Teaching about September 11th can be challenging due to the sensitivity of the subject. This post contains resources and picture books for teaching 9/11 to your students + FREE graphic organizers you can use in your classroom.
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Teaching About 9/11 in the Classroom
When I hear βSeptember 11th or 9/11β I can close my eyes and remember the exact spot I stood when it all happened.
I vividly remember being in high school and seeing our classroom television with every single channel displaying the horrific event.
As it all unfolded live.
The news anchor for the channel I watched screamed as we all saw the second gigantic plane literally crash into one of the Twin Towers.
Although I donβt have family or friends who lost their lives on September 11, it still brings tears to my eyes that so many others did.
Their lostβplus the courage of many others who stepped in to helpβinspires me to teach my students about 9/11 every single year.
Chapter Books for Teaching 9/11
One easy way to teach your students about 9/11 is through read-alouds and novel studies.
Childrenβs literature provides visuals and explanations in a way that help our kiddos grasp difficult concepts.
Here are other great picture books for teaching 9/11. This list includes read-alouds and chapter books.
I absolutely love Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin. It shows how this eventful day impacted everyone. All four characters seem to be totally separate and yet, through the events of 9/11, they are very connected.
Jewell Parker Rhodes’ book Towers Falling is a winner for helping students understand 9/11 from the perspective of a kid like them. The main character is a 5th grader with a host of personal family problems. On top of that, she’s the new kids at school. This book presents the events of September 11th in a beautiful way!
I haven’t met a single student that didn’t love at least one I Survived book. This series wonderfully captures real-life events for kids! You will enjoy I Survived The Attacks of September 11, 2001, by Lauren Tarshis.
What Were the Twin Towers by Jim O’Connor is a hit, just like many other books in the Who Was/What Was Series. I love how these books help me teach non-fiction reading comprehension skills to my upper elementary students.
Picture Books for Teaching 9/11
Seven and a Half Tons of Steel by Janet Nolan presents such a creative twist to the 9/11 story. It outlines the journey of a large steel beam recovered from the destroyed Twin Towers. That beam becomes a part of a navy ship. This book made me cry!
As your students reflect on the aftermath of September 11th, 14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy may help them see the value in a heartfelt gift. This book is another tear-jerker!
Including a mix of fiction and non-fiction books in your lessons about September 11th is effective for helping your kids truly understand it. Especially since many of them were either not born yet or too young to remember anything. Don Brown’s nonfiction book titled America is Under Attack is honest and straight-forward. Yet, it isn’t too gruesome for kids to read.
If you want something that sticks to the facts in a kid-friendly way, this is your book. September 11: Then and Now by Peter Benoit presents the information in a True False fashion. It gives students the chance to learn the truth while engaging them in some critical thinking.
The simplicity of picture books for 9/11 does not water down what really happened. It changes the tone to remove any potential fear and panic that our students may feel as we recall the tragic details.
Resources for Teaching 9/11 to Your Students
QR Code Scavenger Hunt for September 11th History
Allowing your students to see the information about 9/11 for themselves gives them ownership of their learning. It makes the event real to them.
This definitely keeps them motivated to learn more!
I always felt nervous to just send my kids to the internet with wide open βwhat-ifs.β So I created a QR-Code activity with information about 9/11 that allows students to learn the facts about this historical event safely.
The QR Codes have details about buildings, memorials, and other relevant 9/11 facts.
Students use our classroom IPADS to scan each code and complete the companion graphic organizers. Then I walk them through a close read of this September 11th reading comprehension worksheet that includes questions and an answer key.
We compare and contrast the information. That makes our classroom discussions quite interesting!
I love the way students start analyzing the details of different news accounts and asking those deep “why” questions. This shows that they are really thinking critically.
I want students to fully grasp WHY we need to remember 9/11. Students need to go home saying, “Hey, guess what we talked about in school today?!”
This 9/11 teaching resource gives students opportunities to gather information in a kid-friendly way.
Resource for Teaching 9/11: Class Collaboration Projects
Remembering 9/11 provides wonderful chances for teachers to emphasize the importance of community.
Whole class collaboration projects build a sense of unity among students.
These projects can be STEM-related, art projects, or activities connected to service learning.
Service learning collaboration projects can be as simple as writing thank you letters to firefighters, police officers, and first responders for their on-going sacrifice every year.
These collaboration efforts in your classroom help students understand why others were willing to risk their lives to help others on September 11th.
They also teach empathy and teamwork.
September 11th Mystery Pictures Reading Comprehension
With the rise of virtual learning, we also need engaging ways to teach kids who are learning from home about 9/11.
This drag-and-drop, Google Slides activity allows students to read informational text about what happened on September 11th, 2001. This activity set also includes additional research and writing slides so that students can learn more about 9/11.
Your students will answer reading questions based on each passage.
But thereβs a twist: the pictures related to 9/11 have been scrambled up! In order for students to see each picture, they must answer the questions correctly.
Since September 11th (9/11) can be a challenging topic to teach, the mystery pictures aspect makes it more engaging for 4th-6th grade students.
You can use this set for virtual or in-class reading and social studies. This activity would also be great for reading centers and history lessons on September 11th.
Here’s more about it:
Free Graphic Organizers to Help Teach 9/11
The graphic organizers I mentioned at the top of this post, can be used with any September 11th lesson or read aloud you choose for your class.
To ensure you get them, I strongly recommend subscribing with a personal email address you are sure to check.
Many school systems are setting up automatic blocks from outside emails.
Here are your free 9/11 printables:
Do you teach the history of September 11th in your classroom? If so, what resources and picture books do you use for teaching 9/11?
Share in the comments below.
