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OIS Students Bring History to Life Through 9/11 Studies

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Camille Carter, Communications Specialist

Oxford, Mississippi — Yesterday, Oxford Intermediate School’s INSIGHTS classes brought history to life with “More Than a Moment: A Student-Curated 9/11 Museum.”

Sixth-grade INSIGHTS students spent several weeks this semester learning about September 11, 2001. Their studies covered the tragic events of that day to the stories of courage, sacrifice, and service shown by first responders, search-and-rescue teams, and others who responded in the aftermath.

While the events of September 11th have been studied in sixth-grade INSIGHTS for years, students typically concluded the unit with classroom presentations. This year, INSIGHTS Teachers April Thornton and Lyn Lane expanded the project into a student-curated “museum,” giving class visitors the opportunity to view the students’ projects and learn from their research.

Students created each exhibit themselves, using a variety of formats to share what they had learned. Sculptures, drawings, paintings, poems, and other original pieces of art filled the hall that served as the “museum.” Each project represented a different part of the students’ studies and the stories of heroes who responded that day. Additionally, each exhibit included a QR code that allowed the guests to hear directly from the student creator as they explained the meaning behind their work and what they learned throughout the project.

I want my students to understand that September 11 is so much more than a date in history. Even though they were not there to experience it and see it happening live, I want them to hear the stories of courage, compassion, and resilience and understand how this day impacted America. I hope they learned that by learning our history, we can understand the world we live in today and why it is important for us to continue to remember September 11, said INSIGHTS teacher April Thornton.

Through More Than a Moment: A Student-Curated 9/11 Museum, students not only learned history but also became storytellers. We are thankful to our educators who find meaningful ways to bring learning to life and create experiences that help students connect classroom learning to the world around them.

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A group of smiling children and two adults pose for a photo in a hallway.
Two women stand smiling in the foreground of a school hallway decorated with hanging stars and student artwork.
Two children look at a collection of student projects on a black table in a brightly lit hallway.
Cardboard sculptures and projects are displayed on tables in the foreground of a brightly lit hallway where people are browsing.
Two boys stand beside their school projects in a hallway lined with student artwork.
A smiling boy and girl stand next to a table of student projects.
Students view art projects displayed on black-clothed tables in a brightly lit school hallway.
A smiling boy stands next to a cardboard city model in the foreground, with other students and artwork lining a school hallway in the background.
A smiling young boy in a blue t-shirt stands in the foreground next to a table of art projects, with a girl and various artworks displayed on the wall in the background.
Mosaic artworks and informational pamphlets are displayed on a black tablecloth against a plain white wall.
A young girl in a yellow shirt stands behind a cardboard model of a red building labeled %22343%22.
A smiling boy stands next to a school project on a black table, with another student and artwork visible in the background.
Student artwork and 3D models are displayed on black-clothed tables in a hallway.
Three smiling girls stand together in the foreground of a school hallway filled with student artwork and other students in the background.
Four children stand beside a school project on a table in a hallway decorated with student artwork.