L'Armistice du 11 Novembre 1918

Across all KS2 classes this November, we have been discussing how the symbol of remembrance in the UK is the poppy and in France it is the bleuet, or cornflower.

We discussed how the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month marks the signing of the Armistice, on 11th November 1918, to signal the end of World War One.

Pupils were surprised to learn that the signing of the Armistice took place in Compiègne, in France.

The pupils were very interested to learn that cornflowers symbolise Remembrance Day in France.  Like the poppy that symbolises Remembrance Day in the UK, this flower carpeted the battlefields of Flanders in Belgium where so many lost their lives during WWI.  The flowering of the cornflower, like the poppy, brought life, hope, colour and reassurance to those still fighting.

The poppy and the cornflower therefore became a symbol of the resilience of life, life that went on in the mud of the trenches !

We discussed how in November, French people wear a blue cornflower in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for us during wars. 

 

Pupils also enjoyed discovering that the bleuet was also chosen as the symbol of remembrance because of the vivid blue colour of the uniforms of the soldiers, who were nicknamed “Les Bleuets”.

  

We then discussed how Remembrance Day is celebrated in France.

 

Unlike in the UK, November 11th is a national holiday in France.  Ceremonies are held at war memorials throughout France to commemorate the signing of the Armistice.

 

In Paris respects are paid at the Arc de Triomphe. 

This is a famous war memorial.  

Two minutes of silence are observed at 11am.

Pupils found it beautiful to see that cornflowers, poppies and ox-eye daisies continue to grow on the battlefields, where they form a permanent tricolore of remembrance.

After discussing how Remembrance Day is celebrated in France, we learnt some vocabulary linked to this topic:

We then concluded our lesson by writing a simple prayer in French.  Each class displayed their prayers on the classroom altar where they will stay throughout the month of November.  Here are a few examples :

"Ne les oublions pas" 

(Lest we forget)