The 9/11 anniversary in the classroom
Teaching the events and aftermath of 9/11 can be challenging
because of the complex emotions it stirs up in both teacher and student and the
sheer size of the topic. Keeping this in mind, we have provided a one-page
background text for middle and high school students and a short list of
resources for the classroom. Within the resource collections you will find
articles, videos, lesson plans, interactive timelines, photo slideshows and
other rich content to choose from to meet the needs of your own classroom.
Background for students
Thirteen years ago on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, members
of the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four planes in a coordinated
terrorist attack. Two planes crashed into the Twin Towers in downtown New York
City, a third plane flew into the Pentagon building in Washington, D.C., and
the final plane was brought down by passengers, who had become aware of the
other attacks, in a field in Pennsylvania. 2,977 people died in the attacks,
including civilians, military personnel in the Pentagon and the emergency fire
fighters, police and medical workers who arrived at the scene.
In response to the attacks, President George W. Bush
announced that any nation that supported terrorism or was found to be harboring
terrorists would be considered an enemy of the United States.
At that time, the
government of Afghanistan was ruled by the Taliban, an extremist Muslim
political movement, who refused to shut down known terrorist training camps or
give up suspected terrorists to the United States. Within a month, the United
States invaded Afghanistan and began a war against al-Qaeda, its leader Osama
bin Laden and the Taliban government who protected them. U.S. Special Forces
found and killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in the spring of 2011.
The attack had a profound impact on the United States and
the rest of the world. The U.S. Congress designated Sept. 11 as “Patriot Day”
to remember and honor those who died. On this day, flags are set to half-staff
and many observe a moment of silence at 8:46 am, the time when the first plane
hit the Twin Towers.
Recommended resources for the
classroom
- An in-depth FAQ about the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, with particular attention to the Twin Towers and the 9/11 Memorial that stands in their place today.
- Two interactive timelines that chronicle both the attacks and the Ground Zero recovery. Note: Both timelines incorporate videos and images from the attacks, so please view them first before sharing them with students who may be upset by the content.
- This special ten year anniversary collection on 9/11 provides articles, videos and suggested resources from Frontline, NOVA and other PBS programs.
- The New York Times’ education resources for teaching and learning about 9/11 This article by Katherine Schulten, Shannon Doyne and Holly Epstein provides links to powerful interactive, articles, key questions, lesson plans and more.
- The Reckoning: America and the world a decade after 9/11 is an interactive site that houses a rich collection of powerful articles, videos, photography and infographics on everything ranging from the day of the attacks to the following ten years.
- Reflections on the 9/11 Memorial In this short video from NOVA Online, visitors weigh in on the design and importance of the memorial. “It’s very moving, it’s graceful, and it’s also dignified.
- Bringing 9/11 in the Classroom—Useful Lessons A blog full of resources on exploring the events of 9/11 and the consequences through the lens of tolerance and cultural understanding.
- In Remembrance: Teaching September 11 This collection of resources is recommended by the U.S. Department of Education and explores topics and events surrounding 9/11 as well as recommended strategies for educators on how to teach 9/11 in the classroom.
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