September 11, 2001 is an incredibly significant date in American History and many teachers like to stop and honor the day with meaningful 9/11 activities for students. As the date slips further into history, it seems that less and less of our students are familiar with the specifics of the events that took place. (Most weren’t even born!) As ELA teachers, we use text to build character, resilience, and empathy. Using strategic, high-quality activities in your own ELA classroom can be an excellent way to commemorate the tragedy while still promoting literacy and compassion. Here are five ways to honor September 11th in your classroom.
#1: Host a Day of Service
Many schools are starting to shift towards a “Day of Service” on September 11th. If your school doesn’t sponsor a collective activity, consider having one in your own class so students can use their reading and writing skills to help others. For example, have your students write letters to veterans or volunteer to read to residents at a local assisted living facility. Engaging in this kind of service not only honors lives lost, but it also shows students the power of service. If you’d like to download my print-and-go template for writing letters to veterans complete with themed writing paper, click here.
#2: Harness the Power of Literature
There are many options when it comes to high interest novels for middle school or high school English Language Arts students about September 11th. My favorite is Ground Zero by Alan Gratz. In general, you can’t go wrong with anything written by Gratz, but in my opinion, this novel is one of his best. Gratz shows both sides of the conflict across an extended span of time through overlapping plotlines starring characters Brandon and Reshmina. Students will understand the details of the tragedy along with an in-depth, easily accessible analysis all through the lens of incredibly engaging characters. This book absolutely deserves a spot in your curriculum any time of the year, but it would be especially powerful to read in September. This would make a perfect addition to First Chapter Friday or Book Trailer Tuesday (here is a great option).
#3: Dissect a High-Quality Nonfiction Text
Ever wonder about the lesser known details of September 11th? I have always been fascinated by the many dogs who spent the days after the tragic incident helping to save lives or recover bodies of the deceased. I created a high-interest reading passage paired with close reading activities in my Service Dogs of September 11th Close Reading Activities resource. This is a great way to include nonfiction text in your lesson while also commemorating the day.
#4: Watch an Engaging Documentary
When I used to teach American History, my students were always captivated by the documentary Zero Hour. It is a bit lengthy, so I always showed clips. You can incorporate it into your ELA classroom by using it to hit any of the speaking and listening standards. It is truly enthralling and will give your students an inside look at the details of September 11th. You can buy the documentary on YouTube. (For $1.99, it is well worth it!)
#5: Take a Virtual Field Trip to the September 11th Memorial
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum has an extensive collection of “Learn and Explore from Home” activities that could be used in many ways in your ELA classroom. This is a perfect activity for virtual or 1:1 teaching.
#6: Listen to a Podcast
There are a lot of great podcast options for your students. Here are 7 that would be appropriate for a classroom setting. Give your students a great set of doodle notes and they’ll be all set to learn about the important day.
Do you commemorate September 11th in your classroom? I’d love to hear your activity ideas! Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram or Facebook to join the conversation.
Happy teaching!
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