Memorial Day gives Americans the opportunity to remember and honor the men and women who died in service to the United States. This Memorial Day, USCIS pays tribute to the military personnel, both native- and foreign-born, who have given their lives for this country.
Did you know that “Memorial Day” can be found in several places on the naturalization test? Prospective citizens may be asked to “Name two national U.S. holidays.” during the civics test. It is also one of the holidays that applicants may be asked to read or write as part of the English Test.
For Memorial Day, we want to highlight some of the resources USCIS offers for learners and teachers that are related to this important day.
Learners
USCIS has educational materials to help you learn about the United States and prepare for the naturalization process. Here are several products that refer to Memorial Day:
Teachers
In addition to the products highlighted above, USCIS offers free online tools and materials for educators and volunteers. Some examples include:
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Lesson Plans and Activities
Visit this page to find lesson plans, student handouts, and answer keys on a variety of topics, including the following two lessons that discuss Memorial Day: U.S. Wars in the 1800s (Beginning Level) and Thanksgiving 3–Traditions (Beginning Level).
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Citizenship Foundation Skills and Knowledge Clusters
This short booklet highlights the knowledge and skills needed for students to be successful on the naturalization interview and test. Refer to page 7 for information about where Memorial Day can be included in a citizenship curriculum.
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Preparing for the Oath: U.S. History and Civics for Citizenship
This web resource, described above, also has a “Teachers” section with teacher guides. The guides provide strategies and handouts for each theme. For Memorial Day, be sure to visit the teacher guides on “Symbols and Holidays”.
For more information about Memorial Day, visit www.usa.gov/Topics/Memorial-Day.shtml.