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World War One began in 1914 and ended in 1918. The war ended at exactly 11 o'clock in the morning of Sunday 11th November after both sides agreed to stop fighting. This truce was called the Armistice.

Many millions of soldiers died in those four years. This included many soldiers from the British Empire. Many women also supported the war effort by taking on jobs and even nursing on the frontlines.

After the war, people remembered the soldiers who died every year on 11th November. This is called Remembrance Day.

• People remember those who were lost by holding a two-minute silence and by wearing a red poppy.
• On the nearest Sunday to Armistice Day, services are held in churches. People across the UK also have a two-minute silence as a sign of respect to those who died.
• In London, thousands of servicemen and women march past a memorial called the Cenotaph.
• On Remembrance Day people also think about those who lost their lives in World War Two and more recent conflicts.

• There are many poppies in France and Belgium growing on the old battlefields.
• People began wearing poppies for Remembrance Day in 1921.
• In 1922 a factory was set up to make them and raise money for wounded soldiers.
• A Canadian soldier, John McRae, wrote a famous poem about the battlefields in Belgium. It is called 'In Flanders’ Fields'.
• The poem begins, In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow, Between the crosses row on row….

Have a look at the thinking points below and think about your answer to each question. You could even write them down on a piece of paper or discuss them with somebody else if you want to.

• Why is it important for people to remember those who served and died in wars?

• Why is peace important?

• Why do you think people continue to wear poppies over 100 years later?

Grab your crayons, felt tips, or colouring pencils and create your own Remembrance Day Poppy.

You can print off the downloadable colouring sheet or draw your own.