Saturday Activity Stations Teach Children About 9/11

Two young girls pain a mural commemorating victims of 9/11 in the Museum’s Education Center. The mural includes drawings of the Twin Towers and Pentagon, as well as hearts and a peace sign.

Children in the Education Center. (Photo: Amy Dreher)

The 9/11 Memorial Museum holds programs for children every Saturday to teach them about the events of 9/11, its aftermath and the history of the World Trade Center using interactive, hands-on activities.

Staff members and high school members of the Museum Ambassador Program teach the activity stations, which take place on Saturdays at 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The programs are geared toward children ages five to 12 and their caregivers, but all ages are welcome. The activity stations currently offered include Population Puzzle, which teaches about the Twin Towers’ design using blocks and a map of Lower Manhattan; the Survivor Tree, in which children can plant a Callery pear seed in soil to take home; Sky Paintings, a watercolor activity about memorialization; and Tic Tac Toe, which helps children understand the artifacts found in the Museum.

In addition to these activities, visitors can look at a reading nook with age-appropriate books.

A parent who participated in the Activity Stations said, "The art room provided great craft projects that interested my children. They were able to express themselves and feel connected by taking part. The staff was extremely friendly and made it a very enjoyable activity for our family."

By Jordan Friedman, 9/11 Memorial Research and Digital Projects Associate