A Time for Unity
Explore three free, interactive September 11th lesson plans below, designed to engage students in meaningful reflection and discussion. These lessons—and many more—are available through Active Classroom, offering teachers a wide range of resources to deepen students’ understanding of history and civics.
Advocacy Civic Action and the Role of Government
This lesson introduces the controversies surrounding both investigating governmental policies and actions before, during, and after the attacks. In the first activity (“Advocacy and the Establishment of the 9/11 Commission”), students analyze interviews with family members of the 9/11 victims regarding their experiences in asking Congress to form an investigative commission. Based on these sources, students evaluate the actions of the families, Congress, and the Bush Administration, and recommend policies and actions to prevent future attacks.
Honoring Heroes
In this lesson, students develop an understanding of the meaning of heroism and apply that understanding to groups and individuals who played a role in responding to the 9/11 attacks. Students present their ideas to the class and make recommendations for how to honor those who displayed heroism.
Tell the Story of 9/11 through Media, Texts, and Oral History
In this activity, your group will analyze a series of photographs depicting events during the 9/11 attacks. These photos are primary source materials that will help you understand the events as they happened.
The program is available in print and as part of Active Classroom, a digital platform featuring courses, interactive activities, and assignment and grading tools.
Meet Student Needs with Flexibility
- Lessons can be completed individually or in groups.
- A variety of activities engage different learning styles.
- Built-in language tools support accessibility.
Access Even More Courses
Active Classroom features a number of collections. The U.S. History and Civics Collections engage students with a variety of voices and primary sources to help them explore our country and government.
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