Go Beyond Sock Day: Interesting Red Ribbon Week Ideas

I have always had a passion to be involved in Red Ribbon Week activities at my school.  Some years were a hit and other years, well I don't have to tell you (signal the disappointing music).  However, those years that I was on my game with creativity and ingenuity were pretty satisfying. Needless to say, we received a lot of positive feedback from both staff and students (GO US!!).

So if you are looking to go beyond twin day, sock day, and black out day, please check out these "out of the box" Red Ribbon Ideas.

By the way, this year's Red Ribbon Week Theme is Send a Message. Stay Drug Free. Check out the website for additional ideas, supplies, and posters.

Downloaded from Red Ribbon Week Website

Possible Activities

Link terrorism and the Drug Trade

Showing drug trade routes in your state, the cost of health care, the loss of work time hours, and the cost of incarceration can show students that drugs are no small problem.  Often we believe, "it is not a big deal in our community". In fact according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, "six out of 10 American teens say knowing there is a link between illegal drugs and terrorism would make them less likely to use drugs." If you are looking for a lesson plan to get your message in the classroom,  here is one that provides information on the connection between terrorism and the drug trade.

Drugs and Terrorism

Connect Drugs to Death 

(morbid I know, but effective)

Ghost Out-every 30 minutes the Grim Reaper will visit a classroom to take the soul of a student who has died from a drug/alcohol related crash.
Don't Let It Be You-a coffin is placed in the cafeteria or hallway. As the students walk by they naturally want to take a peek to see what is in it.  Many students are surprised to see a reflection of themselves in the coffin with a sign warning them about the dangers of using drugs.
Mock Car Wreck-students enact a horrific car wreck in the front of the school. The hardest part is finding the car, not the students. 

My students from 2012-not sure how we got all those kids in the car!

Play Games

Here is a game that my peer leaders conducted during lunch.

The Drunk Game

This is the write up of the game from my students.

The game required two folders: drunk and sober. Students were to write their names on the sober folder first then proceeded to spin around 15 times and try to write their name on the drunk side of the folder. Many students struggled while others wrote it perfectly on both. We told them that the dizziness they are feeling right now would be a perfect example of how you would feel under the consumption of alcohol or drugs. They seemed really puzzled with the realization of what it could actually feel like. By the end of the game we encouraged students to take a picture with our "Don't Do Drugs" and we saw wonderful results from our peers that they really enjoyed the game. 

Here is a video of a participant playing the game.

BeanBoozled

Simulate a Skittles Party where kids grab drugs from home and bring to a party to consume.  Each student is blindfolder, asked to pick a jelly bean out of a bowl, and instructed to eat it. The student picking the jelly bean is clueless about the drugs, but the observers watching are given a list of drugs, their effects, and what happens to each teen after the party. After eating the jelly bean, a member of the audience reads out loud what happens to the student. 

I typically buy the bags of jelly beans

Another group of my students actually played BeanBoozled with students at lunch.  They created  big spinner, had students to spin the wheel, and then instructed them to pick up that jelly bean.  The students had to act out the symptoms of the drug they chose.  Even though they got a kick out of the game, it was eye opening as well.

Lunch and Learn

Each month, my peer leaders conduct a lunch and learn where students create a craft and discuss topics.  For Red Ribbon Week, we conducted a lunch and learn where students were given discussion questions about drugs and their sneakers had to talk about the subject. The goal was for students to come up with ideas about how to bring awareness about the dangers of drugs to the school community. After the discussion, students were encouraged to sign the drug free pledge.

Educate Parents

Another audience we need to educate and inform parents and guardians.  Too often, we find out that parents are actually the best dealers in our school and are clueless. If parents are aware, they can prevent themselves from becoming an "accidental dealer" by locking up their prescription drugs from their students.  The fact show that kids, especially in rural areas, begin to experiment at home from prescription drugs. Also, give parents resources to take inventory of their prescription drugs and safe disposal of medications. Here are some resources you can provide for your families.
Are you an accidental dealer?
Drug Inventory Sheet
Safe Drug Disposal

Additional Resources

If you want to go back in my archives for more ideas, please check out these additional blog posts.  Good luck on creating your out of the box ideas!!!

Out of the Box Red Ribbon Week Ideas

Red Ribbon Week: The Ultimate Campaign

Preparing for Red Ribbon Week's Aftermath