America changed on September 11th, 2001. While it is a crucial and important time in the history of the country, teachers often struggle on how to broach the subject with their students in a sensitive, age appropriate manner. One way to talk to children about September 11th is to focus on all of the amazing people who risked or sacrificed their lives to save others. The young adult version of The Red Bandanna is the beautiful true story of Welles Crowther, a regular 24 year old man whose name and acts of heroism will be remembered for many years to come.
After reading The Red Bandanna by Tom Rinaldi, students can create a spider map illustrating several of Welles Cawthorne's character traits.
Storyboard Text
SELF-DISCIPLINED
CARING
BRAVE
I found the stairs. Follow me. Only help the ones that you can help. And follow me.
When Welles set his mind to something, he followed through. A dedicated athlete his whole life, Welles played varsity hockey, lacrosse, and soccer. He became a junior member of his town's fire department at the age of sixteen.
Welles was a very caring person his whole life. He was extremely close to his family, and friendly to everyone he met. He was also very protective over his loved ones, especially his younger sisters, Honor and Paige.
One of the most obvious of Welles' traits was his outstanding bravery. He considered it his duty to go back and help anyone he could in the tower, and didn't think twice about it.