Objective: Use the poem: In Flanders Fields, ELA and visual arts to introduce World War I
Grade Levels: 3rd * could be modified for any grade level *
Time allotment: One class period
Content Areas: Social Studies, English Language Arts, Visual Arts
Connections to Ohio Model Curriculum: 3rd Grade Content Statements: Social Studies: #1: timelines, #4: maps English Language Arts: Topic: craft and structure: (5) parts of a poem Visual Arts: (4): create artwork that incorporates 2 and 3 dimensional
Skills: Using timelines and maps, parts of a poem, creating 2 and 3-dimensional artwork
Teacher Tip: Great lesson for Veterans Day or Memorial Day
Steps in Strategy: 1.) Show the photo from the warm-up activity; while reading the two lines from In Flanders Fields. Ask students: What do they see and hear? What does this mean?
2.) Have the students complete Reading #1, and define the vocabulary words.
3.) Have students locate Flanders Fields American Cemetery on both maps #1 and #2. (additional map questions below)
4.) Use the 100-year time line, have students identify events for 100, 50 and current time.
5.) Have students make poppies: use instructions from Activity #2.
Evaluation: Student Questions and Answers from reading #1
1.) When was World War I? Answer: 1914-1918 a.) When was the U.S. In World War I? Answer: 1917-1918
2.) What is Flanders? Answer: a region near the borders of France and Belgium
3.) What is a poppy? Answer: a flower with red petals a.) What are the poppies’ connection to World War I? Answer: Poem: In Flanders Fields
4.) What is Veterans Day? Answer: The date World War I ended a.) What is the date of Veterans Day? Answer: November 11, 1918
5.) What connection might your community have with World War I? Answer: Soldiers from your community might have served in World War I
Extension Activities: 1.) Read the entire poem In Flanders Fields (below), and discuss with your class
2.) Have your class research a World War I veteran from your community. See extension activity #2 below for a sample World War I headstone
3.) Buddy Poppy Program: Veterans of Foreign Wars: Since 1922 Veterans of Foreign Wars have sold a small red symbolic flower "to honor the dead by helping the living.” Invite a local veteran to visit your class and discuss the Poppy and its role in your community today. Have the class share what they have learned.
Warm Up Activity
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row ...
From the poem: In Flanders Fields, by Lt. Colonel John McCrae
Photograph courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission
Reading #1
The Story of World War I and the Poppy
World War I was fought in Europe from 1914 -1918. The United
States fought in the last two years of the war. France and Belgium saw the majority of the fighting on the Western front. Flanders is a region in the northern Belgium, near the French border, between Dunkirk and
Ypres. This area saw some of the worst fighting of the war. A poem was written by a soldier that memorialized the area. In Flanders Fields was written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. Lieutenant Colonel McCrae was a member of the Canadian Army and died in France in 1918.
Poppies are a flower associated with the poem In Flanders Fields, and World War I. Soldiers from your community likely served in World
War I. The war ended on November 11, 1918. Today November 11th is known as Veterans Day. Poppies are still a symbol of World War I and the contributions and sacrifices of our nation’s soldiers.
Vocabulary from Reading #1
1.) World War I 2.) Flanders 3.) France 4.) Belgium
5.) In Flanders Fields 6.) Poppies 7.) Veterans Day: November 11, 1918
8.) Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae 9.) Western front 10.) Symbol
11.) Europe 12.) Memorialize 13.) Canadian Army
Questions for Maps #1 & #2
1.) Map #1: What does the star represent on the map? Discuss.
2.) Map #2: What bodies of water are northwest, west and southeast of France? (Answer: NW: English Channel, SE: Mediterranean Sea)
3.) Map #2: What country is south of France? What country is northwest of France? (Answer: South: Spain, NW: England)
4.) Map #2: Use the mileage key on the map. What is the approximate distance from Paris to the Flanders Fields American Cemetery? (Answer: Paris to cemetery: approx. 150 miles, actual 162 miles)
5.) The Flanders Fields American Cemetery is located in what country? (Answer: Belgium)
Map #1
Note: White star designates the location of the Flanders Fields American Cemetery.
Map courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission
Map #2
Note: White star designates the location of the Flanders Fields American Cemetery.
Map courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission
Activity #1: 100 Year Timeline
100 Years 50 Years Current
1917 - 1918 1967 - 1968 2017 - 2018
Activity #2: Making Poppies Use the template below to make your own poppies out of paper. Template from plantyourpoppy.org.au.
1. Color the head of the poppy (A) red and cut out. 2. Cut out the big center of the poppy (B) and cut along the white lines inside the circle. 3. Cut out the small center of the poppy (C). 4. Glue the small center of the poppy (C) to the big center of the poppy (B). Glue the completed poppy center to the poppy head (A). 5. Attach a stem to your poppy if you want. 6. Optional: Write the name of a World War I veteran from your family or your community on the head of the poppy.
Extension Activity #1
In Flanders Fields
By Lt. Colonel John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly
We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields
Take up our quarrel with the foe; To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
Extension Activity #2
World War I in your Community
Look for examples of Veterans' headstones in your local cemetery.
The headstone below is in a cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio. Photograph courtesy of Paul LaRue
Additional Resources
1.) United States World War One Centennial Commission: http://www.worldwar1centennial.org
2.) American Battle Monuments Commission and Flanders Field American Cemetery: https://www.abmc.gov, https://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries- memorials/europe/flanders-field-american-cemetery#.Wle6zOs8KrV
3.) Ohio World War I Commemoration Committee: http://ww1cc.org/ohio
Acknowledgements
The Ohio World War I Commemoration Committee
The United States World War I Centennial Commission
The American Battle Monuments Commission
Amy Rohmiller: Ohio World War I coordinator
Sarah Lane: Educator
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This lesson plan was written by Paul LaRue. A retired thirty-year social studies teacher, Paul has received numerous state and national teaching awards. He serves as a member of the Ohio World War I Centennial Committee. ______