I Like Bein' Clean
A Drug Education/Prevention Motivational Program by "Mrs. Kate" Carpenter
Are you looking for an assembly program for your elementary or middle school students for Red Ribbon Week? Please consider my original musical assembly program to motivate and educate your students to remain drug, alcohol and cigarette free. I have been drug-free for 53 years and I love to share the joy and benefit of this lifestyle with kids.
PROGRAM SYNOPSIS: After establishing a rapport with the students in an introductory song "Give Me a Smile," I compliment the children on their nice white teeth and ask them what color their teeth would be if they smoked cigarettes. They all holler out, "Yellow!" Then I introduce the kids to my Raccoon Puppet, Reggie, singing a rap song called "Coon in the Can.". Reggie lives in a garbage can and he eats garbage. I explain to the kids that they are smarter than raccoons and they are too smart to put harmful things into their bodies. Reggie tells them the three kinds of garbage that will hurt their bodies are illegal drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.
D - R - U - G - S ? Never! is the next segment. I ask the kids, "Are all drugs bad?" Then I explain the difference between legal drugs and illegal drugs. I have a visual aid that I use to teach them what a prescription is. I tell them that it is against the law to take someone else's prescription. In my dialog I explain deceptive drug dealer tactics and the "yuckiness" of guilty feelings you get if you use illegal drugs. I end on a positive note, "G is for good if you never will start; S is for sure of the right thing to do."
"How do I know if something is right or wrong?" is the springboard question for my next segment, "Hey There, Little Conscience," in which I explain what our conscience is and how it works. I collectively give them an oral quiz with 4 questions to help them with moral decisions, which helps them to understand how their consciences work. One of these examples involves drugs.
"Pick a Pal" teaches the children how important it is to choose their friends wisely. I explain guilt by association: Don't hang around with people who are doing bad stuff because you could be arrested. It is hard to get a job when you have a police record. "I Like Bein' Clean" is the next song, in which I elicit rhyming responses from the kids at the end of each verse. Boys and girls have separate parts in this song, which concludes with my stage helpers declaring the dreams they can achieve if they stay drug-free. By the end of this song, the kids are pumped up and really singing along fervently. We end with a "hugs are better than drugs" message in my joyful family song, "Hug-a-Bug-a-Boo." The kids learn actions to this song and heartily join in singing.
No one can measure the long-term effectiveness of any drug education/motivational program. I can say that kids see me as a role model, based on the fan mail I have received from classes, as well as emails throughout the years. One kid at Gregory Drive Elementary wrote, "That's what I'll probably be when I grow up--just like her!" Program length: 45 minutes to one hour.
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION:
"On behalf of the Flagler County School District, I would like to thank you for bringing your drug prevention and education program, "I Like Bein' Clean," to Flagler County to share with our younger students and being part of our elementary schools' 2004 Red Ribbon Week activities. We appreciated so much you sharing your positive, character-building, "hugs are better than drugs" message motivating our students to stay drug-free. We also want to thank you for being so flexible that you were able to adapt your program to accommodate each specific school's policies, and for your very organized pre and post show materials. you made it easy to prepare for and follow up your message!
We enjoyed your music tremendously as did our students as you could tell by their enthusiasm and smiling faces. We could also plainly see that you sincerely care about what you are doing and that your goal is that as many students as possible be reached with the anti-drug message. Thank you again for your wonderful performance and we look forward to seeing you again in the future!"
Marsha S. Knight, Middle School Coordinator, Drug & Violence Prevention, Flagler County
"I have known Kate Carpenter for many years and was thrilled when we were able to have her come to kickoff our Red Ribbon Week at Bryceville Elementary School. Her "I Like Bein' Clean" presentation was a fun-filled, engaging, interactive assembly filled with her original songs which were thoroughly enjoyed by all. The messages her songs convey are simplistic and realistically relevant for elementary age children concerning how to say no to drugs and yes to healthy lifestyles. For weeks afterwards I was still hearing the children singing her songs "Hug-a-Bug-a-Boo" and "I Like Bein' Clean." Kate Carpenter is an outstanding performer who understands children and the importance of positive influences in the culture of our community schools. Hats off to Mrs. Kate!
Laura Lee Kinard, M.E., School Counselor, Bryceville Elementary School, Bryceville, FL
"Thank you for presenting to the School Healthy Advisory Council. This letter is to inform you of the outcome regarding your request to add the "Motivate with Mrs. Kate" program to the Duval County Public Schools "Approved Resources List." The Council unanimously approved this character development/drug prevention program, which strives to teach children sound values and decision-making skills. Your desire to make such a positive impact on elementary school students is commendable."
Kathleen M. Bowles, Supervisor, Health Education, Duval County Public Schools
"The energy and enthusiasm were catching! The Smile Song had the students participating fro the very beginning until the very last song, Hug-a-Bug-a-Boo. I began swaying and participating along with many of the other teachers. "Mrs. Kate' did a great job of teaching the healthy message of being drug free and caring for each other. I highly recommend her program for other schools. It is enriching to listen to songs written by the singer. Her props add to the charm."
Barbara Cropp, Counselor, Second Street Elementary, Bay St. Louis, MS
"I liked it because it rhymed and the words had all different kinds of sounds for almost every single sentence. The words were very funny. I have one more thing. I loved every song and her guitar."
James Augustine, Student, Bryceville Elementary School, Bryceville, FL
PROGRAM SONG LYRICS
(All lyrics Copyrighted, Creative Property of Kate Carpenter, Folksinger) To conserve space, some repeated lyrics have been eliminated.
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Give Me a Smile! Give me an S, M, S- M- I- L- E, a big fat juicy one that stretches out your cheeks....This world will be more cheerful if we give out more of these. There was a girl named Greta, she came from Grumpy Town. She griped about most everything; she pouted and she frowned. Then one day she realized her attitude was dumb. She stuck a smile on her face and started having fun. There was a boy named Bradley; he grew up kind of poor. His daddy left the family when he was only 4. Brad was sad but helped his mom by giving her his smile. Mom smiled back and got on track. They made it through the trial. So if your smiling muscles have been tired and out of whack. Think of Brad and Greta and just give your grin a crack. There's so much to be glad about; God's given us a lot. So stick a smile on your face and give it all you've got! |
Coon in the Can (pre-song dialogue teaches kids not to put 3 kinds of garbage in their mouths, no drugs, alcohol or cigarettes). Late night supper, take out the trash. Here come the headlights, eyes go flash. Heave in the garbage; she pops out. Caught ya red-handed with jam on your snout. We found a coon in the can, coon in the can. Crazy little critter eatin' like a man. Nose in the bread bag, paws in the jam, Caught ya red-handed, you coon in the can. Ho let's go campin', set up the tent, spread out the picnic, she picks up the scent, dives in the trashcan, sucks on a bone, Caught ya red-handed in the raccoon zone. Hey Mr. Coon, are we crampin' your style? What food's hip, coon, when you trip, coon, out in the wild? Now listen my children and give me a snap, cuz you're about to hear the raccoon rap. A coon likes crawdads; a coon'll eat a crab. A coon'll suck a bird's egg, whatever he can nab. Grasshoppers, insects, nuts and berries, too. A coon is an omnivore just like me & you. Now your neighborhood coon is a hungry little critter, sneakin' down the storm drain, sniffin' out the litter. Chewin' on the Chinese, munchin' on the Mex, breakin' out the takeout and your garbage might be next. He's got a mask on his eyes, rings on his tail. Ya thievin' little criminal, I'd put ya in jail. Cuz some got rabies and some like to bite. Stay away from that coon, kid, you'll be all right. |
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DRUGS? Never! D is for Dumb. It's dumb to take drugs. R is for Ripoff from cash-hungry thugs. U is for ugly drug dirt in your heart. But G is for good if you never will start. S is for sure of the right thing to do; I will never take drugs and neither will you. |
Hey There, Little Conscience Listen very carefully, oh what is that you hear? A little voice inside yourself that's creeping out your ear. Hey there, little conscience! You and I are friends. Tell me what is right from the beginning to the end. Help me make the choices that make my pathway clear, growing strong and healthy and wiser every year. |
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Pick a Pal Pick, Pick a Pal, pick a really good pal. Pick, pick a friend to be faithful to the end. Pick, pick a bud and I do not mean a beer! Pick your partner carefully and keep your record clear. So many kids, which shall I pick? One who knows that cigarettes will make you awful sick. Doesn't sneak around, cause she hasn't got to hide. That's the kind of friend that I want walkin' by my side. So many kids, which shall I select? One who knows that alcohol can make your life a wreck. He's on the up and up cuz he's naturally high. He knows that being happy is not something you can buy. So many kids, which shall I call? One who helps me stand and who would never make me fall. Says "down with the wrong, up with the right" Together making choices that will make our future bright. |
I Like Bein' Clean. I Like Bein' Clean. No drugs in my body. I like bein' clean, no junk in my soul. I like bein' clean, no drugs in my body. I like bein' clean. I love self control. Cigarettes stink, and alcohol reeks, and I'll never put that snuff in my cheeks. Needles and pills are for those who are sick. Don't try cocaine! Addiction comes quick. If someone asks you to light up a joint, you will say NO! Do you get the point? If you do drugs, you will lie, steal and cheat. Your life will go up in the smoke of defeat. If you do drugs, then you will get caught. They'll throw you in jail, and there you will rot. If you stay clean, your problems are few. There's so many wonderful things you can do. (Here kids give their own examples). |
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Hug-a-Bug-a-Boo Hugabugaboo, I'm a huggin' you. Hugabugabee, you're a huggin' me. H - U - G, I like Hugs, Snug as a bug in a rug. I wish you knew my grandma. Nana was her name. Nana was the queen of hugs; that was her claim to fame. She'd wrap her arms around me, squeeze me really tight, and when she finally finished, my cheeks were red instead of white. Come to my family party, and see the hug-a-thon. Aunts and Uncles, cousins, they hug me one by one. I don't know how we ever got to eat our manicotti. Cuz in walk 3 more relatives, they're gonna hug my little body. Now I have a family, I've got 2 kids of my own. Young'uns raised on huggin' that's how our love has grown. Someday I'll be a grandma with loving arms that squeeze. And all my little munchkins, they're gonna get some hugs from me!
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Post-Program Discussion Questions: 1. According to Mrs. Kate, which animal is one of the smartest or most intelligent? 2. Mrs. Kate used "Reggie the Raccoon" to help us remember what? 3. Lets see if we can remember what the letters D-R-U-G-S stood for in Mrs. Kate's song. 4. What is a prescription? 5. What should you do if someone tries to get you to take a pill? (someone who is not your parent trying to get you to take something you don't have a prescription for.) 6. What is your conscience? How do you know whether something is right or wrong? 7. Do you choose your friends, or do your friends choose you? What are some good qualities to look for in a friend? Is a kid who has to sneak around and hide stuff a good friend choice? What can happen to you if you are hanging around with someone who is messing around with drugs or alcohol? 8. Why is self-control a good character quality to develop/have in your life? 9. Let's see if we can remember the actions/dance to Hug-a-Bug-a-Boo. 10. Write a paragraph about the dreams you can achieve if you remain drug-free. Write Mrs. Kate a letter or email telling her what you thought about her show and which song was your favorite. |
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