The towers fell and the next day, everyone knew, including the children at Mabel Elementary School.  As teachers, how do you handle this in your classroom?

First grade:  "If a plane crashes into my mommy's work, can I go home with you today?"

                    "My daddy said we were at war."

                    "My daddy said he was going to kill himself a Palestinian."

Second grade:  "I think it's Taiwan!  Let's go bomb them!"

                        "A plane flew into the Pentagon and they think Bin Laden from
                        Afghanistan did it."

Third grade:   "Are we still going to war today?"

                        "Why are those people celebrating?"

Fourth grade:  "I heard we are going to have World War III!"

                        "It makes me feel really sad.  I hope all the kids whose parents were killed in the
                         bombings get nice foster homes!  I hope their new mommies love them as much as
                         their old ones!"

                        "My daddy's joining the draft."

Fifth grade:   "Did you know someone is trying to kill the president?  They crashed a plane into the
                       Pentagon."

                        "There are probably people still alive."

                        "Bin Laden bombed us a while back too."

How did the teachers handle this crisis?

Most teachers took the beginning of class to explain the actual details of the events on September 11, 2001 and to address any myths the children had conceived.  After addressing the details, the teachers took the time to have students discuss their feelings and share their emotions.  This is where many of these heartbreaking quotes came out.

Some teachers encouraged the journal entries for the day to reflect these emotions.  Also, writing prompts were given to write a letter to someone that was involved.  Some children wrote to the government.  Other choices were victims, victims families, and firemen.

One class raised money for one fire department in particular and watched video newsclips of the events.

These teachers really did an outstanding job in debunking the myths of the classroom!