Veterans Day Class Project: Thank a Veteran FREEBIE

Are you looking for a class project for Veterans Day?

I have a fantastic freebie to help get your class started!

This project targets veterans who have served in past military conflicts.

These veterans sometimes feel like their service and sacrifices have been forgotten. I know that your students' letters would definitely brighten the day of these veterans!

Once you collect your students' final drafts, please send to the veterans through Operation Gratitude.

Operation Gratitude annually sends 150,000+ care packages filled with snacks, entertainment, hygiene and hand-made items, plus personal letters of appreciation, to New Recruits, Veterans, First Responders, Wounded Warriors, Care Givers and to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed overseas.

Their mission is to lift the spirits and meet the evolving needs of our Active Duty and Veteran communities, and provide volunteer opportunities for all Americans to express their appreciation to members of our Military. 

Each package contains donated product valued at $75-100 and costs the organization $15 to assemble and ship. Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have shipped more than One Million Care Packages.

I had the privilege of planning the 8th grade class trip to Washington, D.C. for five years, so I love Veterans Day.

It is a chance for teachers who may have experienced the awe-inspiring stories of those brave soldiers and who may have visited the breathtaking war memorials in D.C. to convey those feelings of respect and admiration for our uniformed men and women to a younger generation.

My favorite thing about taking the students to D.C. was seeing the transformation that occurred during the trip. 

Students returned so much more mature with a greater understanding of our country and the sacrifices that our military men and women make for us on a daily basis.

Witnessing the Changing of the Guard at The Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery and finding relatives' names on the Vietnam Memorial allowed history to become real for these students.

Veterans Day is a teachable moment that can be really powerful for our students if implemented in a thoughtful manner!

Interested in having your students do this project?  Download this friendly letter template for FREE from my Teachers Pay Teachers store!

You may also be interested in this fun, fast-paced Veterans Day QR Code Trivia Scoot Game also available in my TpT Store! Or, this Veterans Day Bulletin Board Class Project Idea - read about it here!