Grades 2–12
60+ Minutes
Memoir, Narrative, Persuasive, Poetry
VideosStudents will learn how to craft a message for an intended audience — in this case, the next leader of the United States.
Note for educators: We encourage students to write their message to the next President in any language. All too often, elected leaders overlook the voices of young people. This is especially true when young people speak in a language(s) that isn’t English. We aim to amplify the words and perspectives of all young people, and we welcome submissions in any language. English translations are encouraged, but not required.
Prompt from Javier Zamora:
Across the country, young people like you are showing their elected leaders that they do not need to vote to start creating a brighter future. Your voice is powerful today, and now’s your chance to have your voice heard. Imagine you had the opportunity to sit down with the next President of the United States. What would you most want them to hear?
Now, write that message. In your words, share what matters most to you and your community. Your writing can take on any form: a letter, poem, reflection, song, etc. Here are a few ideas to get started:
Find the prompt in Spanish here or download the PDF — see the attached materials below.
When you finish, share your writing for a chance to be published in 826 National’s 2024 student anthology!
Students and families, submit your work using the links below:
Educators, submit work from multiple students using the link below:
Javier Zamora is a Salvadoran poet and activist.
Javier Zamora was born in La Herradura, El Salvador in 1990. When he was a year old, his father fled El Salvador due to the US-funded Salvadoran Civil War. His mother followed her husband’s footsteps in 1995 when Javier was about to turn five. Zamora was left at the care of his grandparents who helped raise him until he migrated to the US when he was nine.
In his debut New York Times bestselling memoir, SOLITO (Hogarth, September 2022), Javier retells his nine-week odyssey across Guatemala, Mexico, and eventually through the Sonoran Desert.
Javier is an alumni of 826 Valencia, and is currently an Advisory Board member for the organization.
by Amanda Gorman
Presidential Inaugural Poet, activist, and bestselling author Amanda Gorman shares one of her favorite techniques for starting a poem or getting over writers' block.
by Sean Prentiss
Essayist, poet, and National Outdoor Book Award winner Sean Prentiss shares his favorite way to develop the setting of a story or essay as a fully formed character.
by 826 National, featuring Iman Abdullah, Grade 2, 826NYC
Have you ever thought about what you have in common with an animal? In this lesson, students will write a comparison poem that explores these similarities and differences.
by 826 National, featuring Milo Wu, Grade 2, NY
In this lesson, you will introduce an animal you know a lot about as the narrator of a story. The narrator will provide descriptive details ask the reader "Guess who?" at the end.
by 826 National
Author Carter Higgins reads "Pickup Lines Cheesier Than Cheddar," a piece written by fifth-grader Uma (826NYC).
by 826 National, featuring Eloise Combs, Grade 3, Michigan
Not all poems have to rhyme, but when they do, they generally use “rhyme scheme.” In this lesson, students will write a poem with a unique sound and rhyme scheme.
by Daniel Handler
Author Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket, shows there are no limits to imagination with this interviewing activity.
by 826 National
Misinformation Specialist with Google Nidhi Hebar shares how you can use writing to inspire change and bring people into conversations about the issues you care about.
by 826 National, featuring Priyanna Kumar Singhania, Grade 8
In this lesson, you will write down a story that’s been passed down to you, using precise words and phrases and sensory language, to convey a vivid picture of the event.
by 826 National
Novelist and short story writer, Caitlin Horrocks, reads "My Full Yard" by Marisol of 826michigan and reflects on the imagery used in the poem.
by Mac Barnett
Mac Barnett, a New York Times-bestselling author of stories for children, illustrates how to end a story...or not.
by 826 National, featuring Kaiden Griggs, Grade 6
In this lesson, students will identify the main idea and supporting details of an informational text and summarize this idea objectively.
by Jason Reynolds
National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and NYT Bestselling Author, Jason Reynolds, joined 826 students for a conversation on his video project, "For Every One."
by 826 National
Television writer and showrunner Tim McKeon shares how he became a scriptwriter and the valuable skills you'll need if you'd like to become one too.
by 826 National, featuring Isaac Reynolds, Grade 6
What’s the moral of the story? In this lesson, students practice identifying and summarizing a moral in a fable written by a sixth grader.
by Jason Reynolds
Part letter, part long-form poem, "For Every One" offers reflections and courageous words about unraveling and rebuilding one's dreams.
by Emily Harding
Author and TV producer, Emily Harding shows side characters some love in this writing prompt.
by Austin Bunn
Fiction writer, playwright, and screenwriter Austin Bunn shares a writing prompt that will get you noticing--and reimagining--the objects you see everyday.
by 826 National
Revision is the process of making substantial changes in your writing. In this lesson, you will use revision strategies to strengthen a current piece of writing you’re working on.
by Natalie Moore
In this lesson, you will use journal entries as inspiration for a dynamic narrative poem.
by 826 National
Law student Brenda Quintanilla shares how writing is a vital tool to use when advocating for your community.
by 826 National, featuring Alistar Bedell, Grade 11, CA
In this lesson, you will practice analyzing different types of a narrative technique called irony. Then, you will write your own scene that uses irony to develop an imaginary experience or character.
by 826 National
Author Tom Perrotta reads "Peter, Who Went on the Best Adventure Ever." In this lesson, you will learn about 3 shapes that will help the events of your story unfold naturally.
by 826 National
In this lesson, you will create a character and show how a character would respond in a specific situation by writing dialogue, resulting in a silly scene.
by 826 National, featuring Raiya Chhabra, Grade 5, VA
In this lesson, you will generate rhymes to use in a poem.
by 826 National
Television writer and showrunner Tim McKeon shares how you can study your favorite TV show to learn about screenwriting.
by 826 National
Author and illustrator Lisa Brown reads "Owl Girl. In this lesson, you will write a superhero story that introduces your character and establishes the context for your reader.
by 826 National
Award-winning documentarian and journalist,Soledad O'Brien, shares about why she loves her job and how she builds credibility out in the field through thorough research.
by 826 National
Writers are guided by their personal and artistic values as they work to achieve their goals. But what are those values built on? In this lesson, you will discover that for yourself.
by 826 National
Senior Business Development Manager Erin Polgreen shares more about the ways she sees LinkedIn users engaging with writing on the platform.
by 826 National, featuring Naomi Ku, Grade 6, 826LA
What is the story of your favorite food? In this lesson, you will use descriptive details and sensory words to write a narrative that shares more about your favorite food.
by 826 National
Nicole Dungca, Investigative Reporter at The Washington Post and President of the Asian American Journalists Association, shares strategies for asking key questions.
by Sean Prentiss
Essayist, poet, and National Outdoor Book Award winner Sean Prentiss shares 5 techniques to use when writing scenes.
by 826 National, featuring Soeun Lee, Grade 8, NJ
In this lesson, you will create poems that look completely different from poems you have written before!
by 826 National
Radiologist Matthew Bucknor shares while it's important for students studying STEM fields "not to sleep on the Humanities."
by 826 National
In this lesson, you will learn a strategy for writing down your thoughts and feelings to understand them more clearly.
by Charlotte Yeung
Midwest Youth Poet Laureate Ambassador, Charlotte Yeung, shares one of her favorite brainstorming strategies for creating a new piece.
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Escúchame con Javier Zamora — Handout