September+11th+Lesson+Plan


 * 9/11 Lesson Plan: **


 * Purpose ** : 9/11 is an important day in our nation's history. Everyone was affected by the tragedy in some way, shape, or form. I feel it's important to know the facts and emotions of our leaders and government, but it's just as important to how the everyday person felt as well. This lesson would focus on the feelings and thoughts of the students for those who remember or lived through 9/11, as well as providing background information on the attacks for students that may have not remembered the events of 9/11. It would also focus on the similarities and differences of attacks America has seen in its history (ie Pearl Harbor). Students will be able to see how our government and public reacted, whether it was the same or different, domestically and internationally.


 * Materials ** : Powerpoint presentation on 9/11, stating general background information about the event. Film such as news reels and documentary clips to get different perspectives and illustrate how it was told to the public.


 * Warm-up/Reflection ** (5 minutes): I would start the lesson with a little background information on 9/11 and get the perspective of the students on how they feel or felt about the attack. What happened on September 11, 2001? If you remember what happened, how did you feel when the attack happened, if not, how do you feel about it now?


 * Relating 9/11 to our own history ** (10-20 minutes): Now that the students have been engaged to the topic of 9/11 and have familiarized or refreshed their ideas, I would ask them to compare it to other attacks or events that America has witnessed in history. Has America seen this before in its’ history? When? What was it? Compare and contrast 9/11 with other tragedies American has faced. Assignment: Create a venn diagram of the two events. Find some similarities and differences between the two.


 * How the United States responded ** (15 minutes): It's important for students to understand what happened on the day of September 11th, but it's also important to know what happened in the days after. How did the American government respond to 9/11? How did the public respond? Do you agree or disagree with the United State's response? AssignmentL Write a quick response (2-3 sentences) on your whether you think the United States responded too violent or too passive.


 * Wrapping it up ** (5 minutes): Now that the students have expressed how they feel about 9/11, I think it would be beneficial to tell them how I remember it when I was in school. When it comes to history, some of our best resources are the people who lived through important events our country has experienced. I would end the lesson with telling them a story on what I remember about that day, what I saw, and how I felt.