Dr. David Childs, D.D., Ph.D.
Northern Kentucky University
Introduction
I was a young adult, a few years out of high school when I first learned of the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. However, myself and many people around me did not realize that this was an actual attack, we assumed it was some strange freak accident, where a pilot had gotten way off track and his mistake ended in disaster. However, as that long day moved forward we soon realized that it was indeed a terrorist attack. This was a day that would impact me for the rest of my life, but for many students in my current college courses, they have no recollection of the event at all. Even more interesting, young people 19 and under were not even born during that time. In commemoration of the recent anniversary of the 911 attacks and those who lost their lives we would like to repost an article we published on this site a few years back entitled “What Happened on September 11? I Honestly Don’t Know.”
A firefighter runs as the World Trade Center crumbles.
Jose Jimenez / Getty Images
Originally posted September 12, 2019
What happened on that day?
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001 the al-Qaeda terrorist network successfully executed attacks against the United States using four commercial airplanes. The airplanes were used as missiles to commit suicide bombings on several key buildings in the US. The most damage was done in New York as they completely destroyed the twin towers at the World Trade center. The attacks killed 2,996 people, injured over 6,000 others, and caused at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage. The death toll increased even after the initial attacks, as additional people died of cancer and respiratory diseases related to the debris from the destroyed buildings in the months and years following the attacks.
Firefighters carry the flag-covered casket of colleague Lt. Dennis Mojica during a funeral
service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Sept. 21, 2001, in New York City.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Where were you during 911?
For some, they were wrapping up the third period of seventh grade science class. Others were starting out their morning working at the office when they received “the call.” Still others were starting a routine day on their college campus. But for others, they have no recollection of the events, because they were not even born yet.
Lived Experience or Recent History
These events are for some people a lived experience in recent history and for others a historical event that they read about in history textbooks or learn of the events on an online resource. Many people across the US did not live through the events we know today as 911. Lauren Camera has written an article to this effect in USA Today entitled How to Teach 9/11 to Students With No Memory of It. Because we are in a time period where there are more and more people that do not have a vivid memory or lived experience of that time period, there will be more and more people who honestly do not know what happened unless they are taught information about 911. One of the important aspects of the field of history is that it reminds society of significant past events (Good and bad), events that had such an impact on people’s lives at the time that it would be a travesty for people to forget. September 11 is one of those events in history, that as long as the world exists, we should always remember.
Conclusion
For many, it is obvious why we should remember and continue to make it a part of the collective memory of the United States (Much like the American Civil War or World War II). But a number of today’s young people may sincerely not understand why it is so important. That is why a good social studies education is so essential today, indeed the job of the classroom teacher is evermore critical. In many cases, the first time students will hear about September 11 is from their social studies teacher. Below I have provided lesson plans and resources that teachers can use to teach students about 911 and even get the conversation started.
Lesson Plans and Teacher Resources
Lesson Plans
Lesson Plans- 911 Memorial Museum
Middle School Lesson Plans- 911 Museum
9/11 Lesson Plans- National Education Association (NEA)
9/11 Classroom Activities- Newsweek
9/11 Lesson Plans- Teacher Planet
9/11 Lessons- Tomorrow Together
9/11 Anniversary Teaching Guide- Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility
Footage/News Clips
Remembering 9/11: Watch Today Show’s live broadcast of Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001
9/11 FOIA Videos: Street-Level Footage, Aerial Shots (Viewer Warning)
Remembering 9/11 | Archive Footage We Will Never Forget
Articles
Photos: Remembering those lost on 9/11
How to Teach 9/11 to Students With No Memory of It
The 9/11 Anniversary in the Classroom- PBS News Hour
While America Slept: The True Story of 9/11
References
September 11 Attacks- The History Channel
September 11 Attacks- Encyclopedia Britannica
Discussion Questions
1. Where were you on September 11, 2001 when the terrorist attacks occurred?
2. Why do you think important events are often so quickly forgotten?
3. View some of the resources provided above (Articles, footage, news reports, images). What thoughts and emotions come to mind as you examine the material?
4. What are creative ways teachers might begin discussion about 911? For those currently teaching in the classroom, what are lessons or activities you have tried that have been effective in teaching about September 11?
I have always found 911 stories interesting because I myself was not alive. I do think it is important for it to be put into school curriculums because most of the people in school now were not alive during the attack. It is an important part of history and everyone should know about it.
Unlike a lot of the commenters on here, I was in my early 20s when 9/11 happened. It was a day that I still remember every minute of, and it’s important to not let any of those memories fade. Providing resources to teach the reality of that horrible day is imperative, as the truth must not be washed away by the noise of conspiracy and falsehoods.
I will never forget this day. I was in 1st grade, in my art class. We immediately got up from our seats and were rushed to our homeroom teacher. I don’t remember what they told us exactly but I remember going to my grandparents house after school and watching the planes hit the buildings on the news channel. I remember the fear in my grandparents eyes while watching the footage. It is extremely important for everyone to learn what happened that day. It changed America as we knew it.
I was only 1 years old when 9/11 happened, so I don’t have any memories of it. My earliest memories of learning about it was when it was talked about in elementary school. This tragic event had a major impact on our society, so it definitely shouldn’t be something that we forget. The resources provided seem great for remembering that day.
On September 11th, 2001, I was only 5 years old. Although I was alive for this event, I do not remember this day whatsoever. However, I am old enough to remember the moments of silence we had each year at school to remember this historical event. I often think about how scared my parents must have been that day. I imagine the house was quiet that day when I came home from school as they tried to shelter me from the terror and fear they were experiencing. For many who were old enough, this day is a day they will never be able to forget. So many lives were lost, including first responders. I often wonder if we as a country are doing enough to remember this day and prevent future attacks. “As the article reads, The attacks killed 2,996 people, injured over 6,000 others, and caused at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage” . This was and still is a significant tragedy that no American should ever forget, and no student should ever go without being taught about it. As I pursue an education degree, I aim to educate my students about events like this, to help them understand the significance and impact this even had on our country and its people. Our students must know their country’s history, including the 9/11. I thank god for all the first responders who answered the call that day.
in September of 2001 i was only two years old and did know nor could comprehend what had happened that day. later on in life i learned about that day what happened in detail and how that tragedy impacted everyone in the US. this is definitely something we as a people will never forget.
During the attack I was a few months old. I later learned the events in pieces in that there was an attack on building in New York done by terrorists and during President Obama term they caught the leader of the terrorist group. The terrorist attack that occurred forever changed the protocol for the capital and airline security.
I found this article intriguing because I am one of the people who was born just a few short months after the attack. We were taught in schools what happened on that day, and for some like myself, went to visit the 9/11 memorial site and museum. One of the most tragic things about the attacks were not only the people who passed during the attack but those who survived only to die a short while after due to cancer from the debris.
This is an especially important topic to be taught in schools, it is a topic that is shaped around society and the world today. This article is such a helpful resource to use when needing to teach about 9/11.
I remember this day vividly as a child and I couldn’t wrap my head around everyone was so devastated over the freak accident, however keep in mind I was in 1st grade and extremely unaware of the seriousness of the situation and how it would change US history forever. I feel that sometimes important events are easily forgotten for 2 reasons: 1) it was so tragic, you do not want to remember so you block it out or 2) the thoughts can be overwhelming to take in, especially in adolescent years. Reading these articles and materials makes me emotional, to put myself in the shoes of those who experienced this horrific day, I cannot imagine all of the family, friends, coworkers, etc. that were affected indefinitely from this day.