September 11^th
Classroom, Counseling and Crisis Response Resources for Schools, Educators and Parents

• The second Monday in September marks the fifth anniversary of the tragic September 11th terrorist attacks on America. Schools throughout California will be marking the event with classroom discussions and sometimes a school-wide moment of silence. In order to create a meaningful learning experience around this tragedy, it is important to connect this anniversary to the ongoing history-social science curriculum, especially to world history, modern U.S. history, and civics. Linking Constitution Day, observed on September 18th to the September 11th commemoration works well to emphasize the importance and fragility of freedom, especially in times of crisis. It is important to select resources and materials that are creditable and balanced in dealing with issues as emotionally charged as 9-11 is. The following websites are sources for accurate information and lesson activities that support critical thinking and civic engagement. They will be most valuable in the middle and high school classroom.
  
• Schools throughout America will celebrate our nation's commitment to freedom at the annual Constitution and Citizenship Day Celebration on Monday, September 18, 2006. This celebration commemorates the day in 1787 that the Constitutional Convention adjourned from its long months of deliberation at the State House in Philadelphia (now Independence Hall), after having completed the arduous and historic task of writing the United States Constitution, the oldest and most revered constitution in the world.
  
• Specific resources originally developed by the Marin County Office of Education may be particularly helpful to schools and districts planning September 11th activities:
  Sample Board Resolution (132k pdf file)
  Classroom Activities to Commemorate September 11, 2001 (128K pdf file)
  September 11, 2001 - Chronology of the Day (220k pdf file)
  Sample Parent Letter (80k pdf file)
  
• Renew civic education and on September 11th begin a weeklong lead into Constitution Day September 17th. This is the date in 1787 that the Constitutional Convention adjourned from its long months of deliberation at the State House in Philadelphia (now Independence Hall), having completed the writing of the United States Constitution. Constitution related curriculum resources can be accessed at:
• The Participate America Foundation encourages Americans to become active in their civic responsibilities. Their site prompts visitors to support National Civic Week, September 11 - 17, 2003.
  
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Website, provides an interactive FEMA for Kids! site that introduces elementary-aged children to emergency preparation and provides them with tools to cope with unexpected disasters at:
  www.fema.gov/kids/index.htm
• The California Department of Education lists numerous other online resources for character education at:
  http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/ce/
• The California Department of Education also has a September 11^th resource at:
  http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/lb/sept11websites.asp
• Additional Internet sites for September 11th teaching materials:
• America Responds: Classroom Resources
  Tolerance in Times of Trial, Grades 6-12
  http://www.pbs.org/americaresponds/tolerance.html
• Attack on America: Explaining the Inexplicable to Your Students
  Education World
  http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson244.shtml
• The Middle East
  A New York Times Learning Network Lesson Plan Unit, Grades 4-12
  http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/mideast.html
• America Responds to Terrorism
  The Constitutional Rights Foundation
  http://crf-usa.org/america-responds-to-terrorism/america-responds-to-terrorism.html
• September 11: Commemorating America's Civic Values
  The Bill of Rights Institute
  http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org