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Lesson Plan Image

Unknown Soldier Diorama

Several countries have places that mark the graves of unknown soldiers who died during a war. Students will learn about this memorial tribute and design a diorama of a landmark tomb.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Heavy Paper
  • Paper
  • Recycled Cardboard
  • Tape

Steps

  • Step 1

    Several countries pay tribute to unknown soldiers who gave their life while fighting a for their country. Have students investigate some of these memorials, such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, the tomb within the Congress Column in Belgium, the Tombe du Soldat Inconnu (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) in Canada, the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in England, or any others. When were they created? What war(s) did the soldiers fight in? How is the special area guarded?

  • Step 2

    Ask students to create 3D art that focuses on one of these tombs. Have them look at images of the several countries' landmarks to inspire them. They can use cardboard to stabilize the base and background, then illustrate the tomb and its surrounding area on paper that they will glue to the cardboard. They can create additional features by illustrating and cutting out figures from heavy paper.

  • Step 3

    Have students present their art and discuss some of the information they learned about these  landmarks around the world.

Standards

SS: Individual Development and Identity: Describe factors important to the development of personal identity and the context of identity within families, peer or affinity groups, schools, communities, and nationalities. 

SS: Individuals, Groups, and Institutions: Explore ways in which institutions (including voluntary associations/organizations, health care networks, etc.) are created to respond to changing individual and group needs. 

Adaptations

Have students learn about the origin of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, which was dedicated on Veterans Day in 1921. How was the soldier selected? How many other unknown soldiers joined the original soldier, and what wars did they serve in? How often is the changing of the guard? What is "walking the mat"?

Have students explore how Indigenous peoples who died for their country are recognized. For example, though Native Americans have served in the U.S. Armed Forces in every major conflict since the Revolutionary War, they were only first honored nationally in 2022 when the National Native American Veterans Memorial was installed in Washington, D.C. The National Aboriginal Veterans Memorial was unveiled in Ontario in 2001.