As you listen to Lolita’s story, think about the following questions:

• What details did you learn about Lolita and her life by listening to her story?
• On 9/11, what did Lolita and her colleagues do after seeing the first plane hit the North Tower?
• How did Lolita feel about her job after 9/11? What changes did this cause her to make after the attacks?
• Lolita says her experiences made her and her colleagues "better citizens of the world." What are some small actions you can take to be a better citizen in your own community?

As you listen to Lolita’s story, think about the following questions:

• What details did you learn about Lolita from listening to her story?
• What were some of the steps Lolita and her colleagues took as they began to evacuate the World Trade Center?
• How did 9/11 change Lolita’s outlook on her own life and career? How does her response demonstrate resilience?

As you listen to Lolita’s story, consider the following questions:

• Describe Lolita’s evacuation process that day, including any challenges she faced.
• How did the events of 9/11 affect Lolita in her personal and professional life?
• Lolita mentions that for her and her friends, “this really horrible thing actually made us all better citizens of the world.” Can you think of any positive repercussions of the 9/11 attacks? How might these continue to have an impact on the world today?

As you listen to Chief Pfeifer’s story, think about the following questions:

• Chief Pfeifer was one of the thousands of first responders who came to the World Trade Center on 9/11 to help. What is the job of a first responder? Who are first responders in your own community?
• How did Chief Pfeifer and his brother, Kevin, help people on 9/11?
• A total of 343 firefighters from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) were killed on 9/11. What could you do in your school or with your family to honor those first responders and their brave actions on 9/11?

As you listen to Chief Pfeifer’s story, think about the following questions:

• Chief Pfeifer was one of the thousands of first responders who came to the World Trade Center on 9/11 to help. What is the job of a first responder? What was their role on 9/11?
• What did Chief Pfeifer say was his primary job on 9/11? What were some of the ordinary actions that first responders like Chief Pfeifer and his brother, Kevin, took that day to help others evacuate?
• What lessons were learned after 9/11 by the FDNY according to Chief Pfeifer? How have these lessons helped the FDNY in the years since 9/11?

As you listen to Chief Pfeifer’s story, consider the following questions:

• What did Chief Pfeifer say was his primary job on 9/11? What were some of the ordinary actions that first responders like Chief Pfeifer and his brother, Kevin, took that day to help others evacuate?
• What moments in Chief Pfeifer’s story demonstrate courage or heroism?
• How does Chief Pfeifer’s story help you better understand the unique challenges that first responders faced on and after 9/11?
• How did 9/11 change the way the FDNY would respond to future emergencies? How does this change in response help demonstrate the enduring impacts of the 9/11 attacks?

As you listen to Allison’s story, think about the following questions:

• Welles got his first red bandana from his father when he was a young boy. What are all the different ways Welles used his red bandana as he was growing up?
• What details did you learn about Welles from his mother, Allison?
• How did Welles help others on 9/11?
• Welles is often described as a hero for his actions on 9/11. Who are heroes in your own community? How do they go out of their way to help others?

As you listen to Allison’s story, think about the following questions:

• What details do you learn about Welles from his mother, Allison?
• How did Welles’ family learn about his actions on 9/11? What words would you use to describe what he did?
• Allison says, “I hope in some way Welles’s story will mean something to you.” What does Welles’s story mean to you? How can you use Welles as an example in your own life?

As you listen to Allison’s story, consider the following questions:

• How did Welles’ experiences in life prepare him to help others on 9/11?
• What moments in Welles’ story demonstrated courage or heroism?
• Allison says, “I hope in some way Welles’s story will mean something to you.” What do you take away from Welles’ story?
• Why do you think it is important for younger generations to continue honoring and remembering the victims of 9/11?

As you listen to Tom’s story, think about the following questions:

• Tom mentions that seeing the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) arrive at the World Trade Center that morning made him feel confident and safe. Who or what helps you feel safe when you are afraid or scared?
• What did Tom do to help others as he escaped from the World Trade Center?
• Resilience is the ability to heal and recover after a difficult situation. How does Tom’s story show resilience?

As you listen to Tom’s story, think about the following questions:

• What actions did Tom take to help others as he escaped the World Trade Center?
• Tom compares his experience on 9/11 to the story of The Last Column, a column from inside the South Tower that survived the collapse of the building. How do both of these stories show resilience?

As you listen to Tom’s story, consider the following questions: 

• Describe the challenges Tom faced as he survived the collapse of the Twin Towers.
• Tom compares his experience on 9/11 to the story of The Last Column, an artifact which stands as a symbol of resilience. What are the ways that Tom’s story embodies resilience?
• Tom says that 9/11 “changed my life forever and indeed the whole world forever.” What are some of the ways the world has changed as a result of 9/11? How do these repercussions still affect people including younger generations, today?

This story may not be appropriate for elementary learners. Please pre-screen and use at your discretion.

As you listen to Kathy and Mark’s story, think about the following questions:

• How did Kathy’s morning start on 9/11? Describe the process she went through as she evacuated the Pentagon.
• What actions did Mark take that day that showed courage or heroism?
• What did Kathy do to remember her sister, Patty, after 9/11?
• When speaking about those who were killed on 9/11, Mark says, “you take on a responsibility to carry on the mission in their memory.” What are some ways you can honor the memory of those killed on 9/11?

As you listen to Kathy and Mark’s story, consider the following questions:

• Describe Kathy’s morning on 9/11. How does this give insight into the way people reacted to the events as they unfolded?
• How did Mark help his colleagues immediately after the attacks and in the hours that followed?
• What are the ways in which Kathy and Mark remember the victims killed on 9/11? How has the process of commemoration changed in the years since the attacks?
• Why is it important to remember the victims of historically significant events, like 9/11, that impact the lives of so many people?

This story may not be appropriate for elementary learners. Please pre-screen and use at your discretion.

As you listen to Sofia’s story, think about the following questions:

• Why was Sofia at the World Trade Center that day? As the attacks unfolded, what steps did she take to document them as a reporter?
• What lessons does Sofia say she learned from being a reporter on 9/11?
• Why does Sofia say it is important to remember 9/11?

As you listen to Sofia’s story, consider the following questions:

• Describe Sofia’s experience on the morning of 9/11. How did her job as a reporter help her to act and react that day?
• According to Sofia, why is it important to remember 9/11? How does media collected from historical events help in that process of remembrance?

• Bill was one of thousands of first responders who came to the World Trade Center to help on 9/11. What is the job of a first responder?
• John D’Allara was an NYPD police officer who Bill met on the morning of 9/11. How did Bill and John work together to help people that day?
• On 9/11, 343 firefighters from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) were killed responding to the World Trade Center, including 11 members of Bill’s company. What could you do in your school or with your family to honor first responders and show thanks for their brave actions?

• How did Bill hear about the attacks at the World Trade Center? Describe the steps he took in his response.
• How did Bill’s actions on 9/11 demonstrate heroism, teamwork, and perseverance?
• Bill ends his story by saying, “I think it’s just so important to keep [9/11] alive and to never forget.” Why do you think it is important to remember 9/11? How can you honor the victims of the attacks?

• What moments in Bill’s story demonstrated heroism, teamwork, and perseverance?
• How does Bill’s story highlight the unique challenges faced by first responders on 9/11?
• Bill ends his story by saying, “I think it’s just so important to keep [9/11] alive and to never forget.” Why do you think it is important to remember the 9/11 attacks 20 years later? What role does commemoration play in ensuring we “never forget?”