Starting with the first anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, organizations have developed curricula for teaching about the events and those that followed. Here we include a collection of resources from a variety of organizations developed to teach about terrorism and extremism, the events of 9/11 and the Global War on Terror, and related topics such as anti-Muslim racism in the US. This list is not comprehensive and we have focused primarily on curricula that have been updated more recently to address the evolving nature of the war on terror and the US role in the Middle East.
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Teaching 9/11 On & Beyond the Twentieth Anniversary
6 Resources for Teaching 9/11 (Facing History & Ourselves)
9/11 Anniversary Teaching Guide (Morningside Center)
9/11 Day
A collection of educational resources to help educators teach and talk about the events of 9/11 and the September 11 National Day of Service & Remembrance.
9/11 Digital Archive
The September 11 Digital Archive uses electronic media to collect, preserve, and present the history of September 11, 2001, and its aftermath.
9/11 Memorial & Museum (New York City)
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is committed to providing relevant and engaging learning opportunities for students, teachers, families, and the general public. Online resources offer content and strategies for learning about the attacks and their aftermath.
9/11: THE INTELLIGENCE ANGLE: International Spy Museum (Washington, DC)
In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the International Spy Museum has created these lesson plans and activities to support student understanding of the role that intelligence played leading up to, during, and following the events of that day.
Flight 93 National Memorial (National Park Service)
Flight 93 National Memorial is committed to educating future generations about September 11.
National Archives: 9/11 Commission Records
The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, known as the 9/11 Commission, was an independent, bipartisan commission created by Congress.
Special Issue: Echoes of Terror(ism): International Contemplations and Reflections On 9/11
A series of six articles “highlight a diversity of considerations and approaches to teaching against Islamophobia,” with the final three specifically focusing on Muslim American perspectives end Islamophobia as it relates to 9/11.
Teaching Against Islamophobia
A series of articles “For educators seeking to unpack 9/11 and its reverberations, it is important to highlight Islamophobic and anti-Muslim racism, discrimination, prejudice, and violence, as well as to consider Muslim students’ lived experiences.”
Teaching Beyond September 11th (University of Pennsylvania)
A multimodal curriculum for high school and college educators and students about the ongoing global impact of 9/11, focusing on the years 2001-2021.
The Choices Program (Brown University)
Responding to Terrorism: Challenges for democracy.
US Library of Congress 9/11 Documentary Project
The 9:57 Project
“Written in partnership with New York Times, this free curriculum guide is designed around primary source documents that tell the history of 9/11 and its effects. The complete guide includes six lessons for educators of grades 9-12.”
Asbestos, 9/11 and the World Trade Center
This a page from asbestos.com, which has videos, charts, and explanation about how asbestos and other harmful toxics and carcinogens were released into the atmosphere after the 9/11 attacks.
World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program: Health Effects of 9/11: An Online Exhibition
“This online exhibition examines the ongoing health effects linked to 9/11 exposures and the emergence of WTC-related health conditions. It also explores the events and advocacy that established the WTC Health Program.”
Retro Report: Teaching about 9/11
“This collection of resources contains four original short films, each accompanied by a lesson plan and student activity. In addition, you will find a recording of our Educator Webinar and links to our partner resources.”
Funding for this project was provided by The Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Midwest Region Grant Program.