The Prompt

Amanda Gorman has asked people around the world to:

“Think of one element and speak in its voice through pictures and words.   

What would the fires raging in California say to the world?

What would the wind from Hurricane Maria demolishing Puerto Rico sound like?

What does freshly fallen rain on a state in drought feel and taste like through poetry? Love? Relief?

Think of it as creating an open letter from the planet.”

Instructions

There is power in a united voice, and we invite you to share your answers and join the movement.

Here’s how to get involved:

• Respond to Amanda’s prompt. We encourage you to be as reflective and creative as possible, (e.g., produce a drawing or photograph, write a poem or short story, create a short video, or any other form of artistic expression to represent your answer. There is no “wrong way” to answer the prompt). While anyone can participate, the initiative’s focus is on the rising generations.

• View our gallery for examples if you don’t know where to begin.

• Submit your answer — and if available, an accompanying image, video, or other media via our “Submit” button below. Please include your name, email address, hometown, and age.

• By submitting your response, you give Prompt for the Planet permission to display your work online and at future events. You still retain full rights to your work.

• Watch as your response is added to our online archive.

If you’re interested in scheduling a workshop for a group, contact us to discuss how we might help facilitate and guide your group through the prompt.

Can this unique look into the hearts and minds of young people around the world inspire all of us to work together toward a sustainable existence? It must.  

Tips for Responding

Tips for creating your own Prompt for the Planet submission

• PDF, JPEG, PNG, and WAV files preferred.

• High quality photos are usually large files, so the bigger the better.

• If shooting video with your phone, make sure you are filming in landscape versus portrait, (so not in selfie mode).

• Include a recycled element into your submission (a picture cut from a magazine, newspaper text, an old train ticket, the wrapper from a plastic water bottle, etc.).

• You’re an artist.  Maybe not Picasso, but you can draw, cut, paste, and design, I promise.  Be open to the idea that this may feel like you’re doing an art project from elementary school. Embrace that.

• Feel free to get creative. Maybe your response isn’t a poem or painting, but a song or dance instead.

• Really keep the Earth in mind. What would the planet say at this moment in time?

• Be careful not to give voice to another person or group of people.  Instead, focus your piece on the truly voiceless things that make up our world.

Tips for creating Prompt for the Planet submissions with a Group

We strongly encourage classrooms and organizations to participate. If you are a teacher or group coordinator, please check out these unique tips and instructions.

• Schedule a time for your class/group to complete the prompt.

• Consider bringing some recycled materials and art supplies or request student/club members/etc. bring them themselves.

• Explain the prompt and discuss taking on the voice of something voiceless. Consider discussing empathy and the problems that face the world today.

• Discuss that our voices are powerful, especially when united.

• Share a bit of Amanda Gorman’s background, and how she is involved in this project (she wrote the prompt and created a response herself).

• Once your group is finished, either have individuals submit the responses themselves, or as the teacher/coordinator, submit all responses at once on their behalf. This decision is up to you and depends on what type of group you work with. A preschool teacher may want to submit on behalf of the students, whereas a college club president may request that their peers submit the work themselves. If you have too many responses to submit via our response form, please email us at prompt4theplanet@gmail.com.

• For any groups with students under 18, we request that a legal guardian grants permission for the work to be submitted by the teacher/coordinator on behalf of the student.

Please use the form to submit, but if you have any questions or difficulties submitting, feel free to email prompt4theplanet@gmail.com.