A fellow teacher on my team suggested a packet he has on 9/11

[greenbriar]

to use tomorrow, and he flipped out when I told him I won't be covering it.

HE says "you teach social studies (I changed this year from High school to Middle school because I adore the principal at my new building)

I said, yes and it is JUST a day and nothing to celebrate or commerate about. These kids were 5/6 when this happened and I have to stay on track with my pacing guide from the district.

he says bbbuutt...yada yada..

I said we would touch on the terrorism when we covered the Middle East


would you dwell on it with 7th graders???

I will try to honestly answer any questions they may have, but to take a full day just does not fit with our schedule and the upcoming DCA's because of NCLB

[dsc]

1. It depends on how tight your pacing guide is

I think it makes some degree of sense to teach about current events in a SS class and clearly the five year commemoration is a current event. But with an end of course exam and a tight pacing guide it may not be feasible.

[LeftyMom]

2. Let them talk about it if they want to

But I think there's no way to adequately address it with a packet. Thousands of Americans died, it's not really appropriate to reduce that to a reading and a worksheet (or whatever.)

[electron_blue]

3. I'd at least lead a discussion about it.

Otherwise, let's face it, they'll just watch the dramatization and let media tell them about the world they live in. I think 7th graders think a lot about this sort of thing.

[Roland99]

4. Show 9/11: Press for Truth as a 2-parter

;)

[greenbriar]

5. I would LOVE to show Farienheit 9/11 but I need my job

maybe a little too much for 11/12 year olds

[Roland99]

6. Press for Truth would be much better.Moore has a penchant for exaggeration

and taking things out of context.


Press for Truth is about the struggle of 9/11 victim widows in getting the 9/11 Commission formed.

[baldguy]

7. The youth of America must be indoctrinated into the values of the Party.

Otherwise they might start questioning authority.