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Purpose: With this activity, the youth are able to reflect on how they felt when they say the negative words. The negative words used in this activity are words people use everyday towards people who have a mental illness. This activity is meant to have the youth realize the stigma associated with mental health will not end if people continue to use these negative words. With this activity as well though, positive words will then be written in smaller letters but visible enough for the youth to see that there are positive words to describe any person and that these words affect a person in a more positive way then the negative words. It allows the chance for the youth to see what words they can use instead of the negative words. 
 
Age range: Can be done with participants 12 years old and older. 
 
Time Frame: 30-45 minutes
 
Environment: Best to be done in a classroom setting. 

 

Chalk Messages

Preparation: On one piece of white paper write one negative word in big letters and one postive word in smaller letters in white crayon. Either use one of the words provided with this activity or use one of your own. Have enough pieces of papers with these words on them for each person participating has their own piece of paper.  Be sure the youth either have crayons or provide enough crayons for the youth to share. 
Positive Words
 
Strong
Courageous
Intelligent
Brave
Happy
Beautiful
Bright
Inspiring
Negative Words
 
Nuts
Crazy
Psycho
Loony
Weird
Freak
Dumb
Scary

 

Instruction: 
  1. Have youth sit at a table or desk. 
  2. Explain to them the purpose of this activity, but do not explain they will find a word.
  3. Hand out the paper to each youth
  4. Hand out crayons if needed
  5. Explain to the youth they are to draw anything they would like on the piece of paper, they just have to ensure they colour the whole piece of paper. No white should be showing.
  6. Once they are done, have them state which words they have on their piece of paper.
  7. Have the youth then reflect with the following discussion questions 
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 
 
  1. How did you feel when you saw the negative words in a bigger font then the positive words?
  2. How do you think a person can use more positive words towards another person instead of negative words? 
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