Activities
Red Ribbon Week
Most public schools participate in Red Ribbon Week during October. Here is a list of several different activities that can be done at both the elementary through secondary level.
This is a really funny activity that will be sure to get your students’ attention. Have your principal or another staff member sing this song during the announcements or at an assembly. Make sure they practice a couple of times!
5 pages of information from the National Institute on Drug Abuse concerning cigarettes and other nicotine products. You can use this as a handout in classes or as a jigsaw activity in homeroom to teach about the dangers of nicotine.
California has an outstanding organization called the California Red Ribbon Coalition that is dedicated to supporting the efforts of schools in implementing Red Ribbon Week. This is a great intro letter that you can share with parents and community members. Learn more at www.redribboncoalition.org
31 page parent toolkit from the California Red Ribbon Coalition. Use this on back to school night or as part of your intervention efforts in counseling. Topics include: Knowing Your Kids, Connecting With Your Kids, How To Spot Drug Use, and What To Do If They Are Using.
The Red Ribbon Pledge Card is designed to encourage open communication between parents/caregivers and students about the danger of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs and the benefits of a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Here are the instructions for using the pledge card and some suggestions for school activities.
Here is a copy of the pledge card. Make sure you register at www.redribboncoalition.org for the most recent copies of the information and check with your state department of education to see if they have any publications regarding Red Ribbon Week you can use.
Even after going through all of the above information you still need more ideas you can call or write these organizations and they will be able to send you even more materials and resources.
If you have a large spanish speaking population at your school it is a smart option to have the pledge card available in spanish as well as English.
Some schools like to have a “death day” in order to give a real visual impact to the students of the number of young adults killed every day due to drug and alcohol related causes. It is important that the administration and teachers are fully aware of what you are doing and what you are trying to accomplish with the activity.
If you do a form of the “death day” at your school it is important that the students are chosen ahead of time so they can agree to follow all of the rules set forth in the activity. When they “die” make sure to designate them with a black shirt and a sticker. Make a label in on your computer and use mailer labels from an office supply store.
Remember when doing door decorating that you inform the teachers well in advance as to the requirements and any themes that you are using. Here is a sample instruction sheet that you can use as a guideline. Use as many categories as possible so there can be a variety of winners! Click here for Door Decorating.pdf.
If need a little help planning your activities the California Red Ribbon Coalition has come to the rescue again. Here is a planning guide to help you organize your activities and evaluate your Red Ribbon Week.
California Youth and Alcohol Use: Strategies for Parents and Schools to Take Action. 4 great pages of strategies, facts, and resources for your counselors and teachers to use in a directed study situation if you need to discuss the topic of alcohol.
Here is a copy of the memo that our county sends out regarding Red Ribbon Week. If you don’t have specific support from your county or district you can use this as a reference. Make sure to check with your administrator to see what activities and resources were used in the past.
This is the introduction and table of contents for an outstanding Red Ribbon Handbook put together by the California Red Ribbon Coalition. The introduction is 6 pages and covers the history of the Coalition and Red Ribbon Week.
This is the full handbook from the California Red Ribbon Coalition. 74 pages of history, activities, drug prevention tips and worksheets. There is even a sample of how to write a press release to get the work you’re doing in your school noticed by local media. A great resource.
Some good ideas from local schools in Kansas from a few years ago. Two things that stand out are when an overall theme is used for Red Ribbon Week it tends to be more successful. Also, having a specific activity on every day of the week keeps students involved and motivated to participate.
Here are some sample ideas and journal entries to use if you have the opportunity to set aside time in one of your periods for Red Ribbon Week activities. Having the students actively engage through writing activities will make them more likely to critically think about the information being provided to them.
Make it easy on your staff by providing them with preprinted journal entry sheets.
Results from a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tobacco Use and the Health of Young People. Find out the most current information by visiting www.cde.gov/healthy/youth/tobacco
A quick week calendar of activities that can be done on any school campus K - 12. Content covers daily theme, class activity, dress up day ideas, and lunchtime activities.
