9 11 heroes biography graphic organizer

By Kasey Short

As we approach the 20th anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2001, it is important to remember that middle school students today were not alive in that year, and their connections to and knowledge about the events of 9/11 vary significantly.

Some students’ families are personally impacted by the tragedy and others may know very little about it.

Twenty years later, it is essential to honor and remember the lives that were lost and the heroes that came together to help.

It is also important to acknowledge the resulting Islamophobia and anger toward Muslim and Arab Americans, and to examine the legacy and impact on individuals, communities, culture, national policies, and global politics.

I find that sharing my own memories of that day and encouraging students to ask their parents about their memories helps students make connections, illustrates that it is more recent than it might seem to them, and serves as