Nov. 2, 2005: Veterans Memorials

The Mini Page is a syndicated, four-page tabloid written for young children found each Wednesday in the Rocky Mountain News. This issue of The Mini Page is available through the eEdition Archive to registered eEdition subscribers. Click here to learn about subscribing to the eEdition at no cost to you (for Colorado teachers).

Activities:

1. Cut out words and pictures from the newspaper to create a memorial poster that supports a special group in your community, such as the police or firefighters.

2. Make a list of these types of symbols that were used by artists who created the military memorials in today's Mini Page: (a) patriotic symbols, (b) religious images, and (c) military people or objects.

3. Select the memorial you like best in today's Mini Page. Write a paragraph discussing why this memorial appeals to you. What are the art elements that you like?

4. Collect newspaper photos of U.S. soldiers. Make a scrapbook of your photos. Then write an essay explaining why soldiers today should be honored and remembered.

5. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about a recent memorial such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial or the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Use these questions to guide your research:

• When was the memorial created?
• How was the decision made to select the final design?
• How did the artist explain his/her decision-making process in creating the design for the memorial?
• How long did it take to create the memorial?
• How did citizens and veterans react to the memorial?
• What do you like about the memorial?
  

This week's standards:

• Students understand that artists select and use subject matter, symbols and ideas to communicate meaning. (Art)
• Students recognize national and state symbols and traditions, such as flags, seals and holidays. (Social Studies: Civics)
  
  (standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)