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Lesson 4 of 4
  • Year 7

Getting support to give up smoking or vaping

I can describe what happens when someone quits smoking or vaping, and explain how support makes it easier to stop.

Lesson 4 of 4
New
New
  • Year 7

Getting support to give up smoking or vaping

I can describe what happens when someone quits smoking or vaping, and explain how support makes it easier to stop.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Quitting smoking or vaping helps the body recover and feel healthier.
  2. Nicotine addiction can make quitting difficult, but support helps.
  3. Using NHS or local stop-smoking services makes quitting more successful.
  4. Cravings and mood changes are normal when giving up nicotine.
  5. Trusted adults and professionals can guide and encourage quitting safely.

Keywords

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

  • Addiction - a loss of control over doing, taking or using something even when it is harmful

  • Support - the actions taken to help someone who is in a difficult or dangerous situation, such as providing care and seeking medical attention

Common misconception

People should be able to stop smoking or vaping on their own.

Nicotine is addictive, which means quitting alone can be very hard. Support from trusted adults, NHS services or community advisers gives people practical help and encouragement, making success much more likely.


To help you plan your year 7 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Getting support to give up smoking or vaping, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use positive and supportive language — focus on health and recovery, not blame. Explain that vaping can help adults who already smoke, but it’s not safe or needed for children.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

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.
Which word describes a substance in tobacco smoke that can cause cancer and damage to the lungs?

Correct Answer: tar

Q2.
Making benefits physical and mental health.

Correct Answer: healthy choices, healthy decisions, healthy changes, a healthy choice, a healthy change

Q3.
Which statement is correct?

Correct answer: Saying no assertively can help challenge peer pressure safely and respectfully.
Saying no aggressively can help challenge peer pressure safely and respectfully.
Saying no passively can help challenge peer pressure safely and respectfully.

Q4.
Match the harmful product to the type of serious health condition it can cause.

Correct Answer:smoking,at least 16 different types of cancer

at least 16 different types of cancer

Correct Answer:vaping,risky for young people as nicotine can harm the developing brain

risky for young people as nicotine can harm the developing brain

Correct Answer:snus and nicotine pouches,gum problems and tooth damage

gum problems and tooth damage

Q5.
Starting with the earliest, order the steps to explain how smoking can damage the lungs.

1 - When someone smokes, chemicals are inhaled through cigarette smoke.
2 - The chemicals damage cells in the lungs so they cannot work properly.
3 - Sometimes the damaged cells divide abnormally.
4 - The divided cells can then create a cancerous growth.

Q6.
What is 'passive smoking'?

when you don't want to smoke a cigarette, but do so anyway
Correct answer: when you inhale the smoke of someone else's cigarette
when you're peer pressured into trying smoking
when you've never smoked a cigarette in your life

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Why might an adult use a vape, even though vaping isn’t safe for young people?

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

Q2.
Match the words to their correct definitions.

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

an addictive drug that cigarettes and some vapes contain

Correct Answer:addiction,a loss of control over doing something even when it is harmful

a loss of control over doing something even when it is harmful

Correct Answer:support,the actions taken to help someone who is in a difficult situation

the actions taken to help someone who is in a difficult situation

Q3.
A friend says people should be able to quit smoking or vaping on their own without help. Why is support from services like the NHS Quitline or local pharmacies important when quitting?

support makes quitting unnecessary
Correct answer: nicotine is addictive, so support gives practical help
support is only needed after many failed attempts
people are too weak to quit alone

Q4.
Match the quitting smoking milestone with the health improvement the person is now experiencing.

Correct Answer:24 hours,their breathing improves

their breathing improves

Correct Answer:2 weeks,their circulation gets better

their circulation gets better

Correct Answer:3 months,their energy increases

their energy increases

Correct Answer:1 year,their risk of heart disease drops by half

their risk of heart disease drops by half

Q5.
Jordan has quit vaping and feels irritable and is finding it hard to concentrate. What advice should Jordan's friend give him?

"These symptoms mean quitting isn't working, you should go back to vaping."
"You should stop trying, and next time, try quitting without support."
Correct answer: "Keep going, these feelings are temporary. I believe in you."
"Oh well. Better luck next time! Let's share a vape together instead."

Q6.
Which source of support offers free medical advice, quit plans and daily encouragement for those trying to quit smoking, vaping or using nicotine products?

Correct answer: NHS Smokefree Helpline
school nurse
local pharmacy
friends and family
Childline