EMPATHY 9/11

GRADES 9-12

Empathy 9/11 is a unique way for high school students to gain an authentic understanding of 9/11 by engaging with individuals from a range of communities that lived through this tragedy. The Empathy 9/11 curriculum is developed alongside US History teachers who advise on core standards and facilitate preparation for this oral history experience.

Students will examine, reflect and question how the lived experiences of diverse members from different communities (such as artistic, Islamic, and first responder) shaped individual perspectives. Integral concepts such as collective processing in the aftermath of a national tragedy, and critical thinking around causal relationships in history are explored. Students practice empathy through drawing, writing, interviewing and collaborative art-making. At its core, Empathy 9/11 interweaves knowledge and empathy, enriching the US history experience for students.