Lesson three: Say thank you with Dreaver recognition cards
Objectives
Students will:
- build on their knowledge of the contributions of Indigenous people in uniform and Chief Joseph Dreaver; and
- develop an appreciation of the importance of recognizing Veterans with personal notes of thanks.
Resources
- Veteran recognition cards featuring Mike Holden’s portrait of Chief Joseph Dreaver.
- Pens or pencils for students to write their personal messages of appreciation.
Activity
It’s always the right time to say thank you! After completing their art activity, hopefully your students will be inspired to thank a real-life Veteran.
Recognition cards are personal messages of thanks students write and give to Veterans. They have a colourful image on one side and space to offer a handwritten note on the reverse side. Connect students with a Veteran in your community to make the activity even more meaningful.
Who are the cards for?
Our Dreaver recognition cards can be given to any Veteran, regardless of their ethnicity or cultural background. This could include a Veteran coming to speak to your class or school.
Because of its unique design and meaning, the cards can also provide a special opportunity to connect with Indigenous Veterans in your community. If you don’t know an Indigenous Veteran, try reaching out to a local Indigenous community to learn more about their connections to military service. It may be appropriate for students to write a thank you to the larger Indigenous community as a whole.
What to write on the card
Encourage youth to write a sincere message of appreciation. They could also write about how they will remember the sacrifices and achievements of Canada’s Veterans.
The front of our special Dreaver recognition card says thank you in English, French and Plains Cree (the language of Chief Dreaver’s Mistawasis First Nation). However, there are dozens of different Indigenous languages in Canada. Your students could make their cards even more special by researching how to write “thank you” in an Indigenous language spoken in your community, province or region.
Tips:
- Collect and read the cards to ensure the messages are appropriate before giving them to Veterans.
- Any required postage is at the sender’s expense.
Visit our Recognition card page for more designs and ideas!
- Date modified: