Gabby Giffords and Nicole Hockley Release Newtown Anniversary Lesson Plan

Washington, DC – In the month leading up to the one-year anniversary of the Newtown shooting – in which 20 children and six educators lost their lives – Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and Sandy Hook Mother Nicole Hockley have co-authored a lesson plan entitled “Hands of Hope for Sandy Hook.” Hosted on UClass.org, a lesson exchange for K-12 classrooms, it asks students to reflect on the tragedy at Sandy Hook and think of ways to improve the safety of their schools and communities.

Starting today, students across the country will post images on UClass.org of a hand-shaped paper cutout on which they’ve written their hope for a safer America. Participating schools are being asked to display these hands as a symbol of hope and unity in their classrooms, hallways and auditoriums.

“Stopping gun violence takes courage and new ideas,” said Giffords. “We are proud to bring students together to honor the lives lost in the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, and encourage them to envision an America that is both free and safe.”

“Nearly one year after my six-year old son Dylan and nineteen of his classmates lost their lives, it is important for students not only to remember the tragedy that occurred in Newtown that day, but also to express their hopes for safer schools and communities,” said Hockley. “Our students deserve to learn and grow in an environment free of the threats that many American children sadly face.”

Jessica Lura, a Bullis Charter School teacher from Los Altos, CA, is co-authoring the lesson with Giffords and Hockley.

School leaders who are interested in getting their classrooms involved in the “Hands of Hope for Sandy Hook” lesson can visit uclass.org/handsofhope.