This qualitative study followed 41 fourth- and fifth-grade students from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 through December of that year, in an attempt to understand how these students were affected by the attacks and subsequent government actions. Class assignments and teachers' anecdotal journals were analyzed. Through their work and play, students indicated that they were knowledgeable about the terrorist attacks. Themes noted initially were sadness, anger, and pride in their country. Although they retained those emotions, the additional theme of fearof war, additional attacks, and anthraxgrew as the weeks passed. Three months later, students expressed the same four themes through references in their play, class discussions, and drawings spontaneously added to unrelated assignments. (Author)