Remembrance Day: Poppy-Inspired Sensory and Learning Activities
These Remembrance day ideas are designed to introduce young children in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings to Remembrance Day in a gentle, meaningful way. Using sensory play, craft, and simple science, children engage with the symbol of the red poppy to explore themes of peace, respect, and community. Each activity is tailored to be age-appropriate, helping children connect with Remembrance Day through hands-on, exploratory learning.
Remembrance Day in Early Childhood
In early childhood, Remembrance Day provides an opportunity to teach children about respect, community, and belonging. Through creative activities, educators can introduce symbols like the poppy, helping children understand how we honour and remember. This aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), which supports children’s connection to their world and encourages respect for diversity.
Links to NQS and EYLF
These activities also connect with the National Quality Standards (NQS), especially Quality Areas 1 and 5, which focus on educational programs and building positive relationships. The EYLF Outcome 2, "Children are connected with and contribute to their world," supports this learning by fostering a sense of community and belonging. Through simple, engaging play, Poppies of Remembrance introduces children to cultural values and community practices in a respectful, age-appropriate way.
Poppy Fields Exploration
Age: Birth - 3
Materials:
Red silk or fabric petals (symbolising poppies)
Green sensory scarves or felt for grass
Shallow tray or basket for containment
Lavender-scented spray or lavender bags (optional, to evoke calm)
Instructions:Place the red petals and green scarves in a tray for the children to touch, feel, and explore. Encourage them to pick up and feel the textures of the materials, associating the red petals with poppies and the green scarves with fields. Gently guide their hands to scoop, pat, and explore, talking softly about “flowers in the field” and "peace." The lavender scent will create a calming atmosphere, representing respect and remembrance. (check allergies)
EYLF Outcome: 2.2 Children respond to diversity with respect. (Exploring sensory textures of poppies and fields supports an early understanding of respectful remembrance.)
VEYLDF Outcome: Community: Children develop a sense of belonging to groups and communities and an understanding of reciprocal rights and responsibilities. (Through sensory play, they experience a sense of calm, connecting to the theme of peaceful remembrance.)
Poppy Art Exploration
Age: 3 - 5
Materials:
Red paint and small brushes
Green play dough or clay for creating “grass”
Flat paper for painting background
Poppy stencils or stamps
Optional: Lavender or rosemary sprigs (calming scent)
Instructions:Begin with a discussion about poppies and why we remember people on Remembrance Day. Encourage the children to paint red poppies using stencils or stamps on paper with green play dough in the background. They can press and shape the play dough to make the "grass" field. Discuss colours and feelings, using sensory language to talk about "soft grass" and “bright red poppies.” Introduce lavender sprigs to smell as they paint for a calming effect.
QKLG Outcome: Connectedness – Showing respect for diversity. (Children explore the theme of remembrance and reflect on respectful symbols through sensory play.)VEYLDF Outcome: Community – Children respond to diversity with respect. (By creating poppies, they connect to the symbolism of Remembrance Day and show respect for diverse histories.)
Creating a Field of Poppies
Age: 5 - 8
Materials:
Red tissue paper or felt for poppies
Pipe cleaners or sticks for stems
Green construction paper for leaves
Small plastic or clay pots
Markers for writing “Remembrance” words
Optional: Lavender-scented markers or stickers
Instructions:Introduce the significance of Remembrance Day and discuss the symbolism of poppies. Have children create their own poppies by shaping tissue paper into flowers, attaching them to pipe cleaners as stems, and “planting” them in small pots. They can add leaves and write words related to remembrance on the pots, like "peace," "respect," or "remember." Lavender-scented stickers or markers add a sensory element to this respectful creation.
MTOP Outcome: 2.1 Children and young people develop a sense of belonging to groups and communities and an understanding of the reciprocal rights and responsibilities necessary as active and informed citizens. (Children explore the importance of remembrance and respect, developing understanding of community symbols.)
VEYLDF Outcome: Community – Children develop a sense of belonging to groups and communities and understand reciprocal rights. (Through creating poppies, children connect with the significance of remembrance, expressing respect and community responsibility.)
Poppy Paint Strokes
Age: Birth - 3
Materials:
Red, green, and black non-toxic, washable paint
Shallow trays or plates for paint
Large sheets of paper
Paintbrushes or sponges for easy grip
Instructions:Place small amounts of red, green, and black paint on separate trays. Encourage children to dip their hands, fingers, or sponges into the paint and make marks on the paper, associating the red with poppies and the green with grass. Gently guide them, talking about the colours they’re using and using simple words like “flower,” “green,” and “red.”
EYLF Outcome: 4.1 Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity and creativity. (Through open-ended painting, children explore colour and texture, developing curiosity and creativity in a relaxed, exploratory setting.)VEYLDF Outcome: Learning – Children develop dispositions for learning, including imagination and curiosity. (Exploring paint fosters children’s imagination and curiosity about colours and textures.)
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Poppy Fields in Paint
Age: 3 - 5
Materials:
Red, green, and black paint
Large brushes and fine-tip brushes
Sponges for creating textured fields
Canvas or thick paper
Instructions:Explain that Remembrance Day is a time when people think about peace and remembrance. Encourage children to use large brushes or sponges to paint a green field and then use finer brushes to paint red poppies. Talk about what the poppies represent, and let them add black centres to each flower. Discuss how they feel when they see poppies, connecting to respectful and peaceful themes.
QKLG Outcome: Active Learning – Showing confidence and involvement in learning. (Children express their ideas confidently, making personal choices about how they paint to represent their ideas of poppies and fields.)VEYLDF Outcome: Communication – Children express ideas and make meaning using a range of media. (Children engage in representing respectful symbols through paint, building connections to cultural symbols.)
Poppy Field Painting and Storytelling Age: 5 - 8
Materials:
Red, green, and black paint
Paint palettes and brushes of various sizes
Paper or small canvases
Picture references of poppy fields
Instructions:Introduce children to the symbolism of poppies and explain Remembrance Day. Show images of poppy fields, discussing why poppies are important on this day. Encourage children to paint their interpretation of a field of poppies, allowing them to layer and add details. After the painting, invite them to share their artwork and reflect on their feelings about remembrance and peace, sharing words or sentences inspired by their work.
MTOP Outcome: 1.4 Children and young people learn to interact in relation to others with care, empathy, and respect. (Children express care and empathy by creating symbolic art related to Remembrance Day, sharing their understanding respectfully with peers.) VEYLDF Outcome: Communication – Children express ideas and make meaning using a range of media. (Through art, children express ideas of peace, remembrance, and respect for others in a creative, respectful way.)
Grab our FREE Remembrance day pack and FREE Banner here!
Poppy Playdough Creations
Age: Birth - 3
Materials:
Red and green playdough (non-toxic)
Small rolling pins
Soft modelling tools for pressing
Large mat or tray for play area
Instructions:Place the red and green playdough on a tray and invite children to touch and manipulate it. Show them how to make simple ball shapes (representing poppies) and talk to them about the colours. Use soft words like “flower,” “field,” and “poppy.” Let them freely explore and squish the playdough, developing fine motor skills through play.
EYLF Outcome: 3.2 Children become strong in their physical wellbeing. (Manipulating the playdough supports hand strength and fine motor skills while connecting children with symbols of remembrance in a gentle, respectful way.) VEYLDF Outcome: Wellbeing – Children take increasing responsibility for their physical wellbeing. (Exploring and shaping playdough builds children’s fine motor skills and self-expression.)
Making Poppy Fields with Playdough
Age: 3 - 5
Materials:
Red, green, and black playdough
Small rolling pins
Flower-shaped cookie cutters or child-safe tools for pressing shapes
Small black beads or seeds for centres (optional)
Instructions:Encourage children to use the red playdough to make poppies and the green playdough for grass, explaining the importance of poppies for Remembrance Day. Show them how to shape simple flowers or use a cutter to create them. Help them add small black centres to the flowers if they wish, talking about the meaning of the poppies in a calm, respectful tone.
QKLG Outcome: Communicating – Exploring and expanding language. (Children build language skills as they talk about their poppies, connecting ideas of peace and remembrance to play.) VEYLDF Outcome: Community – Children develop a sense of belonging to groups and communities. (Creating poppies connects children to cultural symbols and a shared understanding of remembrance.)
Designing a Field of Playdough Poppies
Age: 5 - 8
Materials:
Red, green, and black playdough
Toothpicks or sticks for poppy stems
Rolling pins and flower cutters
Reference images of poppy fields
Instructions:Explain the historical and cultural significance of poppies and Remembrance Day. Invite children to create a poppy field using playdough, shaping detailed flowers with black centres and arranging them in a “field.” They can use toothpicks as stems if they wish. Encourage them to share their thoughts on remembrance and how they feel about making the poppies, fostering a group discussion about respect and peace.
MTOP Outcome: 2.4 Children and young people become socially responsible and show respect for the environment. (Crafting poppies encourages social responsibility and respectful engagement with cultural symbols.)
VEYLDF Outcome: Community – Children respond to diversity with respect. (Engaging with poppy-making as a meaningful activity connects children to remembrance and respect for diverse histories.)
Water Play - Poppy Petal Floating
Age: Birth - 3
Materials:
Shallow tray with water
Silk or fabric red petals for “poppies”
Small scoops or cups
Instructions:Place the tray with water on a low table. Add the red petals and let the children explore by touching the floating petals, scooping, or gently swirling them. Describe the petals as “poppies” in the “field.” Talk about the softness of the water and the petals, keeping the environment calm and peaceful.
EYLF Outcome: 3.1 Children become strong in their social, emotional, and mental wellbeing. (Engaging with gentle water play helps foster emotional wellbeing in a calm, reflective setting.)
VEYLDF Outcome: Wellbeing – Children become strong in their social and emotional wellbeing. (This reflective play nurtures emotional wellbeing and connects sensory play with a respectful theme.)
Grab our FREE Remembrance day pack and FREE Banner here!
Poppy Petals Floating on Water
Age: 3 - 5
Materials:
Small tub or water tray
Red silk or paper petals
Small cups and strainers
Instructions:Introduce the idea of poppies floating on water to symbolise remembrance. Let children drop the red petals into the water and use cups or strainers to “collect” them, talking about how the poppies symbolise peace. Encourage them to explore the petals as they float and swirl in the water, discussing how we remember people respectfully.
QKLG Outcome: Wellbeing – Exploring ways to be healthy and safe. (Water play supports relaxation, encouraging children to explore sensory materials safely in a calm environment.)
VEYLDF Outcome: Wellbeing – Children take increasing responsibility for their physical wellbeing. (Engaging with gentle water play promotes a peaceful sensory experience.)
Remembrance Day Water Reflection
Age: 5 - 8
Materials:
Large shallow water tray
Red floating waterproof tea lights or petals
Black stones or pebbles for symbolism
Small nets or scoops
Instructions:Discuss Remembrance Day and symbols of peace and respect. Invite children to place red petals or floating candles in the water to represent poppies. Let them use nets or scoops to move the items gently, symbolising peace and remembrance. Encourage them to share their thoughts or reflections on Remembrance Day in a respectful, peaceful setting.
MTOP Outcome: 2.3 Children and young people become aware of fairness. (Through calm, reflective water play, children gain awareness of peaceful values and respect.)VEYLDF Outcome: Community – Children become socially responsible and show respect for the environment. (Water play encourages symbolic expression of peace and respect, connecting children with themes of remembrance.)
Poppy Slime Sensory Exploration
Age: Birth - 3
Materials:
Red-coloured, non-toxic, taste-safe slime
Shallow tray or mat
Soft poppy petals made from red silk or fabric
Instructions:Place the slime in a shallow tray and scatter a few red fabric poppy petals on top. Encourage children to explore by touching, poking, and gently squishing the slime with their fingers. Talk about the softness of the petals and the cool, stretchy texture of the slime, helping them associate it with poppies in a gentle, sensory way.
EYLF Outcome: 4.1 Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity and creativity. (Exploring slime introduces children to different textures, fostering curiosity and creativity through sensory exploration.)
VEYLDF Outcome: Wellbeing – Children take increasing responsibility for their physical wellbeing. (Touching and manipulating the slime encourages fine motor skill development and self-expression.)
Grab our FREE Remembrance day pack and FREE Banner here!
Making Poppy Fields in Slime
Age: 3 - 5
Materials:
Red slime
Small green plastic leaves or foliage
Black buttons or beads for poppy centres
Instructions:Place the red slime in a tray and encourage children to press small black buttons or beads into it to create “poppy flowers.” They can add green leaves or foliage to represent a poppy field. Use this as a chance to discuss the significance of poppies in a calm, age-appropriate manner, connecting the sensory play to respectful remembrance.
QKLG Outcome: Wellbeing – Exploring ways to promote physical wellbeing. (Playing with the slime fosters hand strength, coordination, and fine motor development.)
VEYLDF Outcome: Wellbeing – Children take increasing responsibility for their physical wellbeing. (Manipulating the slime encourages self-regulation and fine motor skills.)
Building Poppy Fields in Slime Art
Age: 5 - 8
Materials:
Red and green slime
Small flower cutters
Black beads for poppy centres
Art tray or shallow container
Instructions:Introduce the concept of remembrance and poppy symbolism. Invite children to create a “poppy field” by pressing flower shapes in the red slime and adding black beads for centres. They can shape green slime around it to resemble a grassy field. Encourage them to reflect on what remembrance means to them as they work on this tactile art project.
MTOP Outcome: 3.3 Children and young people are aware of and develop strategies to support their own mental and physical health and personal safety. (Creating poppy fields fosters emotional reflection and respectful engagement with cultural symbols.)
VEYLDF Outcome: Wellbeing – Children become strong in their social, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. (Through calm, respectful slime play, children connect with the themes of peace and remembrance.)
Remembrance Day Sand Art
Age: Birth - 3
Materials:
Red and green kinetic sand
Small plastic poppies or red buttons
Shallow tray for containment
Instructions:Place red and green kinetic sand in a tray. Add small plastic poppies or buttons, encouraging children to touch, scoop, and move the sand around. Talk about the softness of the sand and introduce words like “poppy” and “field” as they explore this sensory material.
EYLF Outcome: 1.1 Children feel safe, secure, and supported. (Exploring kinetic sand fosters a safe, calming experience, connecting children with gentle exploration.)VEYLDF Outcome: Wellbeing – Children take increasing responsibility for their physical wellbeing. (Through tactile sand play, children build fine motor skills and confidence.)
Creating Poppy Patterns in Sand
Age: 3 - 5
Materials:
Kinetic sand in red and green
Plastic flower stamps or child-safe cookie cutters
Small red and black buttons for decorating
Instructions:In a shallow tray, provide red and green kinetic sand for children to press into with flower stamps or cutters, creating “poppy” shapes. They can place red buttons in the sand as poppy petals or add black buttons for centres. Talk with them about the meaning of poppies, and encourage quiet reflection while they make patterns.
QKLG Outcome: Communicating – Exploring literacy in personally meaningful ways. (Pattern-making introduces symbolic literacy, allowing children to create and express ideas respectfully.)
VEYLDF Outcome: Learning – Children develop dispositions for learning, including creativity and cooperation. (Creating poppy patterns in sand supports imaginative and social learning through tactile exploration.)
Grab our FREE Remembrance day pack and FREE Banner here!
Poppy Sand Art Creations
Age: 5 - 8
Materials:
Red, green, and black sand
Small paintbrushes or scoops for designing patterns
Black beads or stones for accents
Instructions:Invite children to create a poppy field scene using red, green, and black sand in a tray. Using small paintbrushes, they can design patterns, creating individual poppies and layering colours for depth. Discuss the importance of Remembrance Day, and allow children to share thoughts or reflections inspired by their designs.
MTOP Outcome: 4.1 Children and young people develop a growth mindset and learning dispositions such as curiosity, cooperation, and creativity. (Children explore creative design and symbolism, building respectful connections with cultural history.)
VEYLDF Outcome: Learning – Children develop dispositions for learning such as imagination and reflexivity. (Creating sand art helps children reflect on the themes of peace and remembrance through detailed, mindful work.)
Poppy Leaf Printing
Age: Birth- 3
Materials:
Red and green washable paint
Large, soft leaves for printing
White paper
Instructions:Help children dip leaves into red and green paint and press them onto paper, creating simple “poppy field” patterns. Talk about the feeling of the leaves and paint, introducing words like “flower” and “poppy” to associate the activity with gentle, symbolic play.
EYLF Outcome: 2.2 Children respond to diversity with respect. (Creating simple prints introduces children to cultural symbols in a gentle, respectful way.)
VEYLDF Outcome: Learning – Children develop dispositions for learning, including curiosity and creativity. (Leaf printing encourages sensory exploration and creativity with symbolic meaning.)
Poppy Leaf Printmaking
Age: 3 - 5
Materials:
Red, green, and black paint
Leaves of different sizes
Rollers or paintbrushes
Instructions:Let children dip leaves into red, green, and black paint, pressing them onto paper to make poppy shapes. Talk with them about the meaning of poppies and guide them in making their own “fields of remembrance” with leaf prints. Encourage quiet reflection as they work.
QKLG Outcome: Active Learning – Building positive dispositions towards learning. (Creating poppy prints fosters a positive, reflective approach to learning.)VEYLDF Outcome: Community – Children respond to diversity with respect. (Leaf printmaking connects children to cultural symbols in an inclusive, respectful way.)
Advanced Leaf Print Poppy Art
Age: 5 - 8
Materials:
Red, green, and black paint
Large, varied leaves for printing
Art paper and rollers
Instructions:Invite children to create detailed print designs using red, green, and black paint with large leaves to symbolise poppies. Discuss the significance of Remembrance Day, encouraging them to express their reflections through their artwork.
MTOP Outcome: 5.1 Children and young people interact verbally and non-verbally for a range of purposes. (Creating and discussing leaf prints encourages thoughtful engagement with cultural symbols.)
VEYLDF Outcome: Communication – Children engage with a range of texts and get meaning from these texts. (Expressing ideas through printmaking supports respectful understanding of remembrance symbols.)
Grab our FREE Remembrance day pack and FREE Banner here!
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