Remembrance Day 2018: Children create giant poppy to commemorate First World War centenary

THE CHILDREN of Padnell Junior School commemorated upcoming Armistice Day with the creation of a giant poppy on their school field.Â
The children of Padnell Junior School alongside the giant poppy they createdThe children of Padnell Junior School alongside the giant poppy they created
The children of Padnell Junior School alongside the giant poppy they created

In addition to the seven-metre diameter poppy, the children also formed the number 100 to signify the centenary anniversary since the end of the First World War.

Each of the children brought in a red coloured item to construct the remembrance symbol.

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Erin Jones, 11, said: '˜I brought in a pair of red headphones. Other people brought in towels, football shirts and socks. It created a really striking image.'

Cerys McIntosh (8) and Oliver Sutton (8) in the 'Poppy Corridor' alongside their work.Cerys McIntosh (8) and Oliver Sutton (8) in the 'Poppy Corridor' alongside their work.
Cerys McIntosh (8) and Oliver Sutton (8) in the 'Poppy Corridor' alongside their work.

Classmate Holly Young, also 11, added: '˜We created the giant poppy as it is a sign of remembrance for all those people who have died.' 

The event was the culmination of the school's Poppy Week in which children had been working on a number of projects including designing their own poppies, poetry, artwork depicting the emotions of war and the role of animals in the conflict.

Examples of the poppies and accompanying work were displayed on the '˜Poppy Corridor'.

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Year 6 student Harry Martin, aged 10, said: '˜We all made poppies and on each of the petals we listed the names of people who had died in the war.'

(L to R) Erin Jones, 11, Holly Young, 11, and Harry Martin, 10, alongside examples of their work on the Poppy Corridor.(L to R) Erin Jones, 11, Holly Young, 11, and Harry Martin, 10, alongside examples of their work on the Poppy Corridor.
(L to R) Erin Jones, 11, Holly Young, 11, and Harry Martin, 10, alongside examples of their work on the Poppy Corridor.

Year 5 leader and art manager, Lisa Betteridge, organised the week and feels as well as learning the significance of war the project has also been an enjoyable experience for the students.

'˜The Year 5 pupils particularly enjoyed looking at examples of war poets and writing their own poems and the Year 3 children were very surprised to learn about the different roles animals played during the war,' explained Mrs Betteridge.

With no living survivors of the Great War and a dwindling number of Second World War veterans, acting headteacher, Carol Bloy, also believes it is important that children remember what is such a poignant part of British history.

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'˜With it being the centenary anniversary of the armistice agreement we thought it was important for the children to be part of the commemoration. It is important they know about the history and heritage of their country,' explained Mrs Bloy.

'˜It is important we remember those people who put their life on the line for use,' added Harry.    Â