Students will write a letter to express their views on issues that matter to them around an election, tailoring their message and tone to inspire action from their chosen reader.
A central piece of American democracy is freedom of speech and expression. We work together to create a better society by using our voice, and our vote, to express opinions, perspectives, and ideas as part of a continuous, nation-wide conversation. Often missing from this conversation is the crucial perspective of young people, the next generation who will inherit the country and be most impacted by many of the policies currently up for debate.
In this lesson, young writers have an opportunity to write a letter expressing their views on issues that matter to them around an election. It could be to a political candidate, a family member, their future self — anyone impacted by the election and its outcome.
Like all people, young people have a diversity of perspectives to offer. This lesson offers a general framework for making space for their perspectives. While some students will be ready to write a rigorous argument for the Green New Deal, others might be more inclined to use this opportunity to express to a family member about why LGBTQ+ rights are important to them. The important framework of this lesson is to ensure the things students have to say speak for themselves, and that this letter delivers their truth.
The lesson is based on a writing workshop from 826 New Orleans. In the weeks following the 2016 presidential election, young people ages 8-18 across New Orleans wrote letters to Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, friends, family, and their future selves. These student letters were published in I Want You to Know Something About Me, a book that showcases the depth and breadth of what matters most to New Orleans’ youth. The lesson also features student mentor texts from 826 Boston’s My Generation Can: Public Narratives for Community Change (2019), a book by 12th Graders at Boston’s Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers.
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