The facts about smoking and vaping
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the health risks of smoking and vaping and explain why some people choose to smoke and vape.
Key learning points
- It is illegal to buy cigarettes or vapes under the age of 18.
- Smoking can lead to many health conditions. Vaping is less harmful, but also carries health risks.
- Most adults in the UK do not smoke or vape.
- Nicotine pouches contain nicotine, which can be harmful and addictive.
- 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.
Teacher tip
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.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Matches can start that can be very dangerous.
Q2.What is medicine?
Q3.Which statements about medicine are true?
Q4.Match the words to the definitions.
a liquid that can change things that it touches
someone who can help us get better when we are ill
a chemical that can make us ill if we swallow or touch it
a dangerous situation
Q5.What is peer pressure?
Q6.Which statements about chemicals are true?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.__________ adults in the UK do not smoke or vape.
Q2.Match the word to its correct definition.
a plant used in cigarettes that produces harmful smoke when burned
an addictive drug that cigarettes, and some vapes, contain
something that makes you want to keep using it or doing it
Q3.Which are reasons why people might smoke or vape?
Q4.Which statements about vaping are false?
Q5.Why might someone vape, even though the NHS doesn't recommend doing this for a long period of time?
Q6.Children should not smoke, vape or use nicotine as they are not safe for them to use.
To help you plan your 5 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: The facts about smoking and vaping, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: The facts about smoking and vaping, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 RSHE (PSHE) lessons from the Risky substances: Why do people get addicted? unit, dive into the full primary RSHE (PSHE) curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.