Youth Remember the Korean War Armistice
Alice Afloat in Korea

Aim

To increase youth awareness of Canadian efforts in the Korean War.

Objectives

Youth will:

develop a basic understanding of the Canadian efforts in the Korean War;
develop an awareness of how animals were helpful during the Korean War; and
develop an awareness of the importance of remembering the sacrifices and achievements of those who fought in the Korean War.

Target audience

This activity is suitable for ages 5 to 7.

Sequence of events and anticipated time frame [30 minutes]

(This activity can be modified to fit available time.)

Discussion [10 minutes]
Read aloud [5 minutes]
Spot the difference and colouring sheet activity [15 minutes]

Materials

Discussion [10 min]

Have a brief discussion with your students about what makes a person a friend. Discuss sharing, playing together, helping, etc. Then shift the conversation to what they think a whole country could do to be a friend.

Provide the children with a bit of an understanding about the Korean War. Talk about how the war began in 1950, before their parents or maybe even their grandparents were born! Look at a world map and locate the continent of Asia, and then North and South Korea. Discuss and show them how far away it is from Canada and North America.

Mention that the war started in Korea when North Korea and some other countries were “bullying” South Korea. People and families sometimes lost their homes, and many people were cold and hungry. Canada decided to help stop the bullying and sent thousands of Canadians there to help.

Some of these brave people were parents. It was hard for them to leave their families in Canada and go so far away to risk their lives. Some of them stayed overseas for years to fight in the war. Their children missed them too. Ask if they could imagine some of the emotions they would be feeling. Does any child in the class have a parent who has to travel far away for work? If so, how did it make them feel? Or how do they think it would make them feel?

The Canadian soldiers fought in many difficult battles, but eventually they did help to free the South Korean people from the enemy and helped them to get food and warm clothing. Citizens of South Korea are very thankful for the help from Canadians.

Read aloud [5 min]

Read aloud the handout Alice afloat in the Korean War to help students understand how animals like dogs have helped humans in times of war.

Spot the difference and colouring sheet activity [15 minutes]

Provide the children with a copy of the Air, land and sea spot the difference activity, and the We Remember the Korean War colouring sheet. Once completed, you may wish to hang their wreaths on the classroom wall or hallway to remember the Korean War.

Extension activity

Share with your students the Canada Remembers the Korean War poster and discuss the meaning of the monument.

The monument depicts a Canadian soldier holding a young Korean girl and guiding a Korean boy. The children represent the generations of Koreans who live in freedom thanks to those who served and those who made the supreme sacrifice. The girl is holding a bouquet of 21 maple leaves, representing the 16 Canadians with no known grave and the five Canadian sailors lost at sea. The boy is holding a bouquet in which maple leaves are mixed with roses of Sharon, the national flower of Korea, as a symbol of the friendship between the two countries.

The monument bears the inscription "We’ll never forget you brave sons of Canada" in English, French and Korean, along with the names of the 516 Canadians who died in service during the Korean War. The design also conveys the message of peace, the goal of all who served in Korea.

Date modified:: 2021-03-11

Youth Remember the Korean War Armistice Alice Afloat in Korea

Aim