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Sunday, June 2, 2019

D Day Lessons and Activities for Kids

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June 6, 2019 will be the 75th Anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy, also known as D Day.  This day is important in American history because it was the day that turned the tides during World War II, eventually resulting in victory for the Allies.  The generation of young people who fought and lived during WWII are often called The Greatest Generation.  My grandparents were part of The Greatest Generation.  Both of my grandfathers fought during WWII.  They both served in the US Army.  Although neither of them were on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, they served in various European locations.  At some point during the war, one of them served in France.  The other one served in the Philippines.

I've always been interested in American war history, not because I like war, but because the lives lost and all the sacrifices made by military personnel in all military branches are the reason we live in freedom today.  It is important to teach our children that freedom is not free.  Freedom comes with a heavy price tag, even unto death for many.

D Day Lessons and Activities for Kids
Image Credit:  Chief Photographer's Mate (CPHOM) Robert F. Sargent, U.S. Coast Guard - Public domain; official U.S. Coast Guard photograph

D Day Lesson Plans and Activities for Kids


Earlier tonight, I watched an interesting Fox News Special on the 75th Anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy.  I learned some things I didn't know during the show.  It sparked my interest to find D Day lessons and activities for kids.  With only a few days left until the 75th anniversary of D Day, I don't have the time to dig deep to find a whole lot of lessons, but I did do a quick internet search and found 6 activities.  D Day, in it's truest description, is not something about which you will want to go into great detail with younger children.  In fact, I didn't really find a lot which I thought was appropriate for younger kids.  I did find the following 6 lessons and activities and I hope they help you teach the next generation the cost of freedom.  I hope your children and grandchildren grow up with a deep appreciation for what these men and women endured for their next generations - us.

A Coloring Page from Raising Our Kids:  This coloring page is appropriate for all ages.  It shows Soldiers running off of a landing craft and moving through the water.  That's all.  It would be appropriate for introducing younger children to the fact that American Soldiers were part of the Allied forces who landed on either Omaha or Utah beaches on June 6, 1944.

D Day Word Search from Puzzles to Print:  This D Day word search puzzle is listed as appropriate for grades 5, 6, 7, and 8.  You'll find it at Teachers Pay Teachers for only $1.25 (at the time of this post).  This puzzle is a good D Day vocabulary builder.

D Day PowerPoint on Twinkl.  According to the item description, this power point presentation helps children understand facts about the Normandy Beach landings.  You have to set up an account membership to access this lesson.  I don't teach anymore so I didn't want to pay for a membership.  I clicked around for a few minutes but could not find a membership price.  It looks like it might be a good membership site for teachers and homeschool parents.  If you sign up, I'd love to hear about your thoughts in the comments below.  Anything you can add to the conversation on this post will help future readers.  As for this particular D Day lesson, it doesn't suggest an age or grade level on this page - unless I'm missing that somewhere.  It does have one 5 star review but no review description.

D Day:  The Invasion of Normandy on Ducksters Education Site:  This is not really an activity, but it provides for good reading material.  This page covers time leading up to the battle, deception required to achieve an element of surprise, the weather, the invasion, the beaches, the generals, and some other D Day facts. There is a link to a short quiz at the end of the page.  Students can opt to listen to a recorded reading of the page if they wish.

The Night Before D Day at DocsTeach:  This is an interesting activity for students in grades 6-12.  Students will analyze two documents written by General Dwight D. Eisenhower before the invasion of Normandy.  The first document is General Eisenhower's public statement.  The second document is a note he wrote in case of failure.  According to the page sidebar, this activity was created by the National Archives Education Team.

A D Day Tour of Normandy by Gone With the Family:  This is a detailed description of a family tour of Normandy.  If you have the time and resources to take a major field trip to Normandy to tour the beaches with your children or perhaps even a small group of students, this post by Lisa at Gone with the Family might be helpful.  Someday, I hope to visit Omah and Utah beaches which is were American Soldiers landed.  Lisa and her family chose to visit the Canadian memorials.  Her post is complete helpful details and photographs.


Read more posts about preschool and kids activities here.

Jesus is Enough (from the Study on Galatians Series)

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 Jesus is enough.


We are in the middle of our Bible study on the book of Galatians at our church.  The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon.  You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.

Free - Christ Is Enough - June 2, 2019 (Message) from Christ Place Church on Vimeo.

The Galatians had known freedom in Jesus but here they are, binding themselves by their expectations of works rather than faith in Jesus. Sometimes believers get wrapped up, lost even, in the busyness of good works - of being good - keeping up all the rules, as if Jesus isn't enough.

Jesus is Enough
Image Credit:  EliasSch - CCO Public Domain Image via Pixabay - Collage Created in Picmonkey
You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
 
6 Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you. So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.” 11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.” 12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “He who practices them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. - Galatians 3:1-14
Jesus loves us unconditionally.  We are never to condone sin, but everyone is to be welcomed and loved.   When we do break the rules that we try so hard to follow, we feel guilty.  We must remember that Satan is the accuser.  He is the source of guilt, but Jesus is enough to free us.  Jesus meets us where we are.  It is only in Jesus that we are free.  We live by faith alone.
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. - Galatians 2:20

Jesus is Enough
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Paul asked the Galatians several questions:

1.  Who misled you?

2.  Did you receive the Spirit by works or by faith?

3.  When we receive Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit.  You can never sin away your grace.

4.  Are you foolish?

5.  You are in the Spirit so are you made perfect by your own flesh?

6.  If you have suffered, was it in vain?

7.  Does the one who provides you with the Holy Spirit and works miracles around you do it by works or is it by faith?

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. - James 2:23
The greatest blessing is to be God's friend.  We can't earn it.  We can't work for it, but we can be thankful for it.

There was no law when Abraham was found righteousness.  The 10 commandments didn't come along until about 467 years later.  


The Ten Commandments
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We are under a curse because we can't be good enough to fulfill every law, but Jesus redeems us.

Why did Jesus die?  He took the curse.  The blessing of freedom comes from Jesus Christ through faith.

Crucify your flesh.  Rest in the love of Jesus.  Don't look for the applause of people.  You already have the approval of God.

A slave obeys because he has to.  A son or daughter obeys because he or she wants to. - Pastor Jeff Crook
Receive Jesus.



Read all posts in the Galatians Bible study series here.