Tribute day. (Student.

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

AGE GROUP: elementary, middle, and high school students

NUMBER OF KIDS: 30 or more

NUMBER OF ADULTS: 1 or more

TIME: 3 weeks

RESOURCES: paper and copy machine

COST: under $5

Activity Overview: As a school, set aside a day to remember family members and friends who have died from tobacco-related illnesses such as lung cancer and emphysema. Students can show their support by wearing a special shirt, a particular color, a sticker, or a ribbon. Create a positive message for your school's Tribute Day such as "Live Without Tobacco." Use Tribute Day as an opportunity to educate people and organize support for other local tobacco-use prevention efforts.

Why Do It: More than 400,000 people in the U.S. die each year from smoking-related illnesses. (2) Holding a Tribute Day at your school is a way to learn from those who have died and to teach others about the deadly dangers of tobacco use.

What to Do

Three Weeks Before: Talk to your principal and teacher about your ideas. Set a date for your Tribute Day, and make sure it doesn't conflict with other events at your school. Ask for your principal's permission (in writing) to host the day. Start recruiting other kids to participate. Talk to your friends and to school groups (such as athletic clubs, drama clubs, the school newspaper staff, school band, etc.) and post flyers.

Two Weeks Before: Draft a letter inviting local media to cover the Tribute Day at your school. Finalize your decision about what students will wear to signify support.

One Week Before: Continue recruiting participants. Confirm the date and symbols of support with all participants.

The Day Before: With your principal's permission, announce the Tribute Day events on your school's PA system or during lunch in the cafeteria.

On Tribute Day: Make an announcement on the PA system or during lunch in the cafeteria explaining the purpose of Tribute Day, and remind students, faculty, and administrators about any special events you have planned. Photograph and videotape Tribute Day events and the participants wearing ribbons or other Tribute Day insignia.

Next Step

* If reporters from your local newspaper were unable to cover the event, take a photo of the organizers in action. Send it to the newspaper along with a caption and a letter explaining the event.

Other Ideas

Community Awareness Day: Reach out to an expert in your local community. Invite a doctor who specializes in treating people with tobacco-related illnesses to speak at a school assembly. You may also invite young people or their family members who have experienced the loss of a loved one due to tobacco-related illnesses to speak out about the effects of tobacco.

Memory Book: Ask students to write a brief remembrance of family members or friends who have died from tobacco-related illnesses. Place the remembrances in a scrapbook and display the book in the school library.