Year 6 Remembrance Day Resources Pack – Dulce et Decorum est: KS2 Poems

For this Remembrance Day, explore World War One poetry to help Year 6 pupils understand what life was like on the front line.

This Plazoom resource pack includes information about Remembrance Day and why the poppy is used as a symbol for remembrance before exploring the poem Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen.

In the writing task, pupils will use the vocabulary and events in the poem to write a short narrative, describing the events in the poem. The activities could be completed over a day as part of your class work on Remembrance Day, or the activities could be completed over a series of English lessons.

You might wish to share this clip, of the actor Christopher Ecclestone reading the poem, with pupils.

How will this resource pack support pupils’ learning?

• Enable pupils to understand why 11th November is a day of Remembrance
• Give pupils the opportunity to explore the poem Dulce et Decorum Est, discussing how vocabulary is used.
• Inspire pupils to write their own narratives about life in the trenches, using ideas and vocabulary from Wilfred Owen’s poem.

What is included in this Remembrance Day resource pack?

• Teaching slides
  These can be used to guide the class through the activities and displays key information about Remembrance Day.
• Vocabulary cards
  PDF cards that can be used to discuss new vocabulary and create a display in the classroom.
• Life on the Front Line images
  A collection of PDF images to inspire writing and prompt discussion about life on the front line.
• Lines and phrases cards
  Key phrases from the poem are available for pupils to explore how the poet uses vocabulary and the effect that this has on the reader.
• Life in the Trenches, story start
  A story start is provided as a model to show pupils how the poem could be turned into a narrative.
• Themed writing paper
  PDF writing paper for pupils to use to display their final draft.
• Teaching notes
  Guidance on how to use the resource is given, divided into four smaller activities. Additional activities are also suggested.

When is Remembrance Day?

In the UK Remembrance Sunday falls on the second Sunday in November, as this is the Sunday nearest to Armistice Day, the 11th November).

It is a day to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military in WWI, WWII and other conflicts.

National Curriculum programme of study links

Year 5/6 Reading

• Pupils should continue to read and discuss a wide range of poetry
• Pupils will discuss and evaluate how authors use language, including figurative language, considering the impact on the reader.

Year 5/6 Writing

• Pupils will plan their writing by noting and developing initial ideas, drawing on reading and research where necessary.
• Pupils will select appropriate grammar and vocabulary, understanding how such choices can change and enhance meaning.

KS2 History

• Pupils should study an aspect of or theme in British history that extends pupils chronological knowledge beyond 1066.

This resource is part of the Calendar Resources collection.
View more from this collection

• Teacher notes
• PowerPoint
• Vocabulary cards
• Life on the Front Line images
• Lines and phrases cards
• Life in the Trenches story starter
• Themed writing paper