How to Teach 9/11 in the Classroom: Age-Appropriate Activities, Books & Resources
Updated: Aug 28
How do you teach students about an event they have only experienced through history books, photographs, and stories from adults? September 11th can be a difficult topic to teach because students have no personal memory of the attacks. For many teachers, parents, and adults, September 11th is a day we remember vividly.
The challenge isn't simply explaining what happened. Teachers also have to consider the age of their students, emotional readiness, the images and videos they encounter, and how to provide historical context without overwhelming them.
Teaching Younger Students about Patriot Day
As we discuss 9/11 with our young elementary students, we can put the focus on the fact that we do not choose the events that happen in our world. However, we do get to choose how we respond, and sometimes tragic events are what bring out the best in people. In the case of the 9/11 attacks, volunteers from around the world helped in the aftermath. People provided comfort to families who lost loved ones. Focusing on the helpers is a great age-appropriate approach. You might ask your students how people can help others during a difficult situation.
While this event was a tragic day in history, we only want to discuss and show our students images to the least extent possible that is necessary for them to understand the event. While we do not want to water down or make history into a glorified story, we do need to be mindful as we share tough subjects.
You might also consider weaving in history about the Twin Towers before September 11th. The book The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein is a great read aloud. The book tells the true story of Philippe Petit, who walked on a wire between the two towers of the World Trade Center in 1974. This is a great way for young students to learn about the Twin Towers as an important part of New York's history and to help them see how the skyline changed after September 11th.
Additional September 11th Picture Books:
Teaching September 11th in Grades 3-4
By third and fourth grade, students are generally ready for a little more historical context. Explain what happened in straightforward, age-appropriate language while avoiding unnecessary graphic details. Consider discussing what happened and how people and the country responded.
In the intermediate grades, keep the focus centered on the heroism and role of the first responders. Weave in the importance of honoring those who served, and look at ways to honor those within your own community. You might have your students write cards to first responders within your community. This is an actionable step, but it can be done any time of year.
Looking at history from different perspectives is also important. The book Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of John J. Harvey by Maira Kalman is not about an individual, but about a New York Fire Department fireboat that was retired and designated for scrap metal. After the 9/11 attacks, a team resurrected the boat and brought her back into service, making her once again one of the best fireboats on the river. This book is a great way to view September 11th from a different angle, and is perfect for building discussion.
Another great resource for teachers and parents was created by Don Brown called America is Under Attack: September 11 2001: The Day the Towers Fell. This book includes personal stories that represent different perspectives and pays homage to the heroism of the first responders. Humanizing this event and building empathy is important, and this is a helpful tool. This book is not one that I would read in its entirety to students. You might select a few pages from the book to share.
Additional 9/11 Books and References:
Teaching about September 11th in Grades 5-8
Before asking students to analyze September 11, make sure they understand the basic historical context. Students should understand September 11th was not an isolated event. It occurred within a larger history involving the Middle East, foreign policy, terrorism, and international relations.
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum offers a free webinar every year, which is an excellent way to commemorate the anniversary of 9/11 in your classroom. This webinar includes exclusive interviews with reporters, Pentagon survivors, and first responders, to name a few.
You could also couple the webinar with this close reading passage. After reading the passage and answering questions about the text, I also have my students analyze artistic works, and photographs using their schema.
There are several chapter books that are great for learning and diving deeper into a discussion about 9/11, but I would like to highlight just one that I have specifically used in my classroom, which is the book, Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes. This book is perfect for classroom discussion not only about 9/11, but about socio-economic status, diversity, and community. This book is a great fit for our students who were not alive during the 9/11 attacks and do not quite understand how this event impacts their own lives today.
Books for Middle School About 9/11:
Patriot Day Collaborative Poster Coloring Activity
One additional activity you could use as an extension or wrap-up is this Patriot Day Collaborative Poster. This is a beautiful way to commemorate Patriot Day. Each student colors one piece of the poster. I've included three different size options so you can choose a poster that works best with your class. It comes in either 18, 24, or 36 coloring pages.
This post contains Amazon Affiliate links to make it easier for you find the books shared in this post.
Comments