The Red Ribbon :

Tying Library Media and Life Skills Together

Library Media Skills Objectives:

The student will be able to summarize “The Red Ribbon”, noting particularly creative aspects of the story. (Information Literacy Standard, #5)

The student will work cooperatively in a group to develop a list of activities in which students in the 21^st century can participate that are in line with the themes of “The Red Ribbon” (community building, tolerance, drug/alcohol abuse prevention) (Information Literacy Standard, #9)

Curriculum (subject area) Objectives:

The student will be able to list at least two ways in which their awareness of “Red Ribbon Week” has been increased through exposure to the story and through group discussion.

The student will publicly pledge, in writing, to remain an alcohol/drug free minor.

Grade Levels: 6-8

Resources:

Lasne, John and Brains on Fire. The Red Ribbon: A story of hope. Greenville, SC: Woofgang Brand Development, 1994 (Available for purchase through: www.redribbonworks.org)

Red construction paper (3” X 11” strips)

Markers

Stapler

Variety of colored ribbons (yellow, red, pink, light blue) looped over once

Instructional Roles:

The library media specialist and the life skills (or social studies) teacher will work cooperatively during this lesson. The media specialist will introduce and read the book to the students and lead the activity. The life skills teacher will reinforce the theme of Red Ribbon Week with additional information about drug and alcohol awareness and abuse prevention. Together the library media specialist and the life skills teacher will decide where to display the resulting “ribbon chain” for the largest impact on the school community.

Activity and Procedures for Completion:

Motivation:

Hold up one of the colored looped ribbons. Ask if any of the students know what it means (yellow = support for the troops overseas; pink = breast cancer awareness; light blue = prostate cancer awareness; red = drug/alcohol abuse prevention). Remind them that we see them on the backs of cars, on other people’s lapels, even on yogurt lids. We must be careful that we don’t allow their meaning to fade, even if we see them often.

““The Red Ribbon” is a story that effectively reminds us of the special power of a ribbon and especially the influence of those that hold it in their hands.”

Read “The Red Ribbon.”

Ask the students to summarize the story. Have them relate to everyone what they think are the most creative and clever aspects of the story. Have the students compile a list of the themes in the story. Divide the students into several small groups (three or four students/group). Ask them, as a group, to develop a list of activities in which they can participate right now, that will demonstrate the themes of the story. Remind the students that being drug and alcohol free is an excellent way for them to express the story.

Give each student a strip of red construction paper. Have them write one way they can demonstrate one of the themes of the story on one side, and a pledge to remain drug and alcohol free on the other side.

As the students finish their strips, staple them together to make a paper chain.

With the life skills teacher (and possibly help from a few other adults) display the completed chain (appropriately looped) on a wall or ceiling of the school where the maximum number of school community members can see it.

Evaluation:

Library media specialist reads and checks each paper strip for appropriate content, neatness and spelling before adding it to the chain. Library media specialist observes the group discussions and monitors the lists of activities that are created. Life skills teacher observes student participation in future discussions of drug and alcohol abuse awareness.