n 2019, United by Schools presented its innovative anti-bullying method to Brigitte Macron, First Lady of France, as well as to Jean-Michel Blanquer, Minister of National Education, and Adrien Taquet, Secretary of State for Children and Families.
This method is based on the creation of six “colored zones” within school playgrounds.
Each color corresponds to a specific type of activity — dynamic or calm — designed to rebalance behavior, encourage positive interactions, and reduce violence during recess.
The concept emerged from a key observation: most incidents of aggression or damage occur during breaks, when spatial and emotional disorganization makes educational intervention difficult.
The “colored zones” provide a structured model to help channel students’ energy and ease tensions:
Blue zone for calm activities (reading, conversation, relaxation) with 68 dB, equivalent to a normal conversation.
Green zone for ecological activities (gardening, waste sorting) with 68 dB.
Purple zone for artistic activities (drawing, painting), 58 dB, equivalent to a quiet street.
Yellow zone for recreational activities with 77 dB, equivalent to lively chatter.
Orange zone for sports activities with 94 dB, equivalent to a power saw.
This structured approach gives educators greater visibility and better control of the sound environment, while students learn to choose spaces according to their emotional needs and to coexist respectfully.
Two months after the pilot program’s implementation, student feedback was enthusiastic:
“I go to the blue zone when I need some quiet.”
“I like the green zone — we garden together.”
“Before, there weren’t all these spaces; now it’s much better organized.”
The results were clear: a 62% average reduction in disruptive behavior was observed during breaks.
This color-coded playground model has since become a reference tool for schools seeking to prevent bullying through spatial reorganization and by listening to children’s emotional needs.