November 19, 2009
This year the Great American Smokeout will take place on November 19, 2009.
The purpose of the event is to set aside a day to help smokers quit using tobacco products, for at least one day, with the hope that they will quit completely.
The event helps raise awareness about the dangers of smoking and the many effective ways available to quit smoking permanently.
To celebrate the day, you can take part in the "Pile of Urea" statewide commotion.
Background:
On January 27, 2003, Phillip Morris, the largest tobacco company in the U.S., changed its name to Altria Group Inc. The purpose of this change was to create a better image for the company, whose name "Phillip Morris" was associated with numerous lawsuits due to damages caused by their product. Thus, as part of the "Pile of Urea" commotion, you will use sayings like "Phillip Morris and Altria. Different name, same crap."
Materials Needed
1. Play dough, any color, but preferably brown OR caulk OR molding clay
2. Brown spray paint (if play dough is not brown)
3. White paper
4. Cardstock paper
5. Popsicle sticks (OPTIONAL)
6. Avery labels (OPTIONAL)
Directions
**NOTE: Make sure you get your principal's permission before performing this commotion at your school.
Have your students shape their play dough as "piles of poop" on top of the cardstock paper on an index card. If the play dough is not brown, spay paint the pile brown to make it look like poop. On a small piece of paper, write:
"Urea is found in poop. Urea is also found in cigarettes."
"Phillip Morris and Altria. Different name, same crap."
Other quotes may include tobacco facts. Go to www.razewv.com, resources, tools for additional tobacco facts.
Your can place the piles of poop at strategic places at the school, where it would be visible (i.e. classrooms with teacher's permission), or just set up a display table.
NOTE: You can also create small "flags" out of labels (i.e. Avery 5160 or larger) and attach them to the popsicle sticks after printing the facts on them. You can then stick the flag in the pile.
Download the template for the flags.