For this Remembrance Day, explore World War One poetry to help Year 6 pupils understand what life was like on the front line.
This Plazoom resource pack includes information about Remembrance Day and why the poppy is used as a symbol for remembrance before exploring the poem Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen.
In the writing task, pupils will use the vocabulary and events in the poem to write a short narrative, describing the events in the poem. The activities could be completed over a day as part of your class work on Remembrance Day, or the activities could be completed over a series of English lessons.
You might wish to share this clip, of the actor Christopher Ecclestone reading the poem, with pupils.
How will this resource pack support pupils’ learning?
- Enable pupils to understand why 11th November is a day of Remembrance
- Give pupils the opportunity to explore the poem Dulce et Decorum Est, discussing how vocabulary is used.
- Inspire pupils to write their own narratives about life in the trenches, using ideas and vocabulary from Wilfred Owen’s poem.
What is included in this Remembrance Day resource pack?
- Teaching slides: These can be used to guide the class through the activities and displays key information about Remembrance Day.
- Vocabulary cards: PDF cards that can be used to discuss new vocabulary and create a display in the classroom.
- Life on the Front Line images: A collection of PDF images to inspire writing and prompt discussion about life on the front line.
- Lines and phrases cards: Key phrases from the poem are available for pupils to explore how the poet uses vocabulary and the effect that this has on the reader.
- Life in the Trenches, story start: A story start is provided as a model to show pupils how the poem could be turned into a narrative.
- Themed writing paper: PDF writing paper for pupils to use to display their final draft.
- Teaching notes: Guidance on how to use the resource is given, divided into four smaller activities. Additional activities are also suggested.
National Curriculum programme of study links
Year 5/6 Reading
- Pupils should continue to read and discuss a wide range of poetry
- Pupils will discuss and evaluate how authors use language, including figurative language, considering the impact on the reader.
Year 5/6 Writing
- Pupils will plan their writing by noting and developing initial ideas, drawing on reading and research where necessary.
- Pupils will select appropriate grammar and vocabulary, understanding how such choices can change and enhance meaning.
KS2 History
- Pupils should study an aspect of or theme in British history that extends pupils chronological knowledge beyond 1066.
Browse more Remembrance Day activities.