Draw to Remember
Connecting through commemoration
Draw to Remember is a creative Remembrance Day learning and commemoration activity for primary school students.
Each year on 11 November, Australians pause to remember those who have served and sacrificed in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
In the same way, Draw to Remember provides students with a personal and visual way to reflect on remembrance, while encouraging each child’s unique creative expression.
The activity allows children to learn about the significance of Remembrance Day from local veterans and express their learnings or personal connections through chalk art.
Each school’s chalk mural will offer students a unique visual reminder of how Remembrance Day touches lives across the world, while helping to build connections with local RSL Sub Branches.
This activity is designed to be flexible and encourage children’s creativity. You’re free to adapt the activity for their age and learning outcomes.
Participating schools will receive all materials needed to facilitate Draw to Remember and create their own Remembrance Day chalk mural, including a presentation by their local RSL Sub Branch representative, in the lead-up to 11 November.
Draw to Remember tips and ideas
Encourage the kids to draw whatever they like, but here are some idea prompts to help them get started:
Share or illustrate personal/family stories about Remembrance Day or military service.
Reflect on what Remembrance Day means to them or why it’s significant.
Write a message such as ‘Lest we forget’.
Involve children in brainstorming or research, for example:
What are the three branches of Australia’s Defence Force? What symbols or uniforms do they wear?
What kinds of jobs are there in the military?
Explore the extra resources on this page to help expand the children’s learning.
For teachers
Participating schools will receive the following to help students participate in Draw to Remember:
A visit from a veteran. Your local RSL Sub Branch representative will speak to students about Remembrance Day, then return for a ‘show and tell’ with the students once their chalk mural is completed.
A Draw to Remember pack containing:
jumbo coloured chalk
instruction/activity booklets.
These resources will be supplied free by your school’s local RSL Sub Branch.
Activity resources
To complete the activity at home (or print extra booklets for your school class), download and print the files below.
Extra resources
Remembrance Day (11 November) is a day for people to remember the service personnel who died while serving, including in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
11am on 11 November 1918 is when fighting in World War I ended.
Every year at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, people in Australia and many other countries pause for a minute’s silence to remember those who died while in service.
Understand why we commemorate
100+ years on
Poppies and Armistice
The meaning of service
Australia’s Defence Force (Army, Navy and Air Force) are made up of many different people with many different jobs.
They help each other to keep Australia, and other countries, safe.
Along with soldiers, sailors and pilots, there are doctors, mechanics, builders and many more.
Someone who works (‘serves’) in the Defence Force is called a ‘service person’.
A ‘veteran’ is someone who is, or used to be, a service person.
The red poppy
Since the First World War, the red poppy has become a special symbol of remembrance. In many countries around the world, people wear red poppies to remember and honour soldiers who have lost their lives in war.
Make a Poppy Wreath
Learn the importance and craft that goes into creating this symbol of remembrance and create one to lay at a Remembrance Day ceremony.
Stories of service
Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following content contains the names and images of people who have died.
More than 100,000 Australians have lost their lives while serving in our armed forces.
Remembering them on Remembrance Day helps to keep their memories alive.
Here are some of the brave men and women that you may wish to remember. Click the images to read their stories.
Images courtesy of the Australian War Memorial and Virtual War Memorial Australia.
Draw to Remember FAQs
Draw to Remember can be used as part of a classroom lesson, school assembly or Remembrance Day commemoration. The initiative helps students learn about the significance of Remembrance Day through educational resources, discussions with local veterans and a creative chalk art activity that encourages personal reflection and expression.
Yes. Draw to Remember was designed specifically for primary school students. The initiative combines education, storytelling and creativity to help children develop an age-appropriate understanding of service, sacrifice and remembrance while encouraging meaningful participation in Remembrance Day.
Yes. Community groups, RSL Sub Branches and local organisations can use Draw to Remember to engage young people in Remembrance Day activities. The initiative supports intergenerational learning by creating opportunities for students, veterans and community members to come together to share stories and commemorate those who served.