This Lesson's Title:

With Your Own Two Hands

Are you changing the world
(or waiting for the world to change)?

This lesson was created by Northern Nevada Writing Project Consultant Rob Stone.

This writing prompt inspired by

Ben Harper's "With My Own Two Hands"
(as well as other media)

Click here to do a Google search for the lyrics.

Three-Sentence Overview of this Lesson:

Using Ben Harper’s “With My Own Two Hands” (as well as John Mayer’s “Waiting On The World To Change”), students ponder their roles in changing the world. After analyzing how a variety of important people changed the world, students evaluate the tools they possess to change the world and how realistic it is for them to actually do it. The final product is an original poem, taken through the writing process, in which students express their feelings about this topic.   Teachers: Click here to see the entire lesson plan.

6-Trait Overview for this Lesson:

The focus trait in this writing assignment is idea development; writers’ final poems will be driven by a message or thesis and they will use a balance unique showing and telling details to support the theme of their poem. The support trait for this lesson is voice; students will convey emotion and passion with their words as well as capture a mood or tone.