6 simple ideas that feature the POPPY to create meaning in the classroom

Each year ANZAC and Remembrance Day rolls around and I’m always looking for something a little different and creative to teach my students about the significance of these days. The poppy always features in my classroom because we make them to wear on our lapels for our school assembly. But I like to get more creative than that and give my students a lesson that will stick in their minds and create relevance for them and their world.

Here are six easy and creative ideas that feature the poppy, that you can use in your classroom, as a symbol of respect and remembrance:

1. Students colour them and pin to their lapel for school or home ANZAC day celebrations (Tip: laminate them and reuse for Remembrance Day) once you are finished wearing them, ask students to record something they are grateful for and put on display in your classroom. These events are a great opportunity to encourage an attitude of gratitude among your students. (If you like this idea, you might, check out our full poppy gratitude lesson)

2. Use as a stencil to trace the poppies onto crepe paper or colour paper, cut and glue poppies on a green water colour background to make a ‘field of poppies’ artwork.

3. Stick each student’s poppy onto a green straw and find a garden bed in the school to create a garden of honour or remembrance (this could also work using mason jars as vases along a classroom window sill).

4. Create a class wreath using each student’s poppy OR give students a page of poppies to create their own ANZAC wreath.

5. Ask each child to colour a poppy and then arrange them to create a word (such as RESPECT, LEST WE FORGET, THANK YOU or ANZAC) to display in the classroom.

6. Repurpose the poppies to make a thank you card with special personal messages for family members or local veterans. This is a great way to make a connection with the larger community.

Looking for other meaningful and relevant ANZAC Day Resources? Check out these no prep activities (all our ANZAC Day Packs come with colour and B&W poppies as featured in this blog post):

Need something to help to teach your students about Remembrance Day?

Remembrance Day Pack for Kindergarten

Remembrance Day Pack for Years 1-2

Remembrance Day Pack for Years 3-4

Remembrance Day Pack for Years 5-6