Lesson Plan - Thank You, Veterans!

Watch a Video
Watch the video “Honoring Our Veterans” to learn about the different branches of the U.S. armed forces.

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• veterans
• memorials

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about why it is important to honor America’s veterans.

1. How did students at Orchard Farm Elementary thank veterans?
Students at Orchard Farm Elementary thanked veterans by raising money to send several veterans on Honor Flights to Washington, D.C. There, the veterans could visit our nation’s war memorials. 
^{RI.3.1 Demonstrate Understanding}

2. Based on the article, why might visiting war memorials be meaningful to veterans?
Visiting war memorials might be meaningful to veterans because these memorials were built to honor veterans’ service in the U.S. military.
^{RI.3.8 Cause/Effect}

3. What is the section “One Act, Many Rewards” mostly about?
This section of the article is mostly about the effects of the students’ project. It talks about how the Honor Flight made one veteran feel and how the project grew when people and companies in the area found out about it.
^{RI.3.2 Main Idea}

Featured Skill: Explanatory Writing
Celebrate Veterans Day by using the skill builder “Thank a Veteran!” to have students write and illustrate letters to veterans they know. If you prefer, you can send completed letters to a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital or an American Legion post in your area.
^{W.3.2 Explanatory Writing}