Extending Learning {Patriot Day}

Tomorrow we will remember a tragedy that affected our lives, nation, and the world 13 years ago.  {09/11/01}  A day in history that so many of us experienced.  I remember when I was student teaching in 2nd grade and writing September 11th as the date on the board.  Before my students came into the classroom, I realized that they were not alive on that terrible day.  It amazed my young teacher mind. From that day on I found such passion for teaching this piece of history that I actually lived through.  I could tell them my personal experience of hearing about the attacks on the radio as I rode to school, having my junior high teachers give updates throughout the day, and running home to see the video footage of something so terrifying.  I could also tell them how the nation truly came together, how US flags flew absolutely everywhere, and how we respected all those that had died and helped.

Every time I teach about 9/11 I always make sure I'm doing it in an age appropriate way.  Young minds cannot understand terrorism...but they can understand loss and sadness.  It's never my goal to make my students feel sad, but to feel some degree of empathy for the victims and our nation while instilling hope to make a better world.

That said, here are a few ideas of what you can do at home with your child(ren) tomorrow or sometime this week.  Teachers!  If you don't know what to do with your students tomorrow please take some ideas...better to do something rather than nothing to commemorate this day.

Videos

I find that videos can be a great anticipatory set {a.k.a attention getter}.  Here are two videos you can watch with your children to start a conversation about the events of 9/11.

K-6

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers  This video is based on the picture book of the same name written by Mordicai Gerstein.  You can find it on Netflix if you search "Scholastic:  Tall Tales". The only reference to 9/11 is at the end when it says that the towers are no longer there.  This helps give children some background knowledge about these buildings and then opens up discussion.  Most students that don't know anything about 9/11 will ask, "Why aren't the towers there anymore?"  Be ready to explain what happened in a simple way.  I used this video in my 4th grade classroom but I think it would be applicable throughout the elementary grade ages.

7-12

*Watch this before sharing with your child(ren) so you know if they will be able to understand the events shown.*

9/11 Stories in Fragments  This can also be found on Netflix.  This video is longer and definitely intended for an older audience.  There are scenes of actual footage from that day  and descriptions by firefighters, families of victims, and more that may cause strong emotion.  In my professional opinion, this video does a great job of explaining the course of events and showing the humanity involved.

Writing

These are a few ideas that I have tried and they work well for students to internalize their feelings and express questions in an easy way.

Concrete Poem

Your child can create a poem that looks like something that  makes them think of Patriot Day {i.e. a flag, the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, firefighter hat, etc.}.  It's really up to them what it looks like and what the poem says.

Dear Survivor...

Print template here!

Anyone that learns about the events of 9/11 will have questions.  You can have your child write a letter to a survivor from that day.  They can imagine anyone that may have survived from the attacks. They can ask questions, share sympathy, and express gratitude for their bravery.

Free Write

Have each member of your family write a paragraph or more about thoughts, feelings, and questions in regard to 9/11.  Anything and everything is acceptable in a free write.  Then you can share them together if you wish.

Activities

Create a picture of the US Flag and hang it up in your house.  This can help your child feel connected to the rest of the nation and teach them how to display pride in their country.  Use paint, crayons, colored pencils, stickers, scrapbook paper, or whatever you want!

Create a Chain of Hope.  Write down ideas of how we can make our nation better on strips of paper.  While stapling the strips together as a chain discuss how actually doing these ideas brings hope and happiness to your family, neighborhood, and our country.

Join the "9/11 Day Observance".  Watch the video here and have each family member choose a good deed to do in observing Patriot Day.

Remember to be patient and sensitive while teaching children about this and any piece of history with so much sadness.  You know your child best and what he/she can process into meaningful understanding.

JNatalie