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Lesson 1 of 2
  • Year 5

The facts about smoking and vaping

I can describe the health risks of smoking and vaping and explain why some people choose to smoke and vape.

Lesson 1 of 2
New
New
  • Year 5

The facts about smoking and vaping

I can describe the health risks of smoking and vaping and explain why some people choose to smoke and vape.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. It is illegal to buy cigarettes or vapes under the age of 18.
  2. Smoking can lead to many health conditions. Vaping is less harmful, but also carries health risks.
  3. Most adults in the UK do not smoke or vape.
  4. Nicotine pouches contain nicotine, which can be harmful and addictive.
  5. Children should not smoke, vape or use nicotine pouches as they are not safe for them to use.

Keywords

  • Tobacco - a plant used in cigarettes that contains nicotine and produces harmful smoke when burned

  • Nicotine - an addictive drug that cigarettes, and some vapes, contain

  • Addictive - if something is addictive, it makes you want to keep using it or doing it, even if it is not good for you

  • Vape - an electronic device that produces a vapour containing chemicals, which is then breathed in

  • Vaping - breathing in vapour from an electronic device that may contain nicotine and other chemicals

Common misconception

Vaping is harmless.

Although vaping is generally considered less harmful than smoking cigarettes, it still has several negative effects, including breathing problems, and its long-term health impacts remain unknown.


To help you plan your year 5 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: The facts about smoking and vaping, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Be sensitive when discussing vaping. Explain that while vaping can help some adults quit smoking, it is not safe or suitable for young people, so pupils understand different expectations for adults and children.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Matches can start that can be very dangerous.

Correct Answer: fires, flames, a fire

Q2.
What is medicine?

a type of sweet that makes us feel good
Correct answer: something that can make our bodies better when we are ill
something that always damages our body
something that makes you more ill

Q3.
Which statements about medicine are true?

Correct answer: Taking the wrong medicine can be very dangerous.
It is safe to take any medicine.
It is safe to take any amount of medicine.
Correct answer: Medicine can be important for making people feel better when they're ill.

Q4.
Match the words to the definitions.

Correct Answer:chemical,a liquid that can change things that it touches

a liquid that can change things that it touches

Correct Answer:doctor,someone who can help us get better when we are ill

someone who can help us get better when we are ill

Correct Answer:poisonous,a chemical that can make us ill if we swallow or touch it

a chemical that can make us ill if we swallow or touch it

Correct Answer:emergency,a dangerous situation

a dangerous situation

Q5.
What is peer pressure?

when you decide to do something on your own
Correct answer: when friends try to persuade or force you to do something
when you want to do something your friends haven't done

Q6.
Which statements about chemicals are true?

All chemicals at home are safe to swallow.
Correct answer: Our eyes and skin can be damaged by chemicals.
Correct answer: We should never mix chemicals together.
Batteries are never dangerous.

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
__________ adults in the UK do not smoke or vape.

all
some
Correct answer: most
young

Q2.
Match the word to its correct definition.

Correct Answer:tobacco,a plant used in cigarettes that produces harmful smoke when burned

a plant used in cigarettes that produces harmful smoke when burned

Correct Answer:nicotine,an addictive drug that cigarettes, and some vapes, contain

an addictive drug that cigarettes, and some vapes, contain

Correct Answer:addictive,something that makes you want to keep using it or doing it

something that makes you want to keep using it or doing it

Q3.
Which are reasons why people might smoke or vape?

Correct answer: They have experienced peer pressure.
They think it is healthy.
Correct answer: They have an addiction.
Correct answer: They don't know the health risks.

Q4.
Which statements about vaping are false?

Vaping is addictive.
Vaping can cause dizziness and feeling sick.
Correct answer: There are no health risks to vaping.
It is illegal to buy vapes under the age of 18.
Correct answer: We know the long-term effects of vaping.

Q5.
Why might someone vape, even though the NHS doesn't recommend doing this for a long period of time?

Correct answer: to help them stop smoking cigarettes
because vaping has no risks at all
to try something new for fun

Q6.
Children should not smoke, vape or use nicotine as they are not safe for them to use.

Correct Answer: pouches