What is Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday?
Remembrance Day, also known as Armistice Day, commemorates the end of World War One when an agreement to stop fighting was reached on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month in 1918. It is held to remember all those who have died in wars and marked by a two-minute silence at 11:00am.
Remembrance Sunday is the nearest Sunday to November 11th, when ceremonies are held in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth nations and commemorates both World War One and Two and all conflicts since. Poppy flowers are worn as a symbol of remembrance, inspired by the poppies that grew on many battlefields in WW1 - as made famous by the war poem 'In Flanders Fields.' A two-minute silence is also observed at 11:00am on Remembrance Sunday.
When is Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday?
Remembrance Day takes place on 11 November each year and Remembrance Sunday takes place on the second Sunday of November each year.
Remembrance – Literacy Live Lesson
Mark Remembrance Day with your class with this thought-provoking literacy Live Lesson for primary schools first broadcast 8 November, 2023.
Primary resources
Explore our primary collection including a look at the ceremonies and significance of Remembrance day and Remembrance Sunday in our assembly resources aimed at 5-11-year-olds.
Watch again: Remembrance – Literacy Live Lesson. video
We look ahead to Remembrance Day in this thought-provoking literacy Live Lesson for 7-11 year olds.
Remembrance Day / Remembrance Sunday - KS1 & KS2 Assembly Pack. collection
An assembly exploring the ceremonies and significance of Remembrance Day / Remembrance Sunday.
Remembrance Day: 'A Soldier's Tale' - KS2 Assembly Pack. collection
An assembly exploring 'remembering'. The video features a soldier from WW1 recording his experiences in his diary.
Remembrance Day: Pupil perspectives - KS1 & KS2 Assembly Pack. collection
The assembly includes a video in which pupils share what Remembrance Day means for them.
The A to Z of WW1. collection
A series of short films about World War One using a mixture of children's research, artefacts and archive from the time.
World War Two. collection
Using archive video and images from the Imperial War Museum, as well as first-person testimony from veterans and eye-witnesses, this series of short films offers a comprehensive overview of World War Two for primary schools.
Children of World War Two. collection
In this series of short films modern children meet people who grew up during World War Two to learn about their experiences.
School Radio - Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo. collection
An audio series with teacher notes on Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful. For KS2, KS3, 2nd and 3rd Level, P3-S2.
School Radio - War Horse by Michael Morpurgo. collection
Audio series with teacher notes on Michael Morpurgo's award-winning War Horse. For KS2, 2nd Level, P3-P7.
Archie Dobson's War. collection
‘Archie Dobson’s War’ is a play commemorating World War 1 that has been specially written for children aged 9 – 11 for performance in school.
Vaughan Williams: Bringing WW1 poetry and music together. video
Molly Rainford introduces Ten Pieces music resources for the Lark Ascending, composed by WW1 soldier Vaughan Williams and inspired by poet George Meredith.
School Radio - World War One and Remembrance Songs. collection
Medleys of WW1 songs and additional original songs, suitable for commemoration and Remembrance Day / Remembrance Sunday.
Watch again: Remembrance - Live Lesson. video
We marked the centenary of the Armistice - the end of the World War One - with a creative writing Live Lesson for primary schools in collaboration with 14-18 NOW.
BBC Scotland - What we think life was like in World War Two. collection
Listen to BBC Scotland’s 'Home Front’ drama. Then hear what children from different primary schools around Scotland think it might have been like being a child during World War Two.
CBeebies: Poppies. video
A beautiful animation following a young rabbit through the poppy fields.
Secondary resources
Discover our resources aimed at secondary students including some fascinating clips about WW1 from the BBC archive curated for the classroom by presenter and historian Dan Snow.
World War One. collection
Video resources for secondary schools, perfect for introducing your class to World War One.
World War Two. collection
Video resources for secondary schools, perfect to use with students studying World War Two.
Armistice Day - BBC Rewind. External Link
Armistice Day is an interactive experience featuring interviews with men and women who talk about what it was like during World War One, and exploring various aspects of life on the Home Front and in the trenches.
Watch again: The Somme - Live Lesson. video
Commemorating the sacrifice of those who lost their lives in one of the most significant battles in history, through the poetry of those who lived through it. This lesson is suitable for 11-13-year-olds.
External learning-related websites
- Royal British Legion’s Teaching Remembrance Hub - Remembrance resources suitable for school and home
- Big Ideas - Football Remembers WWII - Premier League Academy football players interview World War II veterans, who were also professional football players, about their experiences during the war