On Unity Day, the third Wednesday of October, wearing the color ORANGE tells others that you are ON BOARD with kindness, acceptance, and inclusion, and that you want to prevent bullying. But wearing orange is not the only way to observe and celebrate Unity Day. You can display ORANGE, and share the Unity Day message in many fun and creative ways! To show your support for UNITY, you can go to Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center to get some great ideas, download publications, find lesson plans and choose videos. You can even order products – some of them FREE – but that is not the only way!

Students of all ages and grade levels can enjoy outdoor painting activities.

• Paint the word “UNITY” – in large ORANGE letters on a patch of grass (with permission!)
• Paint a school sign or mascot ORANGE (with washable paint!)
• Make something with paper mache and paint it ORANGE
• Paint a big UNITY message on butcher paper
• Older kids can talk with younger kids about showing kindness and including everyone
• Older students can help younger children make ORANGE paper hats or bracelets
• All ages can drape ORANGE cloth or crepe paper in highly visible places

• Staff a table to share information
• Encourage pledges of kindness and inclusion
• Make a giant banner for all to sign
• Make or decorate orange UNITY treats to share
• Offer orange UNITY ribbons
• Ask your students to put their imaginations to work!

Written by Elizabeth Moore, NCESD Behavioral Health Educator
Published September 22, 2022