Most of us can remember exactly what we did on September 11, 2001. Today’s students will not have these memories, however, as they were not even born when the events of that heartbreaking moment shook our world. Commemorate this year’s 20th anniversary of 9/11 with websites and books to help you create informative and impactful lesson plans to teach children about the tragic events.
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Resources / websites for teaching about 9/11
1st anniversary in the school webinar
The 9/11 Memorial Museum is offering a free webinar to mark its 20th anniversary in which students and teachers can commemorate this event. Speakers include 9/11 firefighters, police officers and families affected by the tragedy. Register here for the anniversary webinar.
2. 9/11 Memorial & Museum Lesson Plans
These interactive lesson plans cover the 9/11 attacks, their ongoing effects, and the history of the World Trade Center. The lesson plans are broken down by grade and topic.
3. What happened on September 11th?
What happened on September 11th is an HBO family documentary that introduces the events to a young audience.
4. Talk to children about terrorism
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum has developed comprehensive guidelines to help teachers lead these difficult conversations.
5. Understand September 11th
This collection of lesson plans, news, videos, and book lists helps children teach 9/11 and the lasting impact it has on the United States.
6th BrainPop September 11th
In this BrainPOP film, Tim and Moby explain what happened on that fateful day.
7. 9/11 lesson plans and resources
This curated collection of 9/11 lesson plans, resources, and activities offers teachers a variety of options to help convey what happened on September 11, 2001.
8. Teach 9/11 in the classroom
This website contains lesson plans with inspiring interviews with teachers and their students.
September 9, 2001, documentary project
This resource captures the reactions, eyewitness accounts, and differing opinions of Americans and others in the months following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93.
10. September 11th Anniversary Teaching Guide
These lessons and activities for Grades K-12 are designed to deepen students’ understanding of 9/11 and develop their critical thinking skills.
11. Classroom activities: Commemoration of September 11th
A collection of letters, discussions and artistic ideas to commemorate the anniversary of September 11th.
12. 9/11 Day.org
Share powerful ways you can make a difference, whether it’s working through lesson plans for your 20th birthday.
13. September 11th in the classroom
PBS provides a one-page background text for middle and high school students and a short list of resources for teaching.
Books on the topic of 9/11
14. Towers fall
Award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes wrote a powerful novel that was published fifteen years after the 9/11 attacks.
September 15, 11 Then and now
This book examines the events that led to 9/11 and how they changed our world.
16. Branches of Hope: The 9/11 Survivor Tree
With resilience and hope in mind, this book discusses the events of September 11th appropriately for young students.
17th
A Teacher’s Choice on Amazon, this book tells the story of four children across the country who go about their daily lives until the events of September 11th bring them together. Look at the days leading up to September 11th and learn how that day affected four students.
18. This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth
From the perspective of a tree that survived September 11th, the tree’s house was destroyed. The relocation allowed the tree to recover before returning to its original location, much like the nation had to heal during this difficult time.
19. 30,000 stitches: The inspiring story of the national flag of September 11th
Together with your students, discover the history of the 9/11 flag from Ground Zero. Today it serves as a symbol of unity for the nation.
20. I survived the September 11, 2001 attacks
This graphic novel combines historical facts with a compelling story to tell the story of September 11th.
21. Official Book of the National Monument of September 11th
Created by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, this official book honors the lost and celebrates the spirit of hope as it tells the story of rescue, recovery, and the construction of the memorial site and museum.
22. Fireboat
Based on real-life events, this book tells the story of the retired fireboat, John J. Harvey, and how it helped fight the blazing flames on that fateful day.
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