Red Ribbon Week Ideas | Drug Prevention

Red Ribbon Week Ideas

Red Ribbon Week

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Red Ribbon Week is a time devoted to creating a healthy, drug free future for America. Schools, community groups, governments, and businesses increase their drug prevention efforts in October due to this nationwide event. Good character traits and positive choices are emphasized in addition to the need for living free from drugs.
Positive Promotions wants you to have a productive Red Ribbon Week and is here to help with attractive gifts and entertaining educational tools. We also have compiled ideas from schools near and far so you can expand your Red Ribbon Week event lineup. With Positive Promotions on your side, your activities are sure to be remembered!


	Worded Wonderfully
	Students at Lacoochee Elementary School in Dade City, Florida, were encouraged to express themselves in a way all could see. Each class was supplied with sidewalk chalk. Class members wrote anti-drug messages on the sidewalks around the school. If you would like to turn your own sidewalks into Red Ribbon Week message boards, first distribute the contents of a Message Button Assortment Pack or a Sparkle Pencil Assortment Pack. These packs will give your students slogans, such as “I Believe In Me, Drug Free” and “Being Drug Free Is My Responsibility.” Then pass out the chalk.


	Looking Ahead
	The YMCA in Escondido, California, had children of Oak Hill Elementary School create drug free time capsules. The capsules were made out of plastic medication bottles, which had the labels covered. On slips of paper, students wrote why they wanted to stay drug free and signed their names. Then they placed the papers into the bottles. The plan is to have the students open up their capsules on their first day of high school. Add a special touch to your students’ time capsules. Provide them with “I Pledge To Be Drug Free” Cards to sign and put inside. Hand out “My Future Is Bright Drug Free” Red Glow Bracelets that can be worn as reminders between now and high school.


	Getting Everyone On Board
	Red Ribbon Week organizers at Thalia Elementary School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, made sure to involve the school’s bus drivers in the celebration. They gave the drivers red ribbons to wear and to tie on bus antennas. The ribbons each had a note attached, inviting them to don red on Friday and participate in a parade. Give your bus drivers “Respect Yourself, Don’t Do Drugs” Red Satin Ribbons for their clothing. Cut a “Celebrate A Drug Free Life” Red Satin Ribbon Decorator Roll into sections for the buses.


	Having A Ball
	To show “Life is a kick without drugs,” Cornwall Elementary School in Cornwall, Pennsylvania, organized a soccer goal competition. Each goal scored stood for a pledge to remain drug free and healthy. The students from the classroom with the most goals were awarded prizes. Every classroom received a ball. If this activity interests you, consider having “Life Is A Kick Drug Free” Mini Kickballs as prizes and giving “Shoot For The Stars Stay Drug Free” Mini Basketballs to your classes. In addition to the competition, Cornwall asked students to color paper sneakers and write on them what exercises they get a kick out of.


	Clothes For A Cause
	Unify your school behind the concept that a life without drugs is easily obtainable. Send home “Being Drug Free Is No Sweat” Theme Day Stickers Include a letter asking parents to have children dress in sweat pants and sweat shirts, as well as wear the sticker, on a designated day. Use “Too Cool To Do Drugs” Heat-Sensitive Pens to reward children who arrive in sweats. Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School in Cuddebackville, New York, held a sweat clothing day. The school also gave chips as a snack, telling students, “Don’t let drugs chip away at your brain.”


	Wings And A Wand
	Youngsters are very familiar with the legend of the Tooth Fairy. Classrooms at Salem Elementary School in Berwick, Pennsylvania, were visited by a different magical entity. During Red Ribbon Week, the Drug Free Fairy left fairy dust (actually red glitter) on certain students’ desks. The students received prizes. At your school, develop a system for picking the students who will find fairy dust. Use the items from a Raffle Pack as the prizes. If you have a brave adult volunteer willing to sport a costume, arrange a live appearance of the Drug Free Fairy for the end of the week.


	Important Note
	What goes up must come down. Balloons released into the air return to the Earth and become litter. Animals may be harmed by either swallowing the balloons or getting tangled in the strings. Here are some suggestions for enjoying the Red Ribbon Week Celebration Balloons without releasing them. • Fill balloons with water and use them to play catch. • See who can pop the most balloons in a set amount of time. • Have students wear helium-filled balloons tied to their wrists; award prizes for keeping balloons intact all day.