On Friday 10th November, the day before Armistice Day, the Reception class discussed the poppy symbol and learned the poem Why Are They Wearing Poppies Today? As the children made their own poppies, which they then proudly wore, they talked about the Poppy Appeal and why we wear poppies. In age appropriate language we discussed the time the First World War ended: 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour and link it to our ‘time’ work within Maths. At 11 o’clock the children bowed their heads in respectful silence during our whole school Remembrance assembly.
Linking to our own history I told the school during assembly about my stepfather, George, who is a 99 year old (100 in January!) veteran of the Second World War.
As a cross-curricular activity combining ICT to this historical event the Reception class used Skype to talk to ‘Mr. George’ as he is now too frail to travel to School to meet the children in person. We asked him questions about his RAF uniform and his medals. Mr George flew spitfire aeroplanes in the past and of course the children had lots of questions about what it was like to fly them.
The children were fascinated looking at all of Mr George’s medals and photographs of him in uniform when he was a young man. It is important to educate our children about Remembrance and the thoughtful activities made this commemoration significant and meaningful.
We all waved to Mr George and said goodbye but the children want to talk to him again. Hopefully we can sing Happy Birthday to him when he reaches 100 years of age on 9th January, 2018.
Reporter: Mrs R. Hifle
