Teaching students about the attacks of #September11 has always been difficult. But with the 20th anniversary this weekend, time has brought a new challenge: Students today have no memories of that day. So NPR checked in with educators and experts for advice. (👇Thread 👇)
First and foremost, keep it age-appropriate: @MorningsideCtr offers several lesson plans on its website but says that "children ages 4 to 7 are too young for a lesson on [9/11]. They lack the knowledge to make sense of the attacks and their aftermath in any meaningful way." (2/8)
Make room for discomfort: Teacher Brandon Graves in Louisville, Ky says the scale of pain and loss can understandably unsettle some young students. "They're not used to that," he says. "They're used to stories geared toward kids, and so there's a happy ending." (3/8)
Be clear who the attackers were — and weren't: "We're very careful to answer that question, that it's al-Qaida, it's a terrorist organization," Emily Gardner, an elementary school librarian in Texas, says. "It's not Muslims. It's not people from a certain country." (4/8)
In some classrooms, the discrimination and Islamophobia that followed the attacks feature prominently in how teachers talk about the lessons of 9/11. (5/8)
Stress how they can still help: The Sept. 11 memorial itself suggests several activities that can help kids feel helpful, including making a first responder badge or survivor tree leaves. 911memorial.org/learn/youth-an… (6/8)
Be prepared to share your feelings: In the past, kid's curiosity has focused on the facts of that day. This year, Megan Jones, VP of education at @Sept11Memorial, says "They're asking, 'What was it like for you? How did you feel after 9/11? When did you feel safe again?'" (7/8)
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