Lesson Plan - Honoring Veterans

Watch a Video
Play the video “Honoring Our Veterans” before reading. Discuss: According to the video, what are veterans? Why does our country commemorate Veterans Day?

Preview Word to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Word to Know.

• veterans

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them identify ways both the students and the veterans benefited from Operation SAVE.

1. How did Operation SAVE begin?
Operation SAVE began in 2021, when Valerie Krieger had her students write letters to thank the men and women of the U.S. military.
^{(RI.3.2 Key Details)}

2. What does the author mean when she writes that Teddy Nykamp and Manuel “Bo” Bohannon “bonded over their shared love of fishing”?
When the author writes that Teddy Nykamp and Manuel “Bo” Bohannon “bonded over their shared love of fishing,” she means that Teddy and Bo both enjoy fishing, so they wrote a lot about fishing in their letters to each other. It was something they had in common.
^{(RI.3.1 Text Evidence)}

3. According to the sidebar, “Thank You, Veterans!,” what are some ways Americans celebrate Veterans Day?
According to the sidebar, “Thank You, Veterans!,” Americans often celebrate Veterans Day by holding parades or having ceremonies to thank the veterans in their communities.
^{(RI.3.7 Text Features)}

FEATURED SKILL: Explanatory Writing
Commemorate Veterans Day by using the skill builder “Celebrate Veterans” to have students write and illustrate letters to veterans in your community. If you prefer, you can send completed letters to a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital or an American Legion post.
^{(W.3.2 Explanatory Writing)}