Education Program - K-5

Lesson Plan: Designing a Capital City

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:05:00 GMT

Students will consider how the design of a capital city reflects the values, history, and aspirations of a nation’s people. By analyzing Revolutionary War veteran Pierre L'Enfant's plan for Washington, D.C., they will identify core American civic values and use those to design their own ideal capital city.

Materials

Lesson Plan (Elementary School)
Teacher PowerPoint (Elementary School)
Student Materials (Elementary School)
Canvas Course: Find a digital version of this lesson in Canvas Commons. Questions about ANC Education on Canvas? See our how-to video and FAQs.

Walking Tour: African American Military Heroes

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 18:15:28 GMT

Learn about the lives of Tuskegee Airmen, members of the 369th Infantry Infantry Regiment (the “Harlem Hellfighters”), Medal of Honor recipients and more.

Throughout U.S. history, African Americans have fought bravely for the United States and distinguished themselves in combat. This walking tour includes gravesites and memorials that honor the service of these heroic individuals.

Length: 5 miles
Starting point: Section 40 (0.4 miles from Welcome Center)
Because this walking tour is quite long, we recommend completing it in smaller sections.

Materials

Walking Tour

Walking Tour: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:01:00 GMT

Visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the gravesites of individuals related to the Tomb's history.

On November 11, 1921, an unknown American soldier who died in World War I was laid to rest at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. On this walking tour, you will visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the gravesites of several individuals who took part in the Unknown’s 1921 burial ceremony. You will also explore other sites in the cemetery that invite reflection on the sacrifices of those who gave not only their lives, but also their names and identities in the service of the United States.

Length: 2 miles
Starting point: Section 5 (.3 miles from Welcome Center)

Materials

Walking Tour: Memorial Arboretum

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:52:26 GMT

Arlington National Cemetery's 639 acres of rolling green hills, with nearly 9,000 trees, serve as a living tribute to the veterans and their family members laid to rest here. Our walking tours explore highlights of Memorial Arboretum.

In 2014, to commemorate its 150th anniversary, Arlington National Cemetery established this historic landscape as Memorial Arboretum. In 2018, Memorial Arboretum was accredited as a Level III Arboretum--one of only 24 institutions worldwide to maintain this prestigious accreditation. While strolling through these hallowed grounds, consider how the landscape contributes to Arlington's mission to honor and remember the service and sacrifice of individuals buried here.

Distance: 2.5 miles for regular walking tour; 2 miles for school group walking tour
Exertion Level: Moderate
Starting point: Section 31 (.2 miles from Welcome Center)

Materials

Walking Tour: The Spanish-American War

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:49:23 GMT

Arlington National Cemetery contains more monuments and burial sites related to the Spanish-American War than any other location in the continental United States.

Learn about the historical significance of the Spanish-American War by visiting the gravesites of individuals who played prominent roles in it, as well as the USS Maine Memorial, the Spanish-American War Memorial and other monuments.

Length: 1.2 miles
Starting point: Section 24 (1 mile from Welcome Center)

Materials

Walking Tours: World War II

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:45:00 GMT

These six walking tours share some of the diverse experiences and individual stories of those who fought abroad or worked on the home front during World War II. The main walking tour includes stops across the entire cemetery, while the four cluster tours only include stops in one of the four main sections of the cemetery. The school tour is an abridged version of the main tour.

Materials

Lesson Plan: Women on the Homefront

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:11:00 GMT

During World War II, women were not allowed to serve in combat roles in the American armed forces. However, the work done by women who served on the American homefront was a vital support to the success of the Allied forces abroad.

In this lesson, students will examine primary sources related to the experiences of two women, both buried at Arlington National Cemetery, who served on the homefront in different ways. While the focus of this lesson is on analyzing primary sources and creative writing, through the lives of the two women highlighted students will also learn about the broader meanings of service and sacrifice during World War II, both in the military and on the homefront.

One or two class periods, 90 minutes total

Teacher Materials

Lesson Plan—Elementary/Middle School (PDF)
PowerPoint—Elementary/Middle School (PPT)

Student Materials

Student Materials (PDF)

Lesson Plan: Nurses in the Spanish-American War

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:40:55 GMT

Students use primary source documents and other resources to learn about the role of female nurses during the Spanish-American War.

The lesson also explores the expansion of career opportunities for women in military medicine before and after the war, and it addresses the different experiences of white women and women of color. Resources include quotes, images and cards with profiles of individual nurses. Students complete a gallery walk or work in groups on a jigsaw of teacher-curated resources.

Elementary: One class period, 45-60 minutes total
Middle: 1-2 class periods, 60-75 minutes total
High: 1-2 class periods, 60-75 minutes total

Teacher Materials

Student Materials

Elementary School Student Materials (PDF)
Middle School Student Materials (PDF)
High School Student Materials (PPT)

Lesson Plan: Freedman’s Village at Arlington

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:38:06 GMT

Freedman’s Village was a federally administered temporary community of formerly enslaved African Americans established on the former Arlington estate in 1863.

In 1887, the government decided to close Freedman’s Village and evict the residents. After analyzing documents and summarizing the arguments on both sides of the issue—should Freedman’s Village be closed or remain open?—students choose their own stance and respond to a reflection question. For an extension opportunity, students can write a letter to the secretary of war explaining what they think should be done.

Elementary School: 1-3 class periods, 45-120 minutes total
Middle School: 1-2 class periods, 60-90 minutes total
High School: 1-2 class periods, 60-90 minutes total

Teacher Materials

Student Materials

Elementary School Student Materials (PDF)
Middle School Student Materials (PDF)
High School Student Materials (PDF)

Lesson Plan: The Freedpeople of Section 27

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:34:18 GMT

Although Arlington National Cemetery is a military cemetery, it contains a section where thousands of African American civilians were buried between 1864 and 1867.

Through a class lecture and exploration of a Section 27 burial record, students explore what life may have been like for free African Americans during the years surrounding the Civil War. Students will write a short obituary for one of the African American civilians on the burial record.

Elementary School: 1 class period, 45-60 minutes total
Middle School: 1-2 class periods, 70-90 minutes total
High School: 1-2 class periods, 70-90 minutes total

Teacher Materials

Student Materials

Elementary School Student Materials (PDF)
Middle and High School Burial Record Spreadsheet (Excel)

Lesson Plan: Reconstruction Timeline

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:29:00 GMT

This timeline activity about the history of Reconstruction (1865-1877) can be used as an introduction, a review or at any time throughout a Reconstruction unit.

Timeline cards can be printed and ordered to give students an overview of important events during the Reconstruction era. For students who will be visiting Arlington National Cemetery, an optional set of Freedman’s Village timeline cards can also be printed and used.

One class period, 15-30 minutes

Teacher Materials

Student Materials

Elementary School Reconstruction Timeline (PDF)
Elementary School Freedman's Village Timeline (PDF)
Middle School Reconstruction Timeline (PDF)
Middle School Freedman's Village Timeline (PDF)
High School Reconstruction Timeline (PDF)
High School Freedman's Village Timeline (PDF)

Lesson Plans: Composing a Bugle Call

Wed, 29 May 2024 13:44:00 GMT

Buglers sound the call “Taps” to close military funerals many times a day at Arlington National Cemetery, and military bases use bugle calls throughout the day to signal different events. In these lesson plans, students listen to and analyze bugle calls and their purpose before composing their own “bugle call.”

Materials

Lesson Plan: Composing a Bugle Call—Orff (Elementary School)
Student Worksheet: Composing a Bugle Call—Orff (Elementary School)
Teacher PowerPoint: Composing a Bugle Call—Orff (Elementary School)
Lesson Plan: Composing a Bugle Call—Recorder (Elementary School)
Student Worksheet: Composing a Bugle Call—Recorder (Elementary School)
Teacher PowerPoint: Composing a Bugle Call—Recorder (Elementary School)
Lesson Plan: Composing a Bugle Call (High School)
Student Worksheet: Composing a Bugle Call (High School)
Teacher PowerPoint: Composing a Bugle Call (High School)

Lesson Plans: Analyzing Musical Form

Wed, 22 May 2024 15:10:00 GMT

Arlington National Cemetery honors two legendary American composers/ bandleaders: James Reese Europe and Glenn Miller. In this lesson, students will be introduced to these musicians and listen to a piece of their music. Teachers may choose to cover just one piece or both. The lesson can be started with an optional introduction to military music.

Materials

Lesson Plan: Analyzing Musical Form (Elementary School)
Introduction to Military Music (Elementary School)
James Reese Europe, "Castle House Rag" (Elementary School)
Glenn Miller, "In the Mood" (Elementary School)
Lesson Plan: Analyzing Musical Form (High School)
James Reese Europe, "Castle House Rag" (High School)
Glenn Miller, "In the Mood" (High School)
Introduction to Military Music (High School)

Religion and the Military

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 15:17:00 GMT

Military service, especially in combat, can include severe stress and danger, chaos and loss, and risk of injury or death. In such circumstances, many people seek support and comfort from their religious faiths. Learn about the history of chaplaincy in the U.S. military, the role of chaplains at Arlington National Cemetery, and the diversity of faiths reflected by emblems of belief on headstones.

Materials

Lesson Plan: Spying with Math

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 20:11:00 GMT

By studying the basics of cryptology (the science of breaking codes), students will use a few of the necessary STEM skills required to complete this type of work, including graphing skills, pattern recognition, and classification techniques.

Teacher Materials

Spying with Math Lesson Plan—Elementary School (PDF)
Spying with Math PowerPoint (PPT)

Student Materials

Lesson Plans: Military Technology, Elementary and Middle School

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 16:52:00 GMT

Students learn about the history of military technologies by sorting technology cards into categories. Lesson plans are geared toward sorting the technology cards according to the war in which the technology was used.

This lesson can be taught as part of a unit studying the American Revolution, the Civil War, World War I, or World War II. It can also be revisited to refresh students’ understanding of which technologies were used during a particular war.

One class period (30 minutes)

Teacher Materials

Lesson Plan—Elementary School (PDF)
Lesson Plan—Middle School (PDF)

Student Materials

Technology Sort Cards—Elementary School (PDF)
Technology Sort Cards—Middle School (PDF)

Lesson Plan: The Powell Expeditions

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 13:02:00 GMT

Using the Powell Expeditions of 1869 and 1871, students (grades 4-6) will be introduced to social studies skills and themes, including analyzing primary sources.

John Wesley Powell was an American explorer and geologist. In 1869 and 1871, he led pathbreaking expeditions that mapped and described the geology, plants, and animals of the Colorado River and Grand Canyon. In this lesson, students work in small groups and use primary sources from the Powell Expeditions to practice primary source analysis, historical comprehension, and teamwork.

One class period (45-60 minutes)

Teacher Materials

Lesson Plan—Elementary School
PowerPoint—Elementary School
Canvas Course: Find a digital version of this lesson in Canvas Commons. Questions about ANC Education on Canvas? See our how-to video and FAQs.

Student Materials

Student Materials—Elementary School

Activities for Children

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 15:01:00 GMT

Visiting Arlington National Cemetery with children? Check out our guide (with visitor tips and answers to common children's questions) and activity packets that will engage children while teaching them about the cemetery.

Materials

Lesson Plan: The Plant Plan—Putting the Right Plant in the Right Place

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 13:04:00 GMT

Students will use provided facts and data about different native plants and conditions at Arlington National Cemetery to make and defend planting decisions.

These lessons, designed for elementary and middle-school students, can either be used as a unit culminating activity or, with modifications, as an introductory activity to a unit on plants and the environment. Resources include a PowerPoint, plant cards, cemetery maps, a worksheet, and a grading rubric.

One class period, 45-60 minutes total

Teacher Materials

Student Materials

Elementary School Materials (PDF)
Middle School Materials (PDF)

Memorial Arboretum: Seasonal Guides

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 18:36:00 GMT

Whether visiting in the spring, summer, fall or winter, there is always something to see in Arlington National Cemetery's Memorial Arboretum. Download our seasonal guides for recommendations on horticulture highlights for each season.