Disappearance of Etan Patz

High school (ages 12+)
Safety & Emergency

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/disappearance-of-etan-patz

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the date of disappearance?May 25, 1979
2. What is the location of disappearance?SoHo neighborhood, Lower Manhattan, New York City
3. Who was Etan Patz?Etan was a six‑year‑old boy who vanished on May 25, 1979 while walking to his school bus stop in Lower Manhattan.
4. Why did Etan Patz's disappearance change child protection?It showed that the systems for finding missing children were not strong enough, so new laws, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and national awareness were created.

Missing Children's Movement: A national advocacy effort that gained momentum after Etan Patz's disappearance, focusing on child safety and recovery.
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC): A non-profit organization established to help find missing children and combat child sexual exploitation.
National Missing Children's Day: An annual observance on May 25th, established to raise awareness and promote efforts to find missing children.