Elementary age students in 1963 will never forget experiencing President Kennedy's assasination with their teachers. I know I will never forget Mrs. Taylor's announcement of the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger. For your students, you and your response to this tragedy will be forever a part of each child's memory. Show them how to pitch in and help the nation during a difficult time. Know that they will never forget the priceless message behind these actions.

I hope that the following ideas will be practical and meaningful ways to help your students act and assist the world situation. If you have any other ideas, please post them on our Elementary Educators Message Board.

• Send A Letter Of Thanks To Rescue Workers In New York - The New York City post office and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have set up a post office box to receive all well wishes for the rescue workers in New York City. Drop them a line at:

  Search and Rescue
  P.O. Box 2551
  New York, NY 10166

  According to the FEMA web site, the mail will be "circulated among firefighters, police officers and all search and rescue personnel and will then be posted in the living quarters of the FEMA task force members." It's the least we can do.

• Donate a dollar to help Afghan children - Answer President Bush's request for each child to send a dollar to help the struggling children of Afghanistan. The money will go through the Red Cross. Send cash, check, or money order to the White House at this address:

  America's Fund for Afghan Children
  c/o The White House
  1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.
  Washington, DC, 20509-1600
  

• Write to the troops - The brave men and women of the U.S. armed forces are serving on the front lines of the war against terrorism. Help your students communicate that their thoughts are with our military. DefenseLINK tells you how to do it.
• Make a patriotic sign - You've surely seen patriotic banners and messages posted around your community lately. Consider making your own show of support and hanging it where your students and their families will see it. Freeway overpasses, busy street corners, and public parks are a few of the great places where your pro-American message will boost the collective morale of the people who see it.
• Write to your local firefighters - The heroics of the rescue workers on September 11th highlighted the bravery that our local firefighters display on a daily basis. Find your city's home page and follow the links to your local department's address. Or, use Google.com and search on "YOUR CITY'S NAME fire department."

For more on how to support your students through this difficult time, visit the September 11th Resources for Teachers.

Peace,