Everyday English · A school Remembrance Day assembly in the gym: walking in, sitting quietly, hearing the Last Post, keeping a moment of silence, watching a wreath being laid and listening to a poem.
Remembrance Day Assembly: 16 Everyday English Words
Learn the words for a school Remembrance Day assembly, such as poppy, veteran, wreath, cenotaph, Last Post and moment of silence, and what to do in the gym.
What to do
In early November, many Canadian schools hold a Remembrance Day assembly. Classes line up and walk to the gym, and the principal welcomes everyone. Students may wear a red poppy pinned to their clothes.
Remembrance Day is November 11. It is a day to remember people who served in wars and other conflicts, especially those who died, and to honour veterans, the people who served in the military. Sometimes a veteran or another guest comes to speak.
Ceremonies often follow a pattern. Veterans Affairs Canada's guide to commemorative services describes the Last Post, a bugle call, followed by two minutes of silence and then the Rouse. Many school assemblies are shorter and may keep a minute of silence instead, so listen to your teacher. During the silence, everyone stays completely still and quiet; some people bow their heads.
You might also hear O Canada, a class reciting a poem such as In Flanders Fields, or see students lay a wreath at the front. In many towns, the community ceremony is held at the cenotaph, a monument to those who died in war. The words are here so you understand them when you hear them, not to memorise in one day.
Core everyday words
assembly
noun · uh-SEM-bleea time when many classes gather in one big room for an event or announcement
Example: The whole school has a Remembrance Day assembly on Wednesday morning.
gym
noun · JIMthe big indoor room at school used for sports and for gathering everyone together
Example: Line up and walk quietly to the gym.
Remembrance Day
noun phrase · rih-MEM-brunss DAYNovember 11, the day Canadians remember people who served and died in wars and other conflicts
Example: On Remembrance Day, many people wear a red poppy.
poppy
noun · POP-eea red flower; a small red poppy pin is worn in Canada to show remembrance
Example: Pin your poppy on the left side of your jacket.
veteran
noun · VET-ur-una person who served in the military, such as the army, navy or air force
Example: A veteran came to our assembly to speak to the students.
honour
verb · ON-urto show great respect for someone
Example: We stand quietly to honour the people who served.
moment of silence
noun phrase · MOH-munt uv SY-lunssa short time when everyone stays completely quiet to remember or think
Example: During the moment of silence, nobody talks or moves around.
bugle
noun · BYOO-gula brass instrument like a small trumpet, used to play short military calls
Example: A student played the bugle at the start of the silence.
Last Post
noun phrase · LAST POHSTa bugle call played at Remembrance Day ceremonies, just before the silence
Example: When you hear the Last Post, it is almost time for the silence.
wreath
noun · REETHa ring of flowers or leaves placed at a memorial to show respect
Example: Two students carried a poppy wreath to the front of the gym.
lay a wreath
verb phrase · LAY uh REETHto place a wreath gently at a memorial during a ceremony
Example: The principal and a veteran lay a wreath together.
cenotaph
noun · SEN-oh-tafa monument in a town that honours people who died in war
Example: Our town's ceremony is held at the cenotaph in the park.
national anthem
noun phrase · NASH-uh-nul AN-thuma country's official song; Canada's is O Canada
Example: Everyone stands for the national anthem.
poem
noun · POH-uma piece of writing with lines that often have rhythm, rhyme or strong pictures
Example: A Grade 5 class read a poem about peace.
recite
verb · rih-SITEto say something aloud from memory or from a page, often in front of others
Example: Our class will recite In Flanders Fields.
bow your head
verb phrase · BOW yur HEDto lower your head a little to show respect or to think quietly
Example: You may bow your head during the silence.
Recognise the word
Recognise the word
Choose the meaning or the word that fits.
1. What is a veteran?
- a doctor who treats animals
- a person who served in the military
- a student who reads a poem
- the person in charge of a school
2. What is a wreath?
- a ring of flowers or leaves placed at a memorial
- a small pin worn on a jacket
- a sad song played on bagpipes
- a stone monument in a park
3. What is the Last Post?
- the final letter in the school mailbox
- the last student in line
- a bugle call played just before the silence
- the end of the national anthem
4. What should you do during a moment of silence?
- whisper to your friend
- stay completely still and quiet
- clap for the speaker
- sing along softly
5. What is a cenotaph?
- a bugle call
- a kind of poppy
- the room where the assembly is held
- a monument that honours people who died in war
Use the word in a situation
Use the word in a situation
Think about what students and teachers really say at the assembly.
6. "Please stand for the ___. We are going to sing O Canada."
- wreath
- national anthem
- bugle
- cenotaph
7. "Two students will walk to the front and ___ beside the flag."
- lay a wreath
- recite a bugle
- bow a poem
- line up a poppy
8. "Our class practised all week so we can ___ In Flanders Fields from memory."
- honour
- bow
- lay
- recite
9. "You may bow your head during the silence." What does that mean?
- Lower your head a little to show respect.
- Bend over and touch your toes.
- Put your hood over your head.
- Shake your head to say no.
10. "Pin your red ___ on the left side of your jacket."
- medal
- wreath
- poppy
- flag
Quick-check answers
- 1. a person who served in the military
A veteran served in the army, navy or air force. A doctor for animals is a vet, which sounds similar but is a different word; the person who runs a school is the principal. - 2. a ring of flowers or leaves placed at a memorial
A wreath is a ring of flowers, leaves or poppies. The small pin is a poppy, the sad song is a lament, and the stone monument is a cenotaph. - 3. a bugle call played just before the silence
The Last Post is a bugle call. It has nothing to do with mail or lines, and it is not part of O Canada. - 4. stay completely still and quiet
A moment of silence means no talking, no whispering and no noise. Clapping and singing happen at other parts of an assembly, not during the silence. - 5. a monument that honours people who died in war
A cenotaph is a monument, often in a town park or square. The bugle call is the Last Post, a poppy is a flower pin, and the assembly is usually in the gym. - 6. national anthem
O Canada is Canada's national anthem, and people stand for it. A wreath is laid, a bugle is played, and a cenotaph is a monument. - 7. lay a wreath
You lay a wreath at a memorial or at the front of the room. You play a bugle, recite a poem and wear or pin a poppy. - 8. recite
To recite is to say a poem aloud, often from memory. Honour means show respect, bow means lower your head, and lay is used with a wreath. - 9. Lower your head a little to show respect.
Bowing your head is a small, quiet movement of respect. It is not exercise, it has nothing to do with hoods, and shaking your head means no. - 10. poppy
Many Canadians pin a red poppy on their clothes in November. A medal is given for service, a wreath is too big to pin on, and a flag hangs at the front of the room.