The Art of Remembrance: Creative Activities
About this learning resource
Format: Video
Poet Laureate Simon Armitage has written a poem called 'In Retrospect' to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
In this video, you’ll hear Simon share how he approaches writing including where his ideas come from, and how he shapes them into poetry.
Simon also sets you a creative challenge. Use the activities below to inspire you.
Over to you
Remembrance and reflection help us honour the past and understand its meaning today.
Think about a moment your community will never forget and what made it so powerful? Now, find a creative way to share it. Help someone else stop, listen, and reflect.
Resource Information
Key Stage
- Home Educators
- KS2 (age 7-11)
- KS3 (age 11-14)
Subjects
- English
- History
- Citizenship
Topic
- 20th & 21st Century
- World War II
- Rememberance
Type
- Before you visit
Palace
- Tower of London
In Retrospect
The world asks a great deal of the poppies,
insists they carry the wounds of war
and shoulder the weight of remembrance.
Such flimsy, wavering plants;
we painted their flowers the colour of blood
and punched dark holes in their heads
as if bullets had passed through,
then trimmed them with green sprigs of hope.
And from deep in the seeds we concocted
the essence of sleep and dreams and resting-in-peace.
Almost weightless even in full bloom
we made them souls, the poppies, souls
of those who we lost, and - let it be said -
those who we killed.
Poppies - nursed in darkness, nourished by dirt.
But for all their spindly roots, frail stalks
and papery petals - as easily smudged
as a butterfly wing -
they joggle into existence
again and again, unearthing themselves
in fallow fields and railway sidings,
on roundabouts, verges and no man’s land,
from the brickwork of old chimneys and bridges
and cracks in the pavement.
They nod and they nag,
reminding us not to forget, flagging a red alert
as their crumpled petals unfold.
So, rightly, the poppies ask a great deal of the world.
Simon Armitage, Poet Laureate
Classroom activity ideas
A Poem to Remember
Create a sensory poem to remember a moment in history, using descriptive language to build a powerful, shared reflection.
You will need:
- Strips of paper (6 per group)
- Pen or pencil
Students can write poems individually or in groups
Step one
Choose a moment in history you’d like to remember. It could be the Second World War or a significant event in your own community’s history.
Step two
Use your senses to describe the moment. Think of two words for each sense:
- Something you can hear
- Something you can see
- Something you can feel
On each strip of paper, write one of your describing words.
Step three
Turn each word into a full sentence. Try to be as descriptive and poetic as possible. For example, if the night is "dark," you might write: "The night hung heavy, as dark as coal.”
Step four
Arrange your strips of paper to create your poem. Move them around - what order feels powerful or meaningful?
Step five
Join with another group to combine your lines into a larger, shared poem. Can you weave your thoughts together into one voice?
Postcards to the Past
Create and decorate a postcard to someone from the past, sharing reflections, thanks, and symbols of remembrance from today.
You will need:
- A blank postcard (or a piece of card cut to postcard size)
- A pencil
- Colouring pencils or felt tips
Step one
Think about someone from the past that you would like to remember. This could be:
- A soldier
- A family member
- Someone from your local community
- Or even someone you’ve never met but want to imagine
Step two
Imagine you are sending them a postcard from the present day. What would you like to say?
You might want to tell them:
- What has changed today because of their actions
- How people remember and honour them
- What life is like now, and what you are thankful for
- A message of kindness, hope, or reflection
Step three
On the front of the postcard, draw a picture. This could show:
- A peaceful scene today that might not have been possible without their action
- A symbol of remembrance (like a poppy, candle, or dove)
- Something personal to your story
Step four
When you’ve finished, you could display your postcard in class or add it to a collective wall of remembrance.
Time Capsules for the Future
Capture memories, feelings, or moments from today in a class time capsule to share with people 100 years from now.
You will need:
- A container to use as your time capsule (a shoebox, tin, or jar works well)
- Postcards, card, or paper
- Pencils or pens
- Colouring pencils or felt tips
Step one
Ask each student ‘What they would want someone in 100 years from now to remember about today?’ This could be something personal, something from the world around them, or even a feeling they want to preserve.
Step two
Invite each student to write or draw their response on a postcard, piece of card, or paper. They can add colour, decorate their message, or even include small symbols or objects (like a leaf or photocopy) that capture the present moment.
Step three
Collect all the responses and place them into your time capsule. Once everything’s inside, decide as a class where you’ll keep it. You might even want to hold a little sealing ceremony - say a few words, play a piece of music, or make a promise about when it will be opened.
Patchwork of Memory
Design a personal memory square to honour someone or something meaningful, then join others to create a shared class quilt.
You will need:
- Paper, card, or fabric squares (roughly 15x15cm) – one per student
- Pencils and pens
- Colouring pencils, felt tips, or paint
- Scissors and glue (if using collage or mixed media)
- Optional: fabric scraps, magazine cuttings, ribbon, thread, or other decorative items
Each student will create one “memory square” that will become part of a larger, shared class memory quilt.
Step one
Think about someone or something you would like to remember. This could be:
- A person who’s important to you
- A place that holds special meaning
- A moment in history that you want to honour
- A memory that makes you feel thankful, thoughtful, or proud
Step two
Design your square. Use words, drawings, symbols, or colours to express your memory.
- You could draw a picture
- Write a poem or sentence
- Add a name or a date
- Use collage materials to add texture and layers
Step three
As you work, think about what story your square is telling. What do you want someone else to understand or feel when they see it?
Step four
When everyone is finished, bring all your squares together. Arrange them side-by-side to form your class “quilt.” You might glue them onto a large sheet, pin them to a display board, or hang them from string as a hanging patchwork.
Step five
Give your quilt a title - what name best captures the spirit of the stories inside?
Then & Now Photo Project
Recreate historical local photos to explore change over time, then reflect on memory, place, and community through photography.
You will need:
- Copies of historical photos from your local area (printed or digital)
- Camera, tablet, or phone (to take new photos)
- Access to local landmarks or outdoor spaces (or images of them)
- Paper and pens for reflections
- Optional: photo editing software or apps
In this activity, students will explore how places change over time by recreating old photos with a modern twist.
Step one
Look at a selection of historical photographs from your local area.
These could show:
- Streets, buildings, or parks
- People at work or school
- Local landmarks or special events
Step two
Choose one photo to recreate. Think about how you can match:
- The location or backdrop
- The pose or position of the people
- Any props or objects that appear (You can use classmates to step in as the people in the picture.)
Step three
Take your “now” photo. Try to line it up as closely as possible with the original image. Don’t worry if things look different—those changes are part of the story!
Step four
Place your two photos side-by-side to compare them. What’s stayed the same? What’s changed? Why do you think that is?
Step five
Write a short reflection to go with your image. You might consider:
- What this place or moment means to your community
- How it feels to stand in the same spot as someone from the past
- What your photo tells us about memory and time
Curriculum links
English
-
Maintain positive attitudes to reading and understanding of what they read
-
Discuss and evaluate how authors use language, including figurative language, considering the impact on the reader
-
Develop positive attitudes towards and stamina for writing
History
-
A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
-
A local history study
Citizenship
- Preparing to play an active role as citizens
English
-
Develop an appreciation and love of reading, and read increasingly challenging material independently
-
Write accurately, fluently, effectively and at length for pleasure and information
History
-
Challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world 1901 to the present day
-
A local history study
Citizenship
- The roles played by public institutions and voluntary groups in society, and the ways in which citizens work together to improve their communities, including opportunities to participate in school-based activities
Find out more about key events such as VE Day, the Victory Parade, and the anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Reflect on the role of the Tower of London as a backdrop to key moments in history and its role as a site for reflection.
Find out more about life at the Tower of London during the Second World War, reflect on the impact of the Second World War on your community and explore why and how we commemorate and remember significant moments from the past today.
Discover the life of John Blanke using historical sources as evidence.