Poppy Art Lesson Remembrance Day Art Lesson Veterans Day Art Poppies Art Project

Poppies in a Field is a Remembrance Day art project that helps students pause, reflect and express gratitude through art. Students follow a directed drawing of a cross surrounded by poppies in a field, learning about the historical and cultural meaning of these symbols as they work.

Using oil pastels and a resist painting technique with watercolor or tempera, students build rich color and layered texture. It suits elementary and middle school students, and pairs well with Social Studies or History lessons for Remembrance Day, Veterans Day or Memorial Day, in classrooms or homeschool.

WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING

★★★★ “Thank you for putting this resource together! This lesson provided an easy-to-follow guided activity for students to create their own art pieces. Having the whole class participate made the experience more memorable as the students reflected on those who served their country. I chose to use pastels to color in the pictures and the results were incredible. I would definitely recommend this resource to any educator!” Christopher S.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE)

• About the Resource: learning objectives, materials and suggested classroom uses
• Lesson Plan (2 pages) with materials, learning outcomes, instructional goals and a "Teacher Does / Student Does" breakdown
• Remembrance Day Poppies with a Cross in a Field Drawing Handout
• Art Piece Demonstration Step-by-Step: 15 slides with text and images
• Example of Completed Art Piece
• Rubric to assess craftsmanship, creativity and effort

HOW TO USE IT

Review the lesson plan and gather supplies in advance: pencil and eraser, black felt-tip pen, watercolor or tempera paint cakes (blue recommended), cardstock or watercolor paper, oil pastels, and a paintbrush and water. Photocopy the drawing handouts and rubrics. Introduce the example artwork to spark discussion, then project the step-by-step slides or use them as your guide while you demonstrate.

Use the rubric to assess student learning, and display the finished artwork in your classroom or hallways as a tribute for Remembrance Day. It also works as a no-prep sub plan and for bulletin boards or school-wide displays.

FAQ

Who can use this resource?

Art teachers, classroom teachers and homeschool educators teaching Grades 3 to 8, and substitute teachers who need a ready-to-go art lesson with cross-curricular connections.

How can I use it?

As part of your Remembrance Day or Veterans Day curriculum, for bulletin boards or school-wide displays, or as a stand-alone Memorial Day art activity.

How long will this take?

Typically 2 to 3 class periods, depending on student age, skill level and available class time.

ALL TEACHER REVIEWS

★★★★ “This was a wonderful art lesson to use in the classroom for Remembrance Day. The poppy project was creative, engaging, and provided students with a meaningful way to learn about and honor the significance of the poppy. Students really enjoyed creating their artwork, and the finished pieces made a beautiful classroom display. It was a great combination of art, creativity, and meaningful learning.” Nicole A.

★★★★ “This was an amazing craft for my Grade 2s. They really enjoyed it and it looks great on the bulletin board!” Anita M.

★★★★ “My students loved working on these. We decorated the gym with art work for the Remembrance Day assembly. It looked beautiful” Vanessa M.

★★★★ “My students loved creating this art piece, they all turned out so beautiful! This was a nice activity that allowed students to showcase their artistic talents while remembering and reflecting.” Heather H.

★★★★ “Great resource! Used with a grade 3/4 and they loved it. Would definitely recommend it!” Traci M.

★★★★ “I really liked how it was nicely laid out step by step. Easy to put on the smartboard and simple steps for the students to follow.” Danielle M.

★★★★ “So many compliments on my Remembrance Day bulletin using this. Laid out so nicely and easy to follow. Thank you!” Michelle F.

★★★★★ “This is great thank you so much!” Kaitlyn S.

★★★★★ “This was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much!” Melissa L.

★★★★★ “Great step by step. Love that it includes a rubric.” Terri M.

★★★★★ “My students loved this art activity! Easy to use and NOT MESSY!” Stephanie R.

★★★★★ “Our display for Remembrance Day was beautiful! Thank you!” Carla A.

Get free, classroom-ready art lessons and printables in my Free Art Lesson Library.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) is an artist who has been featured on NBC LX News and designs art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers. She is the founder of Ms Artastic and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.

TERMS OF USE

Images and lessons are copyright products.

YOU MAY: use this resource in your classroom and make photocopies for your students, use any clip art as clip art, website graphics, binder covers or bulletin board decorations, and explore creative uses in your teaching. Additional licenses are available for school-wide or district-wide use.

YOU MAY NOT: share this resource with other teachers, administrators or districts (administrators must purchase additional licenses), sell it or give it away for free, post it on blogs, websites or online platforms, or upload it to OutSchool or other teaching platforms.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic