On the morning of November 11, 1918, after four years of war, Allied and German powers met in Rethondes, France, to sign an armistice that halted the hostilities of World War I. The agreement was signed shortly after 5:00 a.m. and went into effect at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, finally bringing to an end the carnage of the Great War—the … Read more »
Happy Saturday! This Monday is Veterans Day. What are you doing to commemorate the day? After the jump, we suggest five ways you and your students can get involved—and make Veterans Day more than just a long weekend.
Looking for lesson plan ideas to celebrate Veterans Day and Thanksgiving in your classroom? Look no further—our November newsletter has lots of suggestions on how you can incorporate American stories, speeches, and songs in your curriculum. Check out the newsletter after the jump.
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By Katie LeValley
Veterans Day is Monday, November 11. How are you commemorating the holiday in your classroom? Here are 10 ideas to enhance your class’s discussion this Veterans Day:
“On the chilly, blustery morning of November 13, 1982, thousands of Vietnam War veterans assembled in the nation’s capital to march down Constitution Avenue. Some had donned army fatigues, camouflage suits, or dress uniforms; others wore business attire, with raincoats or jackets. They came from every state. […] The long line moved west down the avenue and gathered on the National Mall near the Lincoln Memorial. There, the marchers took part in … Read more »
This Sunday, November 11, is Veterans Day–a holiday we have been preparing for all week.
In this Veterans Day speech to the Semper Fi Society of St. Louis, Lieutenant General John F. Kelly, US Marine Corps, pays a moving tribute to the heroism of our warriors. He makes clear the debt of gratitude that the rest of us owe these dedicated men and … Read more »
Today’s selection to help us prepare for Veterans Day is Ambrose Bierce’s short story, “A Son of the Gods.” Bierce (1842–1913 [?]) was an American journalist, critic, and author whose acid wit and dark view of human nature earned him the nickname “Bitter Bierce.” After working as a printer’s apprentice in his youth, he enlisted in the Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry at the outset of the Civil War, fighting in … Read more »
With Veterans Day just around the corner, we’re using this week to feature resources from our Veterans Day ebook, “The Meaning of Veterans Day,” to help us better understand the meaning of the holiday and how to properly observe it. So today: some history. (Be sure to check out all our Veterans Day stories, speeches, and songs here.)
On the morning of November 11, 1918, after four years of … Read more »
Each November 11, our nation commemorates Veterans Day. But what does the holiday mean, and how do we properly observe it? What So Proudly We Hail has recently published a new ebook to help readers and educators explore these questions. The collection of stories, speeches, and songs examines the evolving meaning of Veterans Day, with selections by American authors such as Ambrose Bierce, Ernest Hemingway, Read more »
Distinguished scholar-teachers Amy and Leon Kass demonstrate how short stories, speeches, and songs can be used to enhance civic education and how a pedagogical approach that stresses learning through inquiry can make primary sources come alive for students of all ages.
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“What a wonderful collection of American songs, speeches, and stories. It should be valuable for teachers, students, parents, and readers of all kinds.”
— Diane Ravitch