Memorial Day Activities for Kids

Memorial Day Activities for 3rd and 4th Graders: Math, Social Studies, and Language Arts

Looking for meaningful and engaging ways to integrate Memorial Day into your classroom? This holiday is a great time to help students understand its significance while practicing key academic skills.

If you need ready-to-use math practice, be sure to check out my Memorial Day Multi-Step Math Word Problems worksheet packet! It’s packed with 30 real-world math problems to challenge students while reinforcing multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction.

Now, let’s explore some Memorial Day-themed activities across different subjects!

1️⃣  Parade Route Perimeter & Area

• Have students design their own Memorial Day parade route on graph paper or using a digital tool.

• They can calculate the perimeter of the route and the area of different sections (e.g., a park, a seating area, a memorial).

2️⃣  Patriotic Number Patterns

• Write a number pattern on the board (e.g., "2, 4, 8, __, __") and have students find the next numbers.

• 50 stars on the U.S. flag or 13 stripes on the flag

• Use Memorial Day-related numbers, such as:

• Challenge students to create their own patterns using numbers related to the holiday!

3️⃣  Flag Fraction Challenge

• Show students different representations of the U.S. flag with different colors (e.g., 7 red stripes, 6 white stripes).

• Ask them to write fractions for the red and white parts, then find equivalent fractions.   

 4️⃣  Memorial Day Timeline Challenge

• Give students key dates related to Memorial Day (e.g., the first observance in 1868, National Holiday Act of 1971).

• Have them sequence the events in the correct order on a timeline.

• Extension: Discuss how Memorial Day has changed over time.

5️⃣  Who Do We Honor? Research Project

• Assign students a branch of the military or a famous veteran to research.

• They can create a poster, slideshow, or short report about their contributions.

6️⃣  Memorial Day Symbolism Sorting

• Provide a mix of symbols and traditions (e.g., poppy flowers, flags, parades, moments of silence).

• Have students sort them into categories:

• "Represents Remembrance"

• "Honors Soldiers"

• "Patriotic Symbols"

7️⃣  Memorial Day Acrostic Poetry

• Have students write an acrostic poem using the word MEMORIAL or HONOR.

• Encourage them to use descriptive words and phrases that capture the spirit of the holiday.

8️⃣ Letter to a Veteran or Active Service Member

• Students write a thank-you letter to a veteran or someone currently serving in the military.

• If possible, partner with a local veteran organization to deliver them!

9️⃣  Patriotic Persuasive Writing

• Ask students: “Should Memorial Day be a day of service instead of just a holiday?”

• They must take a position and write a persuasive paragraph or essay with reasons to support their argument.

Wrap-Up: Make Memorial Day Learning Meaningful!

These activities help students connect with the meaning of Memorial Day while building skills in math, social studies, and language arts. Whether they’re calculating parade routes, writing to veterans, or researching the history of the holiday, they’ll gain a deeper appreciation for this important day.

Need easy-prep math practice? 📄 

Check out my Memorial Day Multi-Step Math Word Problems worksheet packet! 

It’s a great way to reinforce real-world problem-solving while keeping students engaged in the holiday.

Thank you for visiting my blog!

❤️ Shelly Anton

Promoting Success for You and Your Students!

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