teaching students about Memorial Day fosters patriotism, gratitude, and a deeper understanding of our society's values. You can use the featured activities to explain Memorial Day to your students and celebrate it in your classroom!
To locate these activities within Renzulli Learning:
Under the 'Teach' navigation, click 'Search'.
On the Search page, type in the title of the activity you would like to locate.
For more ideas to infuse enrichment activities with your curriculum, please visit the Unit Supplements on the Teacher Site, under “Teach.” We can also link these enrichment resources to your regular curriculum if you send us a theme or topic.
American Revolution Museum: Color a Revolutionary Thank You for Memorial Day
K - 2
Download this PDF version of the Washington Standard coloring page to thank a service member.
American Revolution Museum: Craft Your Own Commemorative Ribbon for Memorial Day
Grades 3 - 5
In 1825, the Marquis de Lafayette attended a special ceremony and laid the corner stone for the Bunker Hill Monument in Boston, memorializing the first large battle of the Revolutionary War. At that ceremony, surviving veterans each received commemorative ribbons, a testament to their service fifty years before. Though many of these ribbons have been lost to time, the Museum owns three that belonged to one Revolutionary War veteran, a man named Solomon Smith of Acton, Massachusetts. You can create your own at home, commemorating members of our armed forces who have served the cause of liberty from the Revolutionary War until today.
National Geographic: The facts behind Memorial Day's cntroversial history
Grades 6 - 12
For many Americans, Memorial Day signifies the start of the summer season, as well as a much-needed long weekend. But that wasn’t the original purpose of the day—and its evolution over the years has been rife with controversy. Click the link to read more about "The facts behind Memorial Day's controversial history”.
History: Memorial Day
Grades 9 - 12
Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. People celebrated Decoration Day by decorating the graves of war veterans with poppy flowers. Decoration Day is now Memorial Day, but poppies still remain a symbol of those who gave their lives during war. Click on the link to read more about the history of Memorial Day!
Thanks for being a part of the Renzulli Learning family and we hope you find these resources helpful.
Your Renzulli Learning Team