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Red Ribbon Week: Middle School Activities

Today, we’re diving deep into the world of Red Ribbon Week. This annual event, celebrated in schools and communities across the United States, is dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. We’ll explore Red Ribbon Week themes, Red Ribbon Week dress up ideas, and share valuable resources for you to reference while building your lesson plans. Let’s embark on this exciting journey of promoting a drug-free and healthy lifestyle!

Red Ribbon Week Themes

Every year, Red Ribbon Week offers a unique theme to inspire creativity and engagement. These themes provide a central focus for the week’s activities and messages. Here are some popular Red Ribbon Week themes from recent years:

1. “Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug Free.” – Encouraging students to find happiness and courage in a drug-free lifestyle.
2. “Life Is Your Journey. Travel Drug-Free.” – Framing life as a journey and advocating for a drug-free path.
3. “Your Future Is Key, So Stay Drug Free.” – Emphasizing the importance of staying drug-free to secure a bright future.
4. “Be a Superhero, Stay Drug-Free.” – Empowering students to be their own heroes by making healthy choices.
5. “Be You. Be Drug Free.” – Promoting individuality and self-expression while remaining drug-free.

According to redribbon.org this years (2023) theme is “Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug Free.” You can follow this years theme or you can choose a theme that resonates with your audience.

Red Ribbon Week Dress Up Ideas

Part of the fun and engagement during Red Ribbon Week comes from dressing up to support the cause and the daily theme. Encouraging students, teachers, and community members to participate in themed dress-up days adds an extra layer of excitement to the event. Here are some creative Red Ribbon Week dress-up ideas to enhance your celebration:

1. “Red Day”: Kick off the week with a classic “Wear Red” day. Encourage everyone to wear as much red as possible to symbolize their commitment to a drug-free lifestyle. Red shirts, scarves, hats, and even red shoelaces are all fair game.
2. “Crazy Hair Day”: Get students to express themselves with wild and wacky hairstyles to symbolize the idea that it’s crazy to do drugs.
3. “Camo Day”: Invite everyone to wear camo shirts, pants, socks, etc. to symbolize their commitment to the war on drugs.
4. “Neon Day”: We’re too bright for drugs at our school! Invite all of the students to wear bright neon clothes.
5. “Team Up Against Drugs”: Encourage students to wear their favorite sports jerseys or team uniforms. Emphasize that being part of a team means supporting each other in making healthy choices.
6. “Superhero Day”: Invite everyone to channel their inner superhero by dressing up as their favorite comic book or movie hero. Superheroes are known for their strength and courage, which is what it takes to say no to drugs.
7. “Decades Day”: Explore different decades and their unique styles. Students can dress up as hippies from the ’60s, disco dancers from the ’70s, or grunge enthusiasts from the ’90s. This theme reinforces that choosing a drug-free life is a timeless decision.
8. “Career Day”: Encourage participants to dress up as their future career selves. This theme reminds students that making healthy choices today will help them achieve their dreams in the future.
9. “Twin Day”: Pair up with a friend or colleague and dress in identical outfits. This theme promotes unity and the idea that we’re all in this together.
10. “Pajama Day”: Let students and staff wear their cozy pajamas to school or work. This theme sends the message that students should follow their dreams, not drugs.
11. “Mismatched Day”: Embrace the idea that drugs can cause chaos by having a day where everyone wears mismatched clothes, shoes, and accessories.
12. “Character Day”: Encourage participants to dress up as their favorite book, movie, or TV show characters. This theme celebrates the idea that drugs aren’t in our character.

Remember to announce the dress-up themes well in advance and provide guidelines for appropriate costumes to ensure a safe and respectful environment during the celebration.

These dress-up ideas will not only make Red Ribbon Week more enjoyable but also reinforce the importance of living a healthy, drug-free life in a fun and memorable way. Encourage participants to be creative, and don’t forget to capture the moments with photos to share the enthusiasm and commitment to a drug-free future!

Red Ribbon Week Merchandise

You can find merchandize on the RedRibbon.org website but sometimes I find better deals on Amazon. Here are a few Reb Ribbon Week Items available on Amazon:

• Mini-Buttons
• Stickers
• Tattoos
• Bookmarks
• Bracelets

You don’t have to buy something for every student; you could place students who dress up each day into a drawing. Then randomly draw a students name out at lunch to select their prize.

Free Red Ribbon Week Lessons & Resources

It’s always hard to find Red Ribbon Week Lessons, so I’ve gathered several FREE resources/lessons for you.

Click here to make a copy (Google Slides) to your Google Drive.

Some of the resources discussed are Elks Teen Zone, NIDA, Natural High, Ask Listen Learn, etc. The resources provide you with interactive lessons, tutorial videos, discussion guides, online jeopardy games, word searches, etc.

Hopefully these resources help save you time while planning your Red Ribbon Week Lessons. I typically select a few different videos and interactive lessons for the teachers to review during advisory/homeroom period.

Conclusion

Red Ribbon Week is a valuable opportunity to educate and empower students and community members to make healthy choices and avoid the pitfalls of drug and alcohol abuse. With the right theme, resources, and a well-structured lesson plan, you can create a memorable and impactful Red Ribbon Week celebration. Download my free Red Ribbon Week Resources and embark on your own Red Ribbon Week adventure to promote a drug-free and healthy lifestyle!

Remember, the fight against substance abuse is ongoing, and Red Ribbon Week is just one step in the right direction. Let’s work together to create a brighter, drug-free future for our communities and our youth.