Hello, this is your past self, and I am here to talk to you about our dream of becoming ……

In the poem, children are reproached for not taking responsibility for their mistakes, which is not an ideal message. To address this issue, I devised a plan to merge Language and Art in a series of lessons. However, I realized that the topic I had chosen could potentially make the students feel guilty for no reason. Therefore, I decided to flip the context and focus on promoting the students' power and potential instead. This is how "Mr. Nobody" turned into "Always Somebody". My project involved poetry and language analysis, as well as inferencing, the use of adjectives, and art, which all culminated in a beautiful letter to our future selves - the "somebody" we already are and can be.

In this lesson, the aim was to enhance lateral thinking by making inferences and to encourage students to reflect on their positive qualities by using adjectives. Through the use of mixed media, collages, and self-portraits, the artistic goals were to delve deeper into each student's personal story. The ultimate objective was to connect the students' character traits and qualities with a letter addressed to their future selves. The key takeaway from this lesson is that each student is unique and valuable, and will always be somebody.

Mr. Nobody

BY ANONYMOUS

I know a funny little man,

As quiet as a mouse,

Who does the mischief that is done

In everybody’s house!

There’s no one ever sees his face,

And yet we all agree

That every plate we break was cracked

By Mr. Nobody.

’Tis he who always tears out books,

Who leaves the door ajar,

He pulls the buttons from our shirts,

And scatters pins afar;

That squeaking door will always squeak,

For prithee, don’t you see,

We leave the oiling to be done

By Mr. Nobody.

He puts damp wood upon the fire

That kettles cannot boil;

His are the feet that bring in mud,

And all the carpets soil.

The papers always are mislaid;

Who had them last, but he?

There’s no one tosses them about

But Mr. Nobody.

The finger marks upon the door

By none of us are made;

We never leave the blinds unclosed,

To let the curtains fade.

The ink we never spill; the boots

That lying round you see

Are not our boots,—they all belong

To Mr. Nobody.