For Patriot Day last week, 4th graders used the program Nearpod to learn more about the events of 9/11, including reading a short passage, asking and answering questions about the tragedy, and using virtual reality to explore the memorial at the site of the 9/11 disaster. Students then watched where they learned how those lost are still recognized on their birthdays with a white rose placed on their name at the memorial. 

Later, students watched the video, “Boatlift,” and learned about the heroes from September 11, 2001 who helped save people using their boats. Many boat captains helped take survivors to safety, when they had nowhere else to go to escape the smoke and dust that filled New York City. While watching, students used a sheet of white, red, and blue construction paper to quietly tear off pieces of paper.

The torn pieces of paper are a symbolic representation from September 11, 2001. They represent pieces of families lost and broken, pieces of the towers that were broken, and how Americans, like the boat captains featured in the video “Boatlift,” who pitched in and helped rescue stranded New Yorkers who could not escape the dust and smoke that filled their city that day. Students used their mindfulness time to create a piece of art that represents their thoughts about the disaster, as well as to honor those who lost their lives. Students were challenged to use every bit of paper that was torn, so as to not leave out any persons for whom the paper represents.

Students worked on their art over the week, and you can see the photos here. Please note that a few students are still polishing up their art and were not available for a photograph at the time this blog was published. Stay tuned for updated photos over the next week.