Description

Looking for Veterans Day activities that go deeper than a thank-you card? In this Branches of the Military reading activity, students research the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard on a custom-made website, then answer questions and write about what they learned.

Instead of a quick video and a card, students learn the history, mission, and traditions of every branch, so they understand who serves and how. It’s a ready-to-teach Veterans Day lesson for upper elementary and middle school social studies.

What Students Will Do

• Research each branch of the military on a custom-made website built for this lesson
• Read about the history, mission, and traditions of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard
• Watch a short video on each branch
• Answer text-dependent questions for each branch
• Complete a 3-2-1 summary writing activity for each branch

What You Get

• Reading and research pages for EACH of the five branches of the military
• Link to the custom research website that matches every worksheet
• Text-dependent questions and 3-2-1 summary pages for each branch
• Answer key
• Print AND digital versions (Google Slides force-copy link included)

Why Teachers Love It

• No prep: the website, worksheets, and digital version are ready to teach tomorrow
• Covers all five branches, not just the Army and Navy
• Works individually, with partners, or in small groups, in one class period or across Veterans Day week
• Print or digital, so it fits any classroom setup, including Google Classroom
• Created by a veteran history teacher and school administrator who uses these in real classrooms

Perfect For

• Veterans Day lessons and activities (November 11)
• Branches of the Military lessons for grades 4–8
• November social studies and U.S. history classrooms
• Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, and civics lessons
• Sub plans, bell-to-bell lessons, advisory, and homeroom
• Homeschool families

Frequently Asked Questions

What grade is this Veterans Day activity for?
It’s written for upper elementary and middle school, grades 4–8.

Which branches of the military are covered?
All five: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, each with its own reading, questions, and summary page.

Is it print or digital?
Both. You get printable PDF pages and a Google Slides version you can assign in Google Classroom.

How long does the lesson take?
Most classes finish in one to two class periods, or you can spread one branch per day across Veterans Day week.

Want the reading AND the video activity? Grab the Veterans Day Branches of the Military Bundle and save.

This purchase is for use in one classroom. For school or site licenses, please reach out directly.