Inquiry Design Method: Teaching September 11, 2001 and Post-9/11 History with Children’s & Youth Literature

Abstract

This practitioner paper describes an inquiry-based approach applying the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) framework to facilitate instruction of September 11, 2001 history, and its impact on post-9/11 society. An upper elementary level inquiry teaches the Boatlift Rescue from Manhattan Island, and a secondary level inquiry addresses the concepts of loss and persistence. Enduring issues are humanity and resiliency. The featured sources are children’s and youth literature related to 9/11 history and post-9/11 society. Children’s and youth trade books offer educators a valuable starting point to teach about 9/11 and post-9/11 history. For each inquiry instructional strategies are highlighted that encourage students to make their thinking visible when reading trade books and using primary sources from 9/11 repositories.