Veteran's Day Crafts

Award these colorful pins to the brave veterans at the Veterans Day parade.

What You'll Need:

Large safety pins

Colored beads to fit on pins

White glue

Waxed paper

Ribbon

Scissors

It is traditional to honor brave soldiers with medals, pins, and ribbons. Long after the war, you can show veterans that you have not forgotten their courageous acts. Make these victory pins, and give them to your local veteran's association to distribute.

To make one, thread colored beads onto the pin side of a large safety pin. You could use only red, white, and blue beads for a patriotic flair. Or you can use purple for a Purple Heart pin, or use white beads for peace.

Glue the beads onto the pin. Let them dry on waxed paper. Tie a little ribbon onto the other arm of each pin. Don't forget to make a pin for your shirt, too.

Next, you'll learn how to keep the Veterans Day festivities going long after the town parade is over.

For more kids' crafts and fun activities, see:

After the Veterans Day parade, you can get everybody marching to a tune of your own.

What You'll Need:

Drum

Tambourine

Other percussive instruments

Everyone loves marching songs. If you have ever marched to "Yankee Doodle Dandy" or "When the Saints Go Marching In" you know how much fun these songs add to a parade. You can make up your own Veterans Day marching songs.

Think of themes that go with the holiday, and make up titles such as "Peace Forever" or "War No More." Then write the lyrics to your song. These songs work well if the phrases rhyme.

When you sing the marching songs, call out the lyrics in a loud, clear voice. Use a drum, tambourine, or other instrument to keep the beat while you sing.

To get yourself started, sing these lyrics while you pound your drum: "Today's the day when we all say: No more war! War go away! All our soldiers are home to stay!"

Veterans Day honors the courageous soldiers who have fought to defend freedom. Make your own troop of brave soldiers next.

For more kids' crafts and fun activities, see:

This army of wooden-spoon soldiers will be sure to protect all the ice cream at your Veterans Day party.

What You'll Need:

Wooden ice cream spoons

Markers

Construction paper

Scissors

Glue

Aluminum foil

Ribbon

Bring this army to your Veterans Day picnic to protect the food and decorate the table.

Before you make your army, decide what colors the uniforms will be. It will look more realistic if you have all your soldiers wearing the same outfit.

Color a hat and face on the top part of each spoon. Cut out hats from construction paper, and glue them on.

Color the uniforms onto each spoon handle. Don't forget to color the backs of your spoons, too.

Make tiny badges of honor from foil and bits of ribbon, and glue them onto your bravest soldiers. When the glue dries -- one, two, three, march!

Don't let a rainy day ruin your Veterans Day fun. On the next page you'll learn about some raindrops everybody will want to see.

For more kids' crafts and fun activities, see:

Here are some patriotic raindrops you'll want to let right in the house this Veterans Day.

What You'll Need:

1/2 cup white grape juice

1 package unflavored gelatin

Red and blue food coloring

Mini marshmallows

Saucepan

Spoon

2 bowls

Cookie sheet

Waxed paper

If the parade's rained out, you can still be patriotic. Make a batch of red and blue raindrops, and serve them up with white marshmallows.

Put the grape juice in a small saucepan, and have an adult cook it on medium heat until it boils. Sprinkle the gelatin on the fruit juice, and mix it until the gelatin dissolves. Be careful, this mixture is hot.

Have an adult pour the mixture into two bowls. Put a few drops of red food coloring in one bowl and a few drops of blue in the other.

Spoon 1-inch raindrop shapes onto the waxed paper. Let them cool for about twenty minutes, then peel them off the paper. Put them on a plate with some mini marshmallows for a victorious Veterans Day dessert.

For more kids' crafts and fun activities, see: