Sometimes the best thing to do for Red Ribbon Week is to ask students to make their own poetry. Using the old Roses are red, violets are blue poem is easy for students to make their own rhymes. Here are some examples. Roses are red, violets are blue, I never take drugs, would you? Roses are red, the night is dark, I will not take drugs, Cause I'm smarter than that. Roses are red, the trees are forest green, taking lots of drugs could make me tell the truth. Roses are red sheets are white, someone offers me drugs, I would say it's not fair. Roses are red, brown bears are taking drugs any time would be really my parents disapprove.
Use all colors, gray, yellow, gold, silver, khaki, pink, clear, lime, striped, very pink, camouflage, rust, peach, cream, aqua, red, beige, purple, purple, red white and blue, black, red, navy blue, sky blue, bright plaid. Second, some students will go straight to the dictionary and find others.
Others, like aquamarine, blue, beige, chocolate, coral, red, salmon, turquoise, fuchsia brick, honey dew, indigo, ivory, lavender, lemon chiffon , cyan, linen, magenta, maroon, pink moccasins, Peru, sienna, teal, thistle, and many others.
If they actually want to see the color they could go online and in the search box write html color names and they need a site that will show the child the actual color.
After trying something simple like the Roses are Red poem have to try other forms of poetry. Those that most students are familiar with or are taught in elementary school is haiku, tongue twisters and humorous.
Have students try other styles of poetry like haiku. Haiku poetry is an unrhymed Japanese verse. Seventeen syllables in all three unrhymed lines of five, seven and five syllables. It is usually written in the present. It is said that the 575 rule was made for school children to understand and learn what kind of poetry. Although it is generally used in describing seasons it works well with describing the results of the drug. Or does well to describe things to do than drugs.
A tongue twister would be fun, too. Students like to do tongue twisters because they can be stupid and do not make much sense. Alliteration can be taught at this time because that is what tongue twisters are. Tongue twisters are made of lines that are difficult to say quickly. The poem should tie your tongue into knots.
Another type of poetry that they might try with the subject of drugs is a Limerick. A limerick is a rhymed humorous poem of five lines. The rhyme scheme is one-a-b-b-a.
All these types of poetry can be successfully used for students to express their feelings about drugs. Or they could use them to express their concerns about drugs, their desire to stay away from drugs. Poetry is just a way for them to express their feelings without fear. Red Ribbon week is the perfect time to teach poetry and have expressed these feelings.
Resource Box - Caroline Mackay 2007 Caroline Mackay is a retired teacher of thirty-seven years and writer and producer of many school programs. She is the host of http:www.ezeducationplays.comarticles.html And http:www.ezelectronicelements.compagepage3966316.htm