Ahead of the Remembrance Day 2022 celebrations on 11 November, the British Army has developed new, free resources that introduce students to the ways different groups commemorate Remembrance
The resources, suitable for students aged 11–16 across all four nations, highlight diverse voices and experiences and have been designed to encourage students to further explore the vital, unsung role of women as well as members of the LGBTQ+, Sikh and black communities.
As part of this fresh and engaging approach to Remembrance Day activities, students will learn what Remembrance is, why we come together to commemorate it, and the diverse ways that it is commemorated. Pupils will also develop key skills and knowledge on the topics of similarities and differences.
New insights
This year’s resources aim to encourage students to think about the parades, memorials and other acts of commemoration they have seen. The Cenotaph is traditionally associated with Remembrance Day, but pupils will be invited to find out more about The Women of World War II Memorial, which remembers the seven million women who served, either in the armed forces or on the Home Front.
Additionally, at the Imperial War Museum, visitors can see the Memorial to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities who lost their lives to conflicts in the name of Britain’s Empire and Commonwealth.
Students will be asked to think about the different varieties of poppies that are worn to mark Remembrance and their individual significance. Did you know that the Khadi poppy honours the contribution of Indian soldiers to Britain during World War I, or that the purple poppy commemorates the animals that have been victims of war?
Pupils can further explore subjects touched upon in the Remembrance resources. They will learn about the remarkable contribution of diverse voices standing shoulder to shoulder with Army personnel past and present, including women and members of the black and LGBTQ+ communities.
It also includes a Sikh Service pack produced in association with the Defence Network and historian Gurinder Singh Mann. This allows students to understand the varied contributions of Sikh soldiers throughout the history of the British Army.
“For too long, assemblies celebrating Remembrance Day have followed the same outdated format. The Army’s lesson resources are a new way of keeping the tradition of Remembrance Day going, while deepening students’ knowledge of its meaning and relevance to their lives.”
Julian James, a design technology teacher in Wales
“Remembrance isn’t just about why we remember and who we remember, it’s also about how we remember. We have worked with teachers and Army personnel to create resources that will spark discussion in the classroom – and beyond.”
Major Jennifer Close, British Army
Explore Remembrance Day 2022 with your class
Teachers can download the British Army’s Remembrance Day resources for free here.
