Red Ribbon Week in elementary school is always a challenge. Some admin and parents don't want their kids introduced to concepts too early. We've all had that "What are drugs?" awkward conversation with a kiddo. Also, some schools like to take an approach of promoting healthy choices rather than saying no to drugs.

There are several wonderful resources for Red Ribbon Week like the Natural High videos, but again these aren't perfect for an elementary audience. I wanted a quick way to introduce my students to RRW so I created a fun recess activity with the theme "I'd rather eat bugs than do drugs!" Who doesn't love snacks and photo booths?

All you need is:

• "dirt" (crushed oreos, chocolate pudding, gummy worms)
• photo booth frame (I made mine out of poster board)

Things to consider:

• Buying all of these treats can be expensive! Check with your principal or parent teacher committee to see if there are funds available. I was reimbursed for my purchases. It doesn't hurt to ask!
• Run it by your admin. Mine thought it was a great idea but a few of the teachers didn't like the idea of candy. And of course you always want to check on allergies.

In addition to the delicious "dirt" activity, you can do week-long themes and dress-up days, door decorating, classroom lessons for elementary and middle school, and morning announcements.

Check out my Red Ribbon Week Toolkit here for easy-to-implement class lessons, theme weeks, flyers, and more!

Red Ribbon Week themes and dress-up days

This year's national theme (2026) is "Be a Hero" and is based on superheroes, which is fun for every grade. Click here to download the materials to use at your school site!

If you'd rather pick your own, here are some other themes and slogans I've seen work well:

• Healthy Choices Are My Superpower
• Our Future Is So Bright, We Need Shades
• Too Smart to Start
• Team Drug Free
• Be Drug Free, Be You
• Follow Your Dreams, Not the Crowd

Dress-up days are so much fun for kids. Encourage staff to participate too! Here are some ideas you can use:

• Monday, Red Out Day: Wear red to show you're red-dy to be drug free.
• Tuesday, Crazy Sock Day: Sock it to drugs.
• Wednesday, Hat Day: Put a lid on drugs (or Hats Off to Healthy Choices for younger grades).
• Thursday, Team Jersey Day: Team up for healthy choices.
• Friday, Superhero or Sunglasses Day: Be a hero, or our future is so bright we need shades.

A few more if you want to swap any out: Pajama Day (Dream big, stay drug free), Mismatch Day (Drugs and me don't match), Neon Day (Too bright for drugs) and Career Day (Drug free and future ready).

Red Ribbon Week door decorating ideas

A door contest gets every classroom involved without adding much to your plate. Kick it off Monday, judge on Thursday, and announce the winners Friday morning. Student council, PTA volunteers or a few staff members can be good judges, and the prize can be simple, like extra recess or a popsicle party.

Door ideas that are easy to pull off

• Be a Hero, Stay Drug Free: Each student adds a paper cape or mask with one healthy choice they make.
• Our Future Is So Bright: A big sun and student photos wearing paper sunglasses.
• Team Drug Free: A jersey for every student with their name and number.
• Reach for the Stars: A space scene with each student's goal on a star.
• Wild About Healthy Choices: A jungle door with animals holding healthy choice speech bubbles.
• Building a Drug-Free Future: Building blocks, each with a student's name and a pledge.
• Growing Up Healthy: A garden with flowers made from student handprints.

The doors I like best are the ones where every student adds something, so the door becomes a class pledge instead of a teacher art project. One practical note: check with admin before the contest about how much of a door can be covered with paper. A lot of fire codes limit it, and it's better to know before a class spends a week on a masterpiece.

I remember when I was in elementary school we did "chugs are better than drugs" and glued the milk bottles, which were called "chugs" from our cafeteria, to the door.

Red Ribbon Week lesson ideas for elementary and middle school

Hop in classrooms for a supplemental class lesson that supports Red Ribbon Week.

Kindergarten to 2nd grade

With the youngest kids I don't talk about drugs much at all. The focus is on keeping our bodies healthy and safe.

• Helpful or harmful sort: Students sort picture cards (fruit, sleep, a bike helmet, medicine bottle, cleaning spray) into things that help our bodies and things that could hurt them if used the wrong way.
• Medicine safety: Only take medicine from a parent, the school nurse or another trusted adult.
• Healthy me pledge: Each student traces a hand and writes or draws one healthy choice they make. These look great on a door or bulletin board.

3rd to 5th grade

I love to use role play scenarios with upper elementary kiddos. Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Ways to say no: Practice a few refusal strategies out loud, like saying "No thanks," walking away, changing the subject, suggesting something else to do, and telling a trusted adult.
• Healthy habits: Connect the week to sleep, exercise and coping skills. Check out my wellness and sleep hygiene lesson.

Middle school

For middle schoolers, I like to tackle vaping during Red Ribbon Week. Implement a vaping lesson with real facts to make middle school students second-guess next time they're considering vaping.

• What's in a vape: Talk about nicotine, why it's so addictive, and how it affects attention, learning and mood in a brain that's still developing.
• Marketing on purpose: Have students look at how flavors, colors and packaging are designed to appeal to young people. They don't like finding out they're being targeted.
• Realistic scenarios: Practice refusal skills with situations they'll actually face, like a friend offering a vape in the bathroom or a group chat pressure.
• Where to get help: Make sure every student knows which adults at school they can go to if they or a friend want to quit.

If you want a ready-to-teach option, my Vaping and E-Cigarettes Prevention lesson for middle school is built exactly for this week.

For students who need more than a classroom lesson, my Peer Pressure individual counseling curriculum and Responsible Decision Making curriculum are designed for individual sessions.

Red Ribbon Week morning announcements

Short, upbeat announcements are a great way to kick off each morning of Red Ribbon Week. Here's a script for each day that you can read as is or hand to your student announcers. Swap in your school name and mascot.

Monday: Good morning, [mascot]! Today is the first day of Red Ribbon Week. More than 40 years ago, people started wearing red ribbons to honor Kiki Camarena, a DEA agent who gave his life working to keep people safe from drugs. This year's theme is Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free. Thanks to everyone wearing red today! Tomorrow is Crazy Sock Day, so get ready to sock it to drugs.

Tuesday: Good morning, [mascot]! Happy Crazy Sock Day. Here's something to think about: your brain keeps growing and changing until you're in your twenties. Sleep, healthy food, exercise and good friends all help it grow strong. Tomorrow is Hat Day, so put a lid on drugs!

Wednesday: Good morning, [mascot]! It's Hat Day. If someone ever offers you something that isn't safe, you can say "No thanks," walk away, and tell a trusted adult. Saying no is a skill, and it gets easier with practice. Tomorrow, wear your favorite team jersey for Team Up for Healthy Choices Day.

Thursday: Good morning, [mascot]! Look at all these team jerseys. Every team needs good teammates, so think about who is on your team. Who is one adult at school you could talk to if something was bothering you? Tomorrow is Superhero Day, so come ready to be a hero.

Friday: Good morning, [mascot]! Happy Superhero Day. Being a hero doesn't take superpowers. It looks like making healthy choices, standing up for a friend, and asking for help when you need it. Thank you for an amazing Red Ribbon Week, and congratulations to our door contest winners: [winners]!

Want the whole week done for you?

If you'd rather not build all of this from scratch, my Red Ribbon Week Editable Toolkit has class lessons, morning announcements, dress-up day and door decorating themes, and flyers you can edit in Canva and send home. It works for a traditional Red Ribbon Week or a healthy choices and wellness week if that's a better fit for your school.

Whatever you plan, keep it simple and keep it fun. Kids remember the week that made them laugh and feel like part of something, and that's what makes the message stick.

What does your school do for Red Ribbon Week? I'd love to hear your favorite ideas.

Have a great Red Ribbon Week!