Imagine this. It’s August (or September in my case). School has just started. You are already rockin’ and rollin’ with your regular elementary music lesson plans then BAM! Your Principal asks you to put together an elementary music Veterans Day program. You might freak out…but don’t! I’ve got you! These four “A’s” will help you blow your administration’s expectations out of the water! Here we go…
1. Action Plan
You need a plan and I can help! The first thing to do is print out this Concert Planning Checklist. This checklist helps me keep all the logistics in order. Organization is key! Start with the simple questions…who, what, when, where? You’ve got this! After you’ve figured out the logistics, make the order of events look super cute with this Veterans Day Program template! Download, type and print!
2. Attendance
This “A” will have your whole school buzzing with rave reviews!
- Community – It is ALWAYS a great idea to have community members in attendance. Invite the Honor Guard from your local American Legion to teach students how to properly fold the flag and what each fold represents. It is truly a moving ceremony. Our students are so quiet you can hear a pen drop, no joke!
- Alumni – Invite former students to be in attendance and put them to work! 😉 We always ask a former student to sing the Star Spangled Banner.
- Veterans – Invite veterans! Isn’t that why we do these programs?! Our students invite “their” veteran to attend the elementary music Veterans Day program. We go the extra mile and treat our veterans to a light brunch following the program.
3. Add Music
There’s nothing that “sets the tone” like music! You’ve GOT to have music! These are the songs my chorus sings during the program!
- Allegiance Rap – Allegiance Rap is perfect for getting the crowd pumped up and interested in what the Veterans Day Program is all about.
- Because of You – Because of You pulls at the heart strings of each veteran in attendance. When the chorus sings “Because of You” for the last time, we point to the veterans! It makes them feel special!
- Thank You to Our Veterans – Thank You to Our Veterans is a short song to close the program by simply saying thank you. During this song, the students wave miniature American flags. It adds such a sweet touch!
4. Accessorize
You can’t have a patriotic program without the stage looking like a bald eagle himself painted it red, white and blue while singing the National Anthem! These are a few of my favorite, inexpensive decorations. Want to know my best decor secret? Ask your school to wear red, white and blue!
- Miniature American Flags – We wave these during the last song.
- Patriotic Balloons – We make miniature balloon arches.
- Veterans Day Banners – Hang these outside the entrance.
- Photo Backdrop – Excellent for parent involvement after the program
- Red, White & Blue Bunting – Hang from the ceiling or anywhere!
- 3×5′ American Flag – I zip tie this flag to a 6 ft’ PVC pipe and let a kid wave it at the very end of the last song. It’s a nice visual. (Tip: Lowes/Home Depot/Menards may donate the PVC pipe if you explain what you’re using it for. That’s how I got mine!)
Last but not least, consider these things to your Veterans Day program for an added bonus..
- Speech by a Veteran
- Missing Man Table
- Patriotic song performed by a staff member
God Bless America and our Veterans!
-Mrs. Sing
