Oklahoma Academic Standard 3.  The student will analyze the significant events and historic personalities contributing to the development of the state of Oklahoma.

Objective 3.11 Explain how Oklahomans come together to help one another during difficult times, such as recovering from the bombing of the Oklahoma City Murrah Building, exhibiting what has become the “Oklahoma Standard”.

In a Nutshell

This objective focuses on how different types of community service workers and the general public respond to emergency challenges such as the Oklahoma City Murrah bombing. A study of the event, including the perpetrator and his rationale, as well as the massive human loss and suffering, may not be appropriate nor necessary to understanding the role all citizens play in recovery after any devastating event. Students should be introduced to the concept of the "Oklahoma Standard" which has come to represent the selflessness of Oklahoma's citizens.

Teacher Action 

Student Action 

• Provide opportunities for students to ask and answer questions to clarify information and engage in collaborative discussions about appropriate topics in social studies. 

• Assist students to compose narratives which introduce a topic, use facts to develop the topic, and provide a concluding statement related to the examples of the Oklahoma Standard following the attack on the Murrah building.

• Identify civic virtues and democratic principles such as equality, fairness, and respect for legitimate authority, using the example of the Oklahoma City bombing and responses by the community. 

• Apply lessons from the Oklahoma City bombing and use democratic processes to consider and propose actions to address authentic, real-world problems in the community and state. 

Key Concepts 

Misconceptions 

• concepts of the "Oklahoma Standard", communal  response, civic duty, volunteerism, community service 

• first-responders, charitable organizations, government response 

• Most students will have no prior knowledge of the actual event of the Oklahoma City bombing; such detailed knowledge is not required by this standard. 

• Some students may seek to understand the motives behind such human-created tragedies; however, most require the simplest responses and re-focusing attention on the bravery of responders and the public.  

Instructional Resources