This writing challenge is for teachers who want to give their students at any grade level a real-world writing assignment that can have a profound impact on the world today and on the world in which their students will live their adult lives. The assignment is an exercise in critical thinking, creative thinking, language arts, math, science, and social sciences. It involves students in written communication with state and national leaders.

Steps include:

1. Read and watch the news-clips at "Stopping an even greater disaster than the Haiti earthquake . . ." Read "The day the president shocked the world . . ." Have a class discussion.

2. Have your students write individual letters or a class letter to their representatives in congress, the senate, (addresses at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov) and/or to the president (1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC 20500) to share what they have learned and to persuade the legislators and the president to act upon the information provided in the letters.

3. Send a sample letter or letters, with permission to publish the letter or letters, to John Gile, 1710 N. Main St., Rockford, IL 61103, postmarked on or before June 1, 2010. Participating schools will be eligible for drawings to receive free books, free writing programs, and awards from other writing challenge sponsors to be announced.

Academic benefits accruing to your students as they read about, think about, and write about the most serious issue facing humankind in their lifetimes:

1. Helps your students realize the power of the written word and why they must develop their language skills and other skills necessary for surviving and thriving in the 21st century.

2. Helps your students learn about government structures and functions.

3. Helps your students learn about the roles of current leaders and learn about your students' own opportunities for future leadership.

4. Helps your students learn about food production and distribution processes, about the forces that facilitate and impede food production and distribution, and about the math, science, economic, political, and other factors involved.

5. Helps your students realize they have an interest and a voice in world affairs.

6. Helps your students learn about world geography and about other cultures.

Writing can help us see beyond what is to what can be. Writing can help us see that just because we found the world a certain way doesn't mean we have to leave it that way. — John Gile