Red Ribbon Week PSA Project Guidelines for High School Health
A project guide for a Unit 3 Health assessment in which 10th graders design a public service announcement aimed at peers about drugs and alcohol. Students pick one format (poster, digital infographic or slide, or storyboard ad) and must include a slogan, two accurate facts, a short-term and long-term effect, a refusal skill, and a healthy alternative. The guide defines key terms like PSA, short-term effect, long-term effect, refusal skill, and healthy alternative, so students can plan their work step by step.
“create an outline or guideline for high school students to complete this assessment for unit 3 health class: Choice 2: Red Ribbon Week PSA — Spread the Message Best for: Students who enjoy creativity, visual design, or public health messaging. Create a public service announcement (PSA) that educates other high school students about the effects of drugs and alcohol. Choose ONE format: - A one-page poster. - A digital infographic or single-slide presentation. - A short written or storyboard-style advertisement. Your PSA must include: 1. A memorable message or slogan encouraging healthy choices. 2. Two accurate facts about the effects of drugs or alcohol on the brain or body. 3. One short-term effect and one long-term effect. 4. One refusal skill a student could use when pressured to vape, drink alcohol, or use drugs. 5. One healthy alternative to substance use, such as exercise, music, a hobby, or connecting with supportive people.”
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this as the launch document for the Red Ribbon Week PSA choice in Unit 3, ideally paired with a 45-minute class period for reviewing the rubric, brainstorming formats, and gathering reliable sources such as NIDA or CDC fact sheets.
- Discussion question: Why does a PSA sell an idea rather than a product, and what makes a message persuasive to teenagers rather than preachy?
- Scaffold for struggling writers: Offer a fill-in-the-blank planning sheet with slots for the slogan, each required element, and a source for each fact, and let them sketch the layout before writing final text.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to tailor one version of their PSA for a different audience, such as parents or younger students, and explain how the facts and tone shift.
- Estimated time: Plan roughly 3 to 5 class periods for planning, drafting, and finishing, with an additional 10 minutes per student for a peer gallery walk at the end.
What is Diffit?
Teachers use Diffit to get quality materials for their unique classrooms. Adjust difficulty, add scaffolds, or change the topic to get started.
Try Diffit for free“create an outline or guideline for high school students to complete this assessment for unit 3 health class: Choice 2: Red Ribbon Week PSA — Spread the Message Best for: Students who enjoy creativity, visual design, or public health messaging. Create a public service announcement (PSA) that educates other high school students about the effects of drugs and alcohol. Choose ONE format: - A one-page poster. - A digital infographic or single-slide presentation. - A short written or storyboard-style advertisement. Your PSA must include: 1. A memorable message or slogan encouraging healthy choices. 2. Two accurate facts about the effects of drugs or alcohol on the brain or body. 3. One short-term effect and one long-term effect. 4. One refusal skill a student could use when pressured to vape, drink alcohol, or use drugs. 5. One healthy alternative to substance use, such as exercise, music, a hobby, or connecting with supportive people.”
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this as the launch document for the Red Ribbon Week PSA choice in Unit 3, ideally paired with a 45-minute class period for reviewing the rubric, brainstorming formats, and gathering reliable sources such as NIDA or CDC fact sheets.
- Discussion question: Why does a PSA sell an idea rather than a product, and what makes a message persuasive to teenagers rather than preachy?
- Scaffold for struggling writers: Offer a fill-in-the-blank planning sheet with slots for the slogan, each required element, and a source for each fact, and let them sketch the layout before writing final text.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to tailor one version of their PSA for a different audience, such as parents or younger students, and explain how the facts and tone shift.
- Estimated time: Plan roughly 3 to 5 class periods for planning, drafting, and finishing, with an additional 10 minutes per student for a peer gallery walk at the end.
Red Ribbon Week PSA Project Guidelines for High School Health
A project guide for a Unit 3 Health assessment in which 10th graders design a public service announcement aimed at peers about drugs and alcohol. Students pick one format (poster, digital infographic or slide, or storyboard ad) and must include a slogan, two accurate facts, a short-term and long-term effect, a refusal skill, and a healthy alternative. The guide defines key terms like PSA, short-term effect, long-term effect, refusal skill, and healthy alternative, so students can plan their work step by step.
What is Diffit?
Teachers use Diffit to get quality materials for their unique classrooms. Adjust difficulty, add scaffolds, or change the topic to get started.
Try Diffit for free