“In Flanders Fields the poppies blow…”

I remember reciting this poem every year in school. Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the US fall on the same day each year, November 11th. To honour the memory of our fallen soldiers from World War I until now, Miss O and I made a poppy wreath. It’s a simple craft you can make with kids of any age using minimal supplies. It’s also a great opportunity to talk about our wonderful country and thanking those who fought for our freedom and safety. We also read the book A Poppy is to Remember by Heather Patterson. This book is wonderfully written in a way children can understand about why we wear a poppy each year at this time.

 

Remembrance Day Poppy Wreath

 

Items Required

• Paper plate
• Red cupcake liners x6 or x12 if you would like to double them up
• Black circles cut from construction paper
• Black and/or green buttons
• Green paper cut into small leaves
• Glue
• Scissors

How-To

There are a few things you will want to prepare before assembling the craft with your toddler. If the craft is being done by older children who can handle using scissors, then no prep needs to be done.

First, cut the centre out of the paper plate to form your wreath. Cut out your black circles & green leaves. Take your cupcake liners, fold in half and cut along one edge – this will make them more of a poppy shape.

Now it’s time for the kids to get involved. Have them glue the black dots to the centre of the cupcake liners. Next, glue a button to the centre of each poppy. Once the poppies are complete, glue them around your wreath. Finally, add a few leaves here and there around the edge. 

If you cannot find red cupcake liners, you can improvise with white ones and use some red paint on them.

The wreath looks lovely hung from a window or used as a centrepiece on a table with a candle in the middle.