Veterans Day gives kids an important opportunity to learn about the people who have served in the United States military—and to consider how they can show their appreciation.
For young children, the most meaningful lessons connect information with something they can see, create, discuss, or do. Global Game Changers® offers several free resources that help educators and parents introduce Veterans Day in an age-appropriate way and guide children from learning to gratitude and service.
Use one resource for a single class period or combine all four into a longer Veterans Day learning experience.
1. Meet Ryanne in What’s Your Superpower
Begin with a real example of a young person using her talent to serve veterans.
In her What’s Your Superpower?® episode, nine-year-old Ryanne uses her talent for giving to create and deliver Worry Worms to veterans. These small handmade tools offer comfort and give recipients something they can hold during moments of worry or stress.
Ryanne’s story helps students understand that honoring veterans does not have to begin with a large or complicated project. A child can notice a need, use a talent, and create something meaningful for another person.
It can also be an important lesson about how everyone — adults or kids — deals with stress.
After watching, ask students:
- What talent did Ryanne use?
- Why do you think she chose to help veterans?
- How did she turn a simple idea into an act of service?
- What could you make, write, organize, or share to show appreciation?
The discussion connects naturally to the GGC Superpower Equation: MY TALENT + MY HEART = MY SUPERPOWER!®
2. Continue With Ryanne’s Veterans Day Activity Book
The Veterans Day: A Salute to Service activity book builds on Ryanne’s story with a combination of learning, creativity, reflection, and service.
Kids can:
- Identify military branches
- Complete a Veterans Day crossword
- Read a story about the Global Game Changers designing a Veterans Day parade float
- Create their own float design
- Research a Veterans Day celebration in their community
- Plan a service activity for veterans
The book’s “Mission: Gratitude” section invites students to follow Ryanne’s example by creating or purchasing calm-down tools, packaging them with personal notes, and delivering them to veterans. It also offers several other ways to IGNITE GOOD!®
You do not need to complete the entire book at once. Select the pages that best fit your kids, available time, and local connections.
3. Explore the Veterans Heart Badge
The GGC Veterans Heart Badge resources give parents and educators additional ways to help students learn about veterans, military service, sacrifice, appreciation, and community.
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Register for free at https://app.globalgamechangers.org/educator/register
Grade-level lessons combine discussion with hands-on learning, allowing students to approach the topic in developmentally appropriate ways. The activities can be used as a complete unit or selected individually to supplement existing Veterans Day instruction.
Each grade level also includes a service project. These projects move students beyond simply saying that veterans deserve appreciation. Students have an opportunity to work together, contribute their talents, and put gratitude into action.
Sample service projects include:
- Creating a yellow ribbon ornament
- Making flags to place at military cemeteries
- Interviewing a veteran to make an oral history
The Veterans Heart Badge can be especially helpful when educators want to extend Veterans Day beyond a single worksheet, video, or assembly. It gives students time to ask questions, learn important vocabulary, reflect on service, and consider how their own choices can honor others.
4. Complete the Superhero Honor Lesson
If you’re looking for a focused Veterans Day lesson, the Superhero Honor Lesson provides a simple way to learn about the holiday and complete a meaningful act of appreciation.
Students discuss why Veterans Day is observed and then write a card to a veteran. The activity is accessible for a wide range of ages and can be adapted with drawings, dictated messages, sentence starters, or longer written reflections.
Possible card prompts include:
- Thank you for…
- I appreciate veterans because…
- Your service matters because…
- One thing I learned about veterans is…
- I hope you know…
Whenever possible, identify the cards’ recipients before students begin. A local veterans organization, veterans hospital, retirement community, military family group, or veteran connected to the school may be able to help distribute them. Knowing that a real person will receive the card gives students an authentic audience and helps them write with greater care.
Remind students that a thoughtful card can be warm and personal without asking a veteran to share private or difficult experiences.
Choose the Approach That Fits Your Schedule
These resources can be used flexibly.
- For one class period: Complete the Veteran’s Honor Lesson and write cards to veterans.
- For a short series: Watch Ryanne’s video, discuss her Superpower Equation, and complete selected pages from the activity book.
- For a longer unit: Combine the video and activity book with the grade-level Veterans Heart Badge lessons and service project.
- For a schoolwide experience: Share Ryanne’s story during an assembly or morning announcement, invite each grade to complete an age-appropriate activity, and display students’ cards, float designs, or messages of gratitude in a Wall of Thanks.
- For home connections: Share Ryanne’s video or an activity page with families and invite them to identify a veteran they know, attend a community Veterans Day event, or complete a small act of appreciation together.
Help Students Turn Gratitude Into Action
Veterans Day instruction can help kids learn important information about service and sacrifice. It can also show them that appreciation is something they can express through their own choices.
Ryanne’s story, the activity book, the Veterans Heart Badge, and the Veteran’s Honor Lesson provide several entry points for different ages, schedules, and learning settings. Together, they help students move from learning about veterans to finding a personal way to honor them.
Whether hildren write one card, design a parade float, create a comfort tool, or participate in a larger service project, they are learning that their talents can help others feel seen and appreciated.
That is one meaningful way to use their Superpowers to IGNITE GOOD!® this Veterans Day.
