September 11th Lessons, How 9/11 Changed Us: Complete September 11 Unit Plan

This critical thinking and primary source based history unit allows educators to bring the events of September 11 to students in ways they've never experienced. As a New York teacher married to a 9/11 first responder, I am passionate about educating young people about this day in history and the affects on the world that it continues to have.

This unit teaches students to think like historians and helps them understand the complexities of 9/11. Without reading eyewitness accounts and primary sources, our cultural perception of major events becomes molded by secondary sources and the fallible lens of memory.

The lasting physical, psychological, cultural and political effects felt in New York and across the country serve to highlight the importance of how we teach 9/11 in our schools. Teaching the next generation how to understand the sociopolitical, psychological and cultural repercussions is important to honor the people who were there. Furthermore, teaching about 9/11 shapes the way it is remembered, and helps develop the citizens who will shape the policies and values of our city, and the country, in the future.

Included are 9 lessons, each designed to take between 45-90min. 

• Lesson 1 Intro Lesson/Inquiry Based Learning. Timeline and overview of major events through an inquiry based activity. 
• Lesson 2 What is a Terrorist? A look at terrorism and situational analysis: Read sample situations and then answer the question, “Is it Terrorism?” Then, compare your answers with others in an online quiz! (Link for teachers is included, then you can simply assign a link to students) 
• Lesson 3 Key Quotes and Questions: This close-reading activity includes short, relevant texts that students will mark up while interacting with the big ideas.
• Lesson 4 Comparing Presidential Speeches After Attacks on American Soil. Examine FDR and President Bush’s speeches given after the attack on Pearl Harbor and 9/11. 
• Lesson 5 Agree/Disagree, Opinion Based Activity: Using debatable statements, build an argument of your reasoning. Then compare your answers with others in an online quiz. (Link for teachers is included) 
• Lesson 6 Argument Paper, Patriot Act: Does the Patriot Act violate civil liberties? Use 3 texts (provided) to create a source based argument. 
• Lesson 7 Argument Paper: What is the government’s responsibility to first responders? 
• Lesson 8 Argument Paper: What should be America’s foreign policy towards terrorism? 
• Lesson 9 Interview an adult: Where were you on 9/11? Creating narratives.