Poppy Day on the Web

Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day, commemorates the end of World War I on “the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month”: 11 November 1918. In  the UK, Canada and Australia, it is synonymous with the Poppy Appeal to raise money for war veterans.

This page written for British primary school kids has a very easy explanation at the beginning, suitable from A1+. From “They Shall Grow Old”, the language is more difficult. The ANZAC Day part at the end, about Australia and New Zealand, is usable from A2.

This page for parents and teachers has some nice craft activities to make poppies.

This BBC guide for children is simple enough from A2.

This page from the Canadian appeal fittingly quotes the Canadian officer John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields”, which inspired the poppy appeal. Usable from B1. There is a recording of McCrae's poem and two other audio recordings with interactive comprehension activities about Remembrance in the Banque de ressources anglais cycle 4.
To see the resources, register now or log in. Then go to:

Audios > B1 > Rencontres avec d'autres cultures > Poèmes > "Remembrance"
Audios > B1 > Rencontres avec d'autres cultures > Témoignages > "Armistice Day"
Audios > B1 > Rencontres avec d'autres cultures > Témoignages > "Commemoration"

Videos
This very simple, short video from the Australian Poppy Appeal, is ideal for A1-A1+ pupils. It has simple, easily described images and almost no text, just the slogan “Remember this November.”

This video from the British Legion, which organises the Poppy Appeal in Britain, is designed to accompany the 2 Minute Silence.

This video covers more of the war. The voiceover is slow and simple, designed for children, though it does have a Scottish accent. The first two minutes is quite general (A2-level), and then there is a section about making the poppies and fundraising today.