Introduction
The United States has been throughout wars. Some happens in our own soil and others around the globe. throughout history it been 50 wars, involving the sacrifice of American servicemen and women. Memorial Day is about those who gave up their lives in the name of freedom.
Grade Level 3 – Social Studies
Standard: Historical knowledge.
The Lesson will demonstrate patriotism. The student will demonstrate patriotism by displaying a shoebox float representing a scene of their choice from different wars or conflicts.
Memorial Day, a national holiday, is identified as a way of remembering and honoring heroism and achievements of people, events and heritage.
Objectives: Understanding the celebrations and national holidays. Memorial Day.
What do we celebrate on Memorial Day.
Historical Context:
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, began after the Civil War as a way to honor those who died during the conflict. It was later expanded to include all American service members who have died in military service.
Purpose: The primary purpose of Memorial Day is to pay tribute to fallen service members, their families, and those who have served in the military.
Observance: Memorial Day is observed with various traditions, including visiting cemeteries, placing flags on graves, attending memorial services, and participating in parades and ceremonies.
National Moment of Remembrance: At 3 p.m. local time, a national moment of remembrance is observed, encouraging Americans to pause in silence to reflect on the sacrifices of those who have died in service.
On Memorial Day, it's generally best to avoid saying "Happy Memorial Day" or thanking current service members for their service. Instead, focus on remembering and honoring those who died in service. Also, refrain from letting politics interfere with respect for the fallen.
the student will identify an event, then the student will explant the meaning and what event is related with the conflicts and wars they will work their activity.
America's Wars VA U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Material: Shoebox, patriotic color papers, start, flags, print outs.
vocabulary: Heroism, war, conflict.
Why we celebrate Memorial Day. We celebrate the soldier and their effort and how they actively participate throughout military service. Some patriots were colonist in the thirteen colonies who opposed the Kingdom of Great Britain’s control and governance during the colonial era to gain independence. Famous figures in the revolution include George Washington, who led the Continental Army. Benjamin Franklin, a diplomat and key figure in the revolution, and Paur Revere known for his warning about Briti strops movements.
Military History of American Conflicts and Wars. One of them is American Revolutionary Was (1775-1783) mentioned above.
The war of 1812-1815 against Britain over issues like trade and the impression of sailors.
Indian Wars 1817 – 1898 conflicts between the U.S. government and various Native American tribes.
Mexican war 1846 – 1848 a war between the U.S. and Mexico over territory.
Civil War 1861 – 1865 this was a war between the Union and the Confederacy over slavery and stats’s rights.
Spanish-American war this was 1898 -1902. A conflict between U.S. and Spain, leading to the acquisition of overseas territories like Puerto Rico and Guam.
World War I 1914 – 1918. The U.S. entered the war in 1917 on the side of the Allies.
World War II 1939 – 1945. The U.S. entered the war in 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Korean War 1950 – 1953 A conflict between North and South Korea, with the U.S. and other countries intervening on the side of South Korea.
Task
Research a war or conflict that the United States was involved. After gathering the information, write a paragraph describing the conflict or war, then create a shoebox float representing a scene of the conflicts you have chosen.
Recognize achievements and heroism. Like the U.S Independent, The abolition of slavery, and the acquisition of overseas territories like Puerto Rico and Guam.
Process
Select the scene you will create on the shoebox float. Using patriotic colors to do your project.
America's Wars VA U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
An overview information for your assignment.
Gather the materials: shoe box, color paper, starts, little flags, small military cars. Go online and get imagens to print and use them in your project.
Get the shoe box and cut the top or cover. put it on one of the sides and glue it on the box. This way we are creating some kind of stage or scenery.
We will decorate the scenery with patriotic colors like red, white and blue. The box can be painted or covered with paper. You need to add flags, stars and ribbons to make it to the desired atmosphere.
You can add imagens related to the military branch you are trying to represent, use camouflage or emblems.
Also, imagen or figurines, a little military car, can be added, messages or signs expressing gratitude to the Veterans for their service.
See example: Pin on Shoebox floats, Pin on Bristol crafts, Pin on Homecoming floats
see video on how to create a shoebox float
DIY Parade Floats at home | SA Live | KSAT 12
Evaluation
Each student will show his work in the area prepared for the presentation of the final work. The student will explain his showbox float and give the explanation by reading the report of the scene that is representing.
We will be learning from your work:
On your work make sure to ask these questions to comply with the content criteria you are trying to represent.
What you are representing or telling in the shoebox float. _______________________________________
Is in the imagen or scene you are representing relevant to your search. _________________________
Communicate with about 150 words your representation. Answer the questions, what is in here? does it is it satisfy your search or the topic you choose. What message are you giving to remember historically? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Conclusion
The Web Quest is a work honoring, mourning the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Military. Memorial Day, a national holiday, remembering their heroism and achievements. The student will research a conflict or war and look for ideas to create a shoebox float to demonstrate patriotism. By displaying a shoebox float and providing a brief explanation of the event the students will learn about those who fight and make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Also, representing a scene of their choice from the different wars or conflicts our soldier that served during time of war.
Most of all, why do we commemorate war? The importance of remembrance.
Why We Commemorate War - Importance of Remembrance | CWGC
War is everywhere in modern culture. Is it used as background of video games or movies but, why do we commemorate war? Why do we choose to remind ourselves so regularly and so publicly of its costs?
It’s something the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) does every day of the year through our care of memorials and cemeteries around the world.
What does it mean to commemorate something?
Commemoration isn’t just limited to one or two days a year, it can be attending a national memorial service on Remembrance Sunday or visiting a local cemetery to pause by a headstone and paying your respects to the fallen.
To commemorate means to show respect, talking to family about the two world wars or taking a moment out of our busy lives to pause and reflect on the sacrifice given by past generations.
Why do we have commemorations?
For us, there are more than 1.7 million reasons to commemorate war – or more accurately, the men and women who lost their lives rather than the engagements, battles, and conflict. It is a task that begins with every single person who chose to put their life on the line for the Commonwealth and paid the ultimate sacrifice.
It is a reminder that away from the screen there is no reset button, and that the costs were real.
How are wars remembered and commemorated?
Our work to commemorate the fallen from across the Commonwealth from the two World Wars takes many forms. On national days of remembrance like Armistice Day or Anzac Day you may visit or see on TV one of our vast cemeteries where many thousands are commemorated.
When you pause on the eleventh hour of the eleventh month you might choose to visit one of CWGC’s iconic war memorials around the world like the Menin Gate, Ottawa Memorial, Rangoon Memorial, or Delhi Memorial. Reading the many hundreds of names emblazoned onto these memorials is a particularly sobering experience.
But these times of remembrance for our Armed forces aren’t just limited to the month of November. They occur throughout the year to mark major battle anniversaries, highlight national days of importance, and offer a chance for local communities to show their respects.
World War Commemoration: Why it’s important
Here are five more reasons why it is important to commemorate war:
For the families
The impact of World Wars was huge. For two generations, families in every corner of the then British Empire knew the pain of losing someone.
While no one could bring back their sons and daughters, the work of CWGC to commemorate the war dead could give people somewhere to visit and mourn their loved ones.
Half the war dead were missing by the end of the First World War.
The Commission’s decision to list the names of all the missing meant that everyone had somewhere to go and pay their respects. Whether at a grave side, or a memorial, they could see the names of those they loved.
At the inauguration of the Menin Gate in 1927, the British commander Field Marshal Lord Plumer said to the relatives and veterans: “He is not missing; he is here.”
The insistence that everyone should have somewhere to go to find their own loved ones means that on larger memorials, like the Menin Gate, casualties with the same name have their service number added to identify each person individually.
For every family, there should be a name to find.
For the comrades
Everyone who returns home comes with their own memories and experiences of war and much has been written about the trauma suffered by those who survived the World Wars.
For some, the Commission’s purpose became a part of their recovery. Many of the initial gardeners after the First World War were former soldiers who took therapeutic solace in the care of cemeteries and memorials.
Among them was Jack Kingston. His best friend Ernest Goodall was killed at his side during the Hundred Days Offensive. After the Armistice, Jack chose to stay behind, working in many cemeteries in the area, pictured here in 1923 visiting his friend’s grave.
Another early member of Commission staff, T. Gordon Bryceson, said: “The years spent by the staff of the Commission out in France and Belgium, following their war experiences, were a veritable God-send to most of the fellows, in that it gave them the opportunity of quietly and gradually adapting themselves to civilian life again in their various professional occupations, free of the verve strain that a direct return to city life might have put upon them.”
By the 21st century veterans of the Second World War were still returning to CWGC’s sites, making the pilgrimage to see where their comrades lie at rest.
George Batts MBE, of Maidstone, Kent landed in Normandy as an 18-year-old sapper with Royal Engineers. On returning to northern France, he said: “When we go back to France the reception is incredible… the pavements would be absolutely jammed solid with people clapping and cheering. And the number that comes up to you and shake your hand and say ‘thank you’ is unbelievable.
“Go over to Normandy, go to any Commonwealth War Graves – France, Italy, wherever – and go round and look at the ages of people who were killed. And then do whatever you can for no World War to ever happen.”
For men like George, and all those who served in the World Wars and in conflicts since, commemorating war – through permanent sites of remembrance – is a signal that society will never forget their actions.
The idea that commemorating war could help prevent future ones is not uncommon.
After the First World War – the so-called war to end all wars – there were many people, including King George V and Sir Fabian Ware, who publicly stated that the reminders of the cost of war could help prevent another.
While speaking at Terlincthun British Cemetery in France, King George V said: “We cannot but believe that the existence of these visible memorials will, eventually, serve to draw all peoples together in sanity and self-control.”
Even as late as 1938, with growing uncertainty about Hitler’s ambitions, Ware still believed that the Commission’s project could ultimately steer towards peace.
In a recorded address on 11 November of that year, Ware said: “Our common remembrance of the Great War is the one thing, at times the only thing, that never fails to draw our peoples together.”
These hopes that the Commission’s project would be enough to help prevent war did not, of course, come true. Yet for many, commemoration and remembrance remain a potent advocate for peace.
For future generations
To this day our core work of maintenance of cemeteries and memorials continues.
Alongside this is our growing role in explaining our sites to new generations. Immaculately maintained cemeteries and memorials however are nothing without visitors.
Thanks to our charity arm, the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation, we are now able to welcome thousands of volunteers to help us. They help inspect scattered graves in the UK, conduct free tours for visitors and expand our education and outreach offer.
The Foundation also funds our Interns programmed, giving young people the chance to welcome visitors to some of our most famous sites and pass on the baton of remembrance.
Commemorating war is as much about caring for these sites as it is about welcoming people to understand them.
For evermore
We are sadly reaching a time when living witnesses to the World Wars will be a thing of the past. The battle-scarred landscapes have nearly all recovered, except for a few preserved trenches and craters.
Thanks to the continuing work of generations of staff, partners and volunteers, the names of those who died in wars are still remembered more than a century after our work began.
Because of this, anyone can return to any of the 23,000 locations worldwide where a Commonwealth war grave or memorial can be found. They can make their own connection to a human part of our collective history – to discover, learn and remember a life story.
That is why it is so important that we always commemorate war.