PUPILS at a primary school spent the week leading up to Remembrance Day learning all about the history of our fallen soldiers and were paid an exciting visit by two ‘special visitors’.
Chapelford Village Primary dedicated last week to teaching their young pupils about the importance and history of Remembrance Sunday, with children having the chance to create their own poppies and study First World War books and poetry that were symbolic of that time.
Each class at the school located on Santa Rosa Boulevard learnt something different about the First World War and were treated to a special visit at the end of the day by members of the Armed Forces Community Support Hub.
Many of the children expressed their enjoyment at learning more about the subject in light of the anniversary on Sunday, with one year five child commenting: “We have had so much fun this week discovering all things remembrance. It is so important that we spread this message, especially being surrounded by such history.”
Early years discovered why poppies are worn and the year one class looked at the old children’s novel ‘Wilfrid Gordon’ by McDonald Partridge symbolising memory loss and discovered what memories are.
All the children then participated in a class performance of the war poem, ‘In Flander's fields’.
The year two class created poems and diaries from the trenches of First World War soldiers and visited an online history museum to read letters from armed service members.
One pupil from the class said: “I wear a poppy to show respect to the Armed Forces who lost their lives in the war.”
While pupils from years three and four looked at the local history surrounding Burtonwood Airbase. In English they contacted a local charity, Armed Forced Cummonity Support Hub, and wrote up letters addressed to serving armed forces, veterans and their families.
A pupil from year four said: “The poppies are known as Flanders poppies because they grew bright red in the middle of such chaos during the war”.
Year five learning lead, Rachael Tickle said: “All children participated in a two-minute silence during their remembrance assembly (even early years) which was truly remarkable to see the respect that the children showed.
“At the end of the day, we had two very special visitors from Armed Forces Community Support Hub who came in to collect their letters and say a huge thank you to all of the children.
“They were met by head boy and head girl who showed them around the school. Children were fascinated by their medals and had numerous questions for them and they even read out their poems, diaries and drew pictures for them.”
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