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When I was little, I used to love the books where you would connect the dots to make pictures. Some were very easy, you could tell what the picture was going to be even before you started, but some were very complex, and you had no idea what was going to emerge.

The topic of Sept. 11, 2001 is very complex. On that day, when I was trying to comfort a classroom of terrified eighth graders - much less understand it myself - I couldn't see the dots that needed to be connected.

This month marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. My understanding of that day and what came before and after has been much altered in the 20 years since - though never as much as during these last few weeks. And as I prepare to share that day, its causes, its meaning, and its repercussions with my children, I have to find a way to connect the dots - as I was not able to do for my eighth graders two decades ago. Books will be my pencil.

Dot 1: Shooting Kabul

Dot number one is Dec. 24, 1979. I was five, and I already knew how to duck and cover. It was the day the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. It was still the Cold War, and it was the first wave of migration from Afghanistan. Fleeing conflict, conscription, and war, about 6 million Afghans fled their own country. It was 1979 when author Naheed Hasnat Senzai's husband fled, and it was the year that became the inspiration for her award-winning middle-grade novel, Shooting Kabul.

In the book, 11-year-old Fadi and his family bribe their way out of Afghanistan. Leaving behind their home and all their belongings, Fadi's family is careful to avoid "the checkpoints set up by black-turbaned men on the main road." As they carefully pick their way through Kabul's once-lively streets, Fadi remembers the day his father told them they were going to escape.

"'It's because of t hem, isn't it?' said Mariam, her eyes wise beyond her six years. They all knew who she meant-t hem, the Taliban.'"

Dot 2: The Bookseller of Kabul and Nasreen's Secret School

The second dot is 1989: After years of occupation, war and destruction, the Soviets were leaving Afghanistan, and someone was going to fill that vacuum. Asne Seirerstad's bestselling The Bookseller of Kabul tells the tale.

"'First the Communists burn my books, then the Mujahedeen looted and pillaged, finally the Taliban burned them all over again.'"

The oppressive regime that had been born of the Mujahedeen was in charge.

In Janette Winter's picture book, Nasreen's Secret School, that oppression is at the center of daily life for girls in Afghanistan. In a country where art, music, and poetry once flourished, Nasreen's father has been taken by the Taliban, her mother is missing, and her grandmother is determined to get her an education. Secret schools for girls were the only option, and the danger was ever-present. Educating girls would be a crime as long as the Taliban was in power.

Dot 3: Nine, Ten and Towers Falling

Which brings us back to September 2001, and another dot.

Nine, Ten, a middle-grade novel by Nora Raleigh Baskin, can gently lead the way to an understanding of the tragedy of 9/11. The focus is not the events of that day, but rather the story of the two days leading up to it as told through the eyes of four kids whose lives are about to be changed. Will, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, is struggling with the loss of his father; Aimee's mom has to go to New York all the time for her banking job; Naheed is being bullied for wearing the hijab; and Sergio, who lives in Brooklyn, has just made friends with an NYC firefighter. Cleverly woven, this book is a good way to start the conversation with kids, without delving too deeply into the terrible events of the day itself.

A way to continue the gentle conversation is Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes. For us adults, it's hard to imagine that there is a whole generation of children that is so far removed from that day, who see it as a remnant of the ancient past. Fifth grader Dèja is one of those kids. She and her family live in a shelter because her father is too sick to work. She doesn't know why he is sick or why he gets so depressed. She doesn't even know two planes crashed into the World Trade Center. When Dèja has a school project on 9/11, what she thought she knew falls away, only to find healing at the end.

Dot 4: America is Under Attack and In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers

Where to go next is more difficult. There is no way to avoid the big dot. And there is no way to make it easy for kids to understand.

Don Brown has two books about that terrible day, published ten years apart. America is Under Attack, which came out at the 10th anniversary of the terror attack, lays it all bare in a picture book style: the hijacked planes, the workers in the twin towers, the fear, the falling, all of it. Hyper-focused on an almost minute-by-minute account starting at 8 a.m., it is book best shared with an adult - and one that captures an almost incalculable immensity of feeling.

In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers is Brown's look back after 20 years and picks up where America is Under Attack left off. There is more hindsight now, more ash, more rubble, more helpers - and more explanation. And that explanation is critical. In his second look back, Don Brown tries to explain what seems inexplicable. He reaches farther into why the Taliban would attack us, the terrible Islamophobia that came after, the attempts to stop it, and the decision to send American troops to Afghanistan.

These books can help kids work with adults to connect the dots.

We see more dots today - 20 years since 9/11 - and there will be many more to appear in future years. And there are many dots that lead up to that day that I may never find. The picture only grows more complex. But we have to try to connect them, to remember, explain, learn - and to keep it from happening again.

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Books Can Help Kids Learn About What Happened On 9/11. Here Are Some Good Ones

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When I was little, I used to love the books where you would connect the dots to make pictures. Some were very easy, you could tell what the picture was going to be even before you started, but some were very complex, and you had no idea what was going to emerge.

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Most of us remember the morning of September 11, 2001. Where we were; what we were doing; who we called. But as the 18th anniversary approaches, we find ourselves living in a time when many of our schoolchildren were either born after that date, or were too young at the time to remember the attacks. For those kids, here are eight thoughtful, sensitive children's books about September 11, 2001.

Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of John J. Harvey, by Maira Kalman
In 1931, the John J. Harvey was the ultimate in fireboats, an essential part of the New York Fire Department. But times change, and by 2001, the Harvey was retired, destined for the scrap pile. Until September 11, when the fire hydrants at the attack site were inoperable, and the water of the Hudson River was needed to combat the burning buildings. With a little ingenuity, a team quickly got the John J. Harvey in working order, proving that she was still the best fireboat on the river. (Ages 4-8)

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, by Mordicai Gerstein
Not about the September 11 attacks, this book is instead the story of Phillipe Petit, the tightrope artist who walked between the two towers, just as the World Trade Center was being completed in 1974. For today's children, who have never seen the towers in anything but news footage, it's a nice comparison and history of one of the most recognized parts of the Manhattan skyline prior to 2001. (Ages 4-8)

14 Cows for America, by Carmen Agra Deedy and Thomas Gonzalez
In the aftermath of 9/11, not only did America mourn, but shockwaves were felt around the globe. Kimeli Naiyomah is a student in New York in September 2001. Upon returning to his Maasai village in Kenya, he recounts his experience, and his people immediately want to help. But what can a poor African village provide? The answer is powerful and touching, and demonstrates that sometimes the smallest gestures are the most deeply felt. (Ages 6-10)

America Is Under Attack: September 11, 2001: The Day the Towers Fell, by Don Brown
How to explain the events, emotions, and tragedy of that day to children who didn't experience it? Don Brown does just that with this book. These are personal stories, humanizing the first responders, passengers, witnesses, and survivors that were part of that day, while still maintaining a straightforward account of events. The text is engaging, without being sensationalized, the tone direct, but compassionate. A good resource for both parents and teachers. (Ages 9-12)

Nine, Ten: A September 11th Story, by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Unlike many of its contemporaries, this book focuses less on the event itself, and more on the 48 hours leading up to it. We meet Aimee, recently moved to L.A and struggling to adjust to her new school while her mother is away on business in New York. There's Brooklyn-native Sergio, whose absentee father has shown up again and thrown Sergio into another round of turmoil. In Columbus, Ohio, Naheed has never felt uncomfortable about wearing her hijab in public, but at her new school, things are different. And in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, Will confronts the one-year anniversary of his father's death. Four children, seemingly unconnected, spread across the country, each about to be profoundly impacted by a singular event. (Ages 8-12)

Just A Drop of Water, by Kerry O'Malley Cerra
Jake has always looked up to his grandfather, a war hero who died serving his country. He knows he wants to follow in his footsteps one day, but for now, he's focused on his cross-country team's chance to beat their biggest rivals. But then September 11th happens, and Jake's world flips upside down. Suddenly, the FBI descends upon his Florida town, his best friend is beaten up for being an Arab Muslim, and Jake discovers family secrets that challenge everything he thought he knew about himself. (Ages 8-12)

Nothing exciting ever happens to New Yorker Alex Douglas. Life is pretty much (boringly) normal. There's his pesky sister, and school, and the ongoing battle to convince his parents that he's responsible enough to own a dog. So on the morning of his 11th birthday, Alex is not expecting anything special. Then school is unexpectedly let out early. His mom is stuck at work, and calls to tell him not to turn on the TV, and to look out for his sister. And a four-legged companion shows up and won't leave Alex alone. Turns out maybe this birthday will be anything but normal. (Ages 10-12)

Towers Falling, by Jewell Parker Rhodes
New school. New neighborhood. New home. (If you can call Avalon Family Residence "home".) That's where Deja lives in a single room with her parents and younger siblings, the communal bathroom is down the hall, and her dad is still sick with the unexplained coughing and nightmares. Deja doesn't expect to like school, but to her surprise, she quickly makes friends with classmates Ben and Sabeen, and she likes her new teacher, Miss Garcia. On the other hand, there's a lot Deja doesn't know, a lot her classmates seem to know a lot more about. Including something to do with two towers that once stood on the other side of the East River. Miss Garcia says everyone is connected, to each other, and to those towers. But why should Deja care? What does ancient history have to do with her? A gorgeously told story by the award-winning author of . (Ages 8-12)

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We Remember: Eight Children's Books About September 11th

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Most of us remember the morning of September 11, 2001. Where we were; what we were doing; who we called. But as the 18th anniversary approaches, we find ourselves living in a time when many of our schoolchildren were either born after that date, or were too young at the time to remember the attacks.

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As a matter of practice, we encourage teachers to integrate learning opportunities about religious tolerance and cultural understanding throughout the school year. But this is especially important as the 10 th anniversary of 9/11 approaches.

The materials suggested below address many religious and cultural issues-issues that are likely to remain in the news through the 2012 elections and beyond. But addressing anti-Muslim bias and teaching accurately about Islam should be clear priorities for U.S. teachers.

Teaching Tolerance offers engaging classroom activities and projects for every grade level. Here are a few to consider:

Comparative Religion
Taking a Closer Look at Religions around the World can be used with two accompanying handouts- Discovering Similarities Between Religions and Collaborating to Resolve Religious Issues. Together, they provide a starting point for teaching comparative religion to middle and high school students.

Understanding Other Religious Beliefs helps students learn about other faiths and promotes religious tolerance.

Cultural Understanding
Debunking Stereotypes About Muslims and Islam helps students identify similarities and differences between the U.S. Muslim population and the entire U.S. population. It also dispels myths about Islam.

The School Holiday Calendar examines the holidays of various faiths and asks students to analyze the often complex social problems surrounding those holidays.

Understanding Religious Clothing uses traditional garments to compare religions and deepen understanding.

Building a Bridge of Understanding uses art to start a dialogue about Islam.

Developing Authentic Identities
The Multicultural Self helps students understand the cultural norms that shape the way we interact with the world.

Reflection: What's Your Frame? encourages students to reflect on culture and history. Students are asked to study their own backgrounds and values.

Examining Identity and Assimilation asks students an important question: Was there ever a part of your identity you had to hide?

Professional Development
10 Tips for Starting a World Religions Curriculum offers steps on how to develop a world religions curriculum with inclusion and sensitivity.

Keep it Academic suggests resources that allow teachers to integrate religious studies into the academic curriculum without taking sides. Similarly, Maintain Neutrality illustrates how schools can teach religious tolerance and stay within constitutional boundaries.

In addition to Teaching Tolerance resources, we have sought out practical educational materials that spark respectful conversations around this poignant anniversary.

Conversation Guidelines for Schools and Academic Settings,developed by the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, gives tips on how to hold respectful conversations about 9/11 and religious beliefs. It is intended to help students with differing perspectives understand one another.

Also, Facing History and Ourselves offers engaging resources on religious tolerance. In Talking About Religions, Eboo Patel, the founder and executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core, speaks about the crucial experiences that allow us to deal with religious diversity, friendship and standing up for each other.

The 10 th anniversary of 9/11 is obviously a time for reflection. But we hope that teachers also recognize it as a time to nurture constructive relationships with people whose backgrounds differ from our own.
Ronk is curriculum design manager for Teaching Tolerance.

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Bringing 9/11 in the Classroom-Useful Lessons

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As a matter of practice, we encourage teachers to integrate learning opportunities about religious tolerance and cultural understanding throughout the school year. But this is especially important as the 10 th anniversary of 9/11 approaches. The materials suggested below address many religious and cultural issues-issues that are likely to remain in the news through the 2012 elections and beyond.

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Homepage | National September 11 Memorial & Museum

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Ensuring that students in classrooms across the U.S. learn not only the history of 9/11 but also its context remains central to our mission. Now more than ever, we encourage you to explore our age-appropriate lesson plans and programs, developed to help educators impart what transpired before, during, and after the attacks.

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Teaching about 9/11 can be difficult for many reasons. It is an emotionally and politically charged event, and for many educators, especially in the greater New York City area, the topic...

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Teaching about 9/11 can be difficult for many reasons. It is an emotionally and politically charged event, and for many educators, especially in the greater New York City area, the topic...

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Note for screen reader users: once expanded, the first four items of the navigation menu have some associated content which may provide additional information of interest. These sections can be located by jumping to the level 3 heading which follows each sub-menu.

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When in life have you felt most alone? If you could hold on to one memory from your life forever, what would that be? How has your life been different than what you'd imagined? How would you like to be remembered? Do you have any regrets? StoryCorps' September 11th Initiative was launched in 2005 in partnership with the National September 11 Memorial & Museum to record at least one story to honor each of the lives lost during the attacks on September 11, 2001, and the February 26, 1993, World Trade Center bombing.
In addition to becoming part of the StoryCorps archive in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, interviews collected through the September 11 th Initiative also become part of a special collection at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

In 2012, StoryCorps received a Peabody Award for animations and audio commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and shared an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award with NPR and POV for the series StoryCorps 9/11.

Featured Stories

John and Joe

Beverly Eckert

She Was The One

Support for September 11th Initiative

Original support provided by
The National September 11th Memorial & Museum, The Carnegie Corporation of New York, , National Public Radio, Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress

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When in life have you felt most alone? If you could hold on to one memory from your life forever, what would that be? How has your life been different than what you'd imagined? How would you like to be remembered? Do you have any regrets?

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Use the AmeriCorps Volunteer Search, powered by VolunteerMatch, to find an opportunity near you through one of these organizations: AmeriCorps, Idealist, California Volunteers, MENTOR, Volunteer.gov (National Park Service), and VolunteerMatch. For volunteer opportunities for September 11, please enter #911 in the search box.

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How can you support relief efforts in Haiti and Afghanistan?

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Mission Statement

The mission of MyGoodDeed ("9/11 Day") is to transform 9/11 from a day of tragedy into a day of doing good. We founded and annually organize the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance ("9/11 Day"), now recognized under federal law.. Through our ongoing programs, we seek to inspire all Americans and others throughout the world to observe 9/11 as a day of service, unity, and peace. We offer ways for people to volunteer, support charitable causes and perform other good deeds that help others in need, including our nationwide 9/11 Day Meal Packs held in cities across the country on September 11 each year.. We also provide free educational materials to schools to help educators teach children about 9/11 in constructive ways and engage them in good deed projects. Our long-term vision is to build a permanent tribute and legacy of service that forever honors victims of 9/11 and those who rose in service in response to the attacks.

Description

A few months after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a small group of 9/11 family members and friends met to talk about how best to pay tribute to their lost loved ones. They decided that the terrorists shouldn't "have the last word" in defining how America remembers 9/11 each year. Inspired instead by the way the country came together in the weeks following the attacks and the national outpouring of support, the group launched the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, widely known today at 9/11 Day , with the goal of "taking back the day" and gradually transforming the anniversary of 9/11 from a day of tragedy into a day of doing good. In 2009, the U.S. Congress and president formally recognized the anniversary of 9/11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance under federal law. The founders had a simple idea: Ask all Americans to do one good deed on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in tribute to 9/11 victims, first responders, recovery workers, military, those injured and others impacted by 9/11 terrorist attacks. Today, that little idea has grown into the largest annual day of service in the nation, an extraordinary transformation.

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9/11 Day Volunteer Opportunities - VolunteerMatch

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How can you support relief efforts in Haiti and Afghanistan? Learn more about resources to support people in Haiti and Afghanistan. This organization has no active opportunities. Find volunteer opportunities from thousands of organizations that need your help. Find Volunteer Opportunities The mission of MyGoodDeed ("9/11 Day") is to transform 9/11 from a day of tragedy into a day of doing good.

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We are seeking assistance with offering a full day of programming for an outdoor event. Volunteer performers needed (musicians, singers, dancers, steppers, karate demonstrations, rappers, etc.) for performances designed for a diverse Christian audiences between Noon-1:00 p.m. and 2:30-3:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for aerobics demonstrations, kid games/activities and to help serve food to the attendees...