Understanding September 11th

Filled with pictures, maps, and straightforward explanations, this is the book that will enable young people to understand both the events of 9/11 and the history leading up to it.
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Understanding September 11: Answering Questions About the Attacks on America

by Mitch Frank

Understanding September 11th: Answering Questions About the Attacks on America

Filled with pictures, maps, and straightforward explanations, this is the book that will enable young people to understand both the events of 9/11 and the history leading up to it. Time magazine reporter Mitch Frank clearly and concisely answers the essential questions surrounding this topic.

To buy this book, click here or on the book cover.

Enrichment Activities
Internet Resources
Books on September 11


Enrichment Activities

Question and Answer
Have students mimic the style of this book and create their own books on timely topics. Some possible subjects for them to write about are: The Influence of Television, Democracy in America, The Importance of an Education, The Bill of Rights, Discrimination.

Chapters via PowerPoint
Break your class into cooperative groups and assign each group a different chapter from the book. Have them create a PowerPoint presentation that reflects the important points of the chapter.

Timeline
Across the bottom of each page runs a timeline. Have your students recreate the timeline on large chart paper and display it in your classroom.

Letter to the Future
Ask your students to write a letter to a student 50 years from now. They will explain what happened on September 11, 2001, why it happened, and how it impacted them.

Heroes/ Heroines
There were many acts of heroism during and after September 11. Ask your class to create a postage stamp, a tee shirt, or a poster honoring a group or individual who acted heroically.

Poetic Interpretation
Ask students to interpret a meaningful piece of information they learned from this book as a shape poem. Illustrate the poems and publish them to share with parents and other classes.

About the Author
Mitch Frank is an accomplished author/reporter whom your students will enjoy knowing more about. Ask them to write a biography for him, using the Internet. You may want to give them copies of some of his writings so they can experience his work in another genre.

Internet Resources

America Responds
Grade Levels: Intermediate, Secondary
PBS developed resources to help teachers and their students understand and cope with the 9/11 national tragedy.
http://www.pbs.org/americaresponds/educators.html

Beyond September 11, 2001
Grade Levels: All
Use this collection of articles, lessons, and advice to help your students understand and cope with the horrible events of September 11, 2001, as well as motivate them to improve their world.
http://teachervision.com/lesson/6807

Images from Ground Zero
Grade Levels: All
Within a few days of the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center in New York, the Museum of the City of New York engaged the noted photographer Joel Meyerowitz to create an archive of the destruction and recovery at Ground Zero and the immediate neighborhood.
Joel Meyerowitz Ground Zero Photography

New York Times Learning Network
Grade Levels: Intermediate, Secondary
Interdisciplinary lessons developed in partnership with The Bank Street College of Education in New York City.
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/specials/terrorism/index.html

September 11 Digital Archive
Grade Levels: Intermediate, Secondary
The September 11 Digital Archive uses electronic media to collect, preserve, and present the history of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania as well as the public responses to them.
http://911digitalarchive.org/

September 11 Teacher Resources
Grade Levels: All
Find lessons and helpful suggestions to deal with this difficult topic.
http://teachervision.com/lesson/6807

Video Interpretations
Grade Levels: Intermediate, Secondary
Watch independently-produced, one-minute videos showcasing diverse reactions to the September 11 tragedies.
http://www.itvs.org/9.11/

About the author

TeacherVision Staff

TeacherVision Editorial Staff

The TeacherVision editorial team is comprised of teachers, experts, and content professionals dedicated to bringing you the most accurate and relevant information in the teaching space.

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