Northport students compare and contrast two famous speeches

Northport K-8 Northstar students in Mala Woessners gifted and enriched middle grades classes used the tragedy of 9/11 to listen to two famous presidential speeches of hope, renewal and triumph over enemies of the United States. Students listened to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt address members of the U.S. Congress when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, and compared and contrasted the speech of President George Bush addressing the nation when Muslim extremists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001. Students cited evidence and made inferences using the primary sources and made note of several important characteristics. Both presidents implored the American people to work together, persevere and be a beacon hope. Some of the famous quotes were Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “This day will live in infamy!” and George Bush, “America is the brightest beacon for freedom in the world!” This exercise was an excellent use of primary sources for examining similarities and differences and
for processing new information.