Indian Lake Schools teachers and staff observed the anniversary of the Sept. 11th attacks with moments of silence and the return of a special annual project.
The ILMS eighth-graders continue their in-depth study of the events of 9/11 with an annual interview project that helps students understand the tumultuous time.
After studying an intense timeline of the events leading up to the terrorists attacks and America’s response, students interview someone in their life to learn about their personal experience that day.
Then students write an essay about the emotions that person felt on Sept. 11, 2001.
Remember, these students were not yet born when the planes took down the Twin Towers, crashed in Pennsylvania and hit the Pentagon.
Students post their final interview impressions on the giant memorial display.
In conducting the interviews, students found out what an impact the attacks had on those closest to them. Most students turned to their own parents or teachers for their personal accounts of an ordinary morning turned terrifying new reality.
For the next few weeks, each essay is posted for everyone to read on a massive 9/11 display at the middle school.
The interviewing and writing project is aligned with state 8th grade Language Arts curriculum requirements.
Check out the timeline lesson that 8th graders studied at http://ms.ils-k12.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=24217&pageId=30826239
In addition, ILES students are combining Patriots Day with the history of the Star Spangled Banner.
Each year ILES music educators Pamela Mendenhall, Tracey Notestine and Counselor Suzy Mallory teach students about the origin of the national anthem. Today they took their voices outside and sang the Star Spangled Banner in front of the flags flying at half staff in observance of the 9/11 attacks.
The musical celebration will continue on Monday by singing Star Spangled Banner during the morning announcements and with other group work in class.
All ILES students are encouraged to wear red, white and blue on Monday, Sept. 14, in honor of the anniversary date on which the national anthem was written.