There is hope even when your brain tells you there isn't.
― John Green
The assignments that have activities are in red.
Discussion or Written Responses:

Read the poem: Severed Hands, (24)
1. How does the physical description in the first stanza help to form an opinion of the  student’s character or the way her character might be perceived?

2. In the second stanza, what indication does the student give that she might be suicidal? 

​3. In the third stanza, what is the teacher’s attitude towards the student and how do you  know? What might this reveal about the teacher? ​
4. The fourth stanza introduces a scientific experiment about touch.
Read the following articles: Touching Empathy under the tab [EMPATHY] and The Experience of Touch: Research Points to a Critical Role under the tab [TOUCH]. 
Why is this concept of touch important and how is it used in the poem?
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5. The last three stanzas refer to some of the information we have discussed regarding suicide, suicide attempts, and survivors. Discuss the last three stanzas with what you now know about suicide attempts and survivors. 

​6. The two emotional states referred to are shame and guilt. Why do you think the poet chose these words? ​
Before reading the poem, click on the tab [POLICE]
Read the articles under the section Mental Health:Police Interactions  
  • Read the poem Sirens in Her Belly (25). 
  •  What perspective does the narrator of the poem have regarding the incident? 
  • The poem is open-ended with ellipsis - What is the call to action and is there more than one call to action? 
  • Brainstorm on ways that these types of situations could be handled differently. 
Photo credit:
Antelope Valley, Kristin Smith