Remembrance Day in the primary classroom
On 11 November Australians pause for one minute's silence at 11 am to remember those who died or suffered in war. This page gives you what you need to explain why, accurately and gently: a short sourced timeline, a printable reading passage with questions for Years 3 to 6, a small timeline maths task, and simple activities for younger classes.
Before you start
Some students have family members who serve or have served in the Australian Defence Force, and some have lived through war or come from families who fled it. Keep the focus on remembering and respect, let students share only if they want to, and give a heads-up to anyone you know may find the topic hard.
A short timeline
- 1915In Flanders Fields. The sight of red poppies on the battlefield at Ypres moved Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae to write the poem In Flanders Fields. Australian War Memorial, Flanders poppies
- 1918The Armistice. At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. An armistice is a suspension of fighting. Australian War Memorial, Origins of Remembrance Day
- 1919The first silence. On the first anniversary of the Armistice, two minutes' silence was held at the new Cenotaph in London. The silence was proposed by Edward Honey, an Australian journalist working in London (a South African statesman made a similar proposal at about the same time). Australian War Memorial, Origins of Remembrance Day
- 1921Poppies in Australia. The forerunner of the RSL first sold poppies in Australia for Armistice Day, raising money for charity and for its welfare work. The RSL still sells poppies for Remembrance Day. Australian War Memorial, Flanders poppies
- 1993The Unknown Australian Soldier. On the 75th anniversary of the Armistice, the remains of an unknown Australian soldier from a First World War cemetery in France were entombed in the Hall of Memory at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Australian War Memorial, Origins of Remembrance Day
- 1997A national day. Governor-General Sir William Deane proclaimed 11 November as Remembrance Day, urging all Australians to observe one minute's silence at 11 am to remember those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts. Australian War Memorial, Origins of Remembrance Day
From Armistice Day to Remembrance Day. After the Second World War, the Australian and British governments changed the name from Armistice Day to Remembrance Day, because the day would now commemorate those who died in all wars. Australian War Memorial, Origins of Remembrance Day
Printable reading passage (Years 3 to 6)
Two A4 pages: the passage with three literal questions, then four questions that ask students to explain and infer, and three timeline maths questions with answers computed from the years. Turn on the answer key for suggested answers.
Why we stop at 11 o'clock
Every year on 11 November, many Australians stop what they are doing at 11 o'clock in the morning and stay silent for one minute. This is Remembrance Day.
The day began at the end of the First World War. At 11 am on 11 November 1918, after more than four years of fighting, the guns on the Western Front in Europe fell silent. This was called the Armistice, which means an agreement to stop fighting.
A year later, in 1919, people in London held two minutes of silence to remember those who had died. One of the people who proposed the silence was Edward Honey, an Australian journalist. For many years the day was called Armistice Day. After the Second World War it was renamed Remembrance Day, so that it could honour people who died in all wars.
Many people wear a red poppy on Remembrance Day. Red poppies were among the first plants to grow again on the damaged battlefields of France and Belgium, and a poem called In Flanders Fields made them famous. In Australia, poppies were first sold for the day in 1921.
In 1993 an unknown Australian soldier from the First World War was brought home from France and laid to rest in the Hall of Memory at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Four years later, in 1997, the Governor-General asked all Australians to observe one minute's silence at 11 am on 11 November each year.
Reading questions
AC9E3LY05 · AC9E4LY05Answer in full sentences. Look back at the text to find your evidence.
- 1.On what date is Remembrance Day each year?
- 2.What do many Australians do at 11 o'clock on Remembrance Day?
- 3.What does the word armistice mean?
Thinking about the text
More reading questions
AC9E4LY05 · AC9E5LY05Some answers are in the text. For the others, explain your thinking.
- 1.Which Australian proposed a silence to remember those who had died?
- 2.Why was Armistice Day renamed Remembrance Day?
- 3.Why do you think the poppy became a symbol of remembrance?
- 4.Where was the Unknown Australian Soldier laid to rest?
Timeline maths
AC9M3N03 · AC9M4N06Use the years to work out how far apart the events are.
- 5.In 1918, the Armistice stopped the fighting on the Western Front. In 1919, the first silence was held in London. How many years apart are these two events?
- 6.In 1915, John McCrae wrote the poem In Flanders Fields. In 1918, the Armistice stopped the fighting on the Western Front. How many years apart are these two events?
- 7.In 1918, the Armistice stopped the fighting on the Western Front. In 1921, poppies were first sold in Australia for Armistice Day. How many years apart are these two events?
Activities for the day
The minute's silence (all years)
Explain why the silence happens at 11 am, practise sitting still for thirty seconds, then join the minute's silence at 11 am. Afterwards, ask what students thought about during the minute.
A class poppy wall (Foundation to Year 2)
Read the story of the poppy together (the timeline above has it in one sentence), then have each child make a paper poppy and write or draw one thing they are grateful for on the back.
Your local memorial (Years 3 to 6)
Most towns and suburbs have a war memorial. Find yours on the Australian War Memorial's Places of Pride register and look at its photos together, or visit if it is close.
Writing (Years 2 to 6)
Use the Remembrance Day writing prompts below, or ask students to write a short paragraph on what respect means, using one fact from the timeline.
Remembrance Day word puzzles and writing sheets
Australian Curriculum links
- AC9HSFK02 (HASS, Foundation) Celebrations and commemorations
- AC9HS3K02 (HASS, Year 3) Symbols and days that mark Australia's story
- AC9E3LY05 (English, Year 3) Build and evaluate meaning
- AC9E4LY05 (English, Year 4) Expand knowledge through comprehension
- AC9E5LY05 (English, Year 5) Evaluate information and ideas
- AC9M3N03 (Mathematics, Year 3) Add and subtract to three digits
- AC9M4N06 (Mathematics, Year 4) Efficient computation strategies
From the Australian Curriculum Version 9.0, paraphrased in our own words. © ACARA, licensed CC BY 4.0.
Further reading for teachers
Remembrance Day FAQ
When is Remembrance Day?
11 November every year. Australians are asked to observe one minute's silence at 11 am, the hour the guns fell silent on the Western Front in 1918.
What is the difference between Remembrance Day and Anzac Day?
Anzac Day (25 April) marks the landing at Gallipoli in 1915 and is one of Australia's most important days of national commemoration, with dawn services and marches. Remembrance Day (11 November) marks the Armistice that ended the fighting of the First World War in 1918, and remembers everyone who died or suffered in all wars and conflicts. Both are days of respect rather than celebration.
Why do people wear red poppies?
Red poppies were among the first plants to grow on the battlefields of France and Belgium in the First World War, and John McCrae's poem In Flanders Fields made them a symbol of remembrance. The RSL still sells poppies to raise money for its welfare work.
How should I run the minute's silence with young children?
Explain beforehand what the silence is for and how long a minute is, practise being still for a shorter time, and tell children what will signal the start and the end. Many schools join the minute's silence at 11 am or hold a short assembly.
Where do the facts on this page come from?
From the Australian War Memorial's pages on the origins of Remembrance Day and on Flanders poppies, linked beside each fact. The reading passage is written in our own words from those facts.