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Lesson 2 of 4
  • Year 7

Why smoking and vaping are risky

I can identify risky substances in cigarettes, vapes and illegal vapes, explain why they are harmful, and explain how to spot an illegal vape.

Lesson 2 of 4
New
New
  • Year 7

Why smoking and vaping are risky

I can identify risky substances in cigarettes, vapes and illegal vapes, explain why they are harmful, and explain how to spot an illegal vape.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Smoking introduces harmful and risky substances like tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide into the body.
  2. Vapes contain ingredients found in everyday items, but when inhaled through a vape can be harmful to health.
  3. Illegal vapes can be extremely dangerous and hard to spot.

Keywords

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

  • Tar - a substance in tobacco smoke that can cause cancer and damage to the lungs

  • Illegal vapes - vapes sold illegally in the UK that may contain banned substances or unsafe levels of nicotine that can seriously harm a person's health

Common misconception

Vaping is harmless.

Vaping is not harmless as vapes contain nicotine and other chemicals that can harm the lungs and cause addiction, especially in young people.


To help you plan your year 7 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Why smoking and vaping are risky, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Add localised support for young people surrounding smoking and vaping to the lesson and emphasise that pupils can speak to a trusted adult if they have concerns about their own or others' vaping or smoking habits.
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 (2026), 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.
What is the definition of 'addictive'?

a roll of shredded tobacco which is lit and smoked
Correct answer: something that makes you want to keep using it even though it's harmful
an electronic device that simulates smoking

Q2.
What is a cigarette?

Correct answer: a thin stick of tobacco wrapped in paper that people smoke
a highly addictive stimulant substance
an electronic device that simulates smoking

Q3.
Which statement about vapes is correct?

Vapes are not addictive.
Correct answer: Vapes can be addictive, particularly if they contain nicotine.
All vapes are equally addictive.
Vapes are only addictive for adults.

Q4.
Which statements about smoking are correct?

Correct answer: People might start smoking due to peer pressure.
Correct answer: Vaping can be a way for adults to quit smoking.
Nicotine pouches are healthy alternatives to smoking.
Correct answer: Cigarettes contain around 70 cancer-causing substances.

Q5.
At what age is it legal to buy cigarettes or vapes?

Correct Answer: 18, 18 years old, 18 years of age, eighteen, eighteen years old

Q6.
Like vapes and cigarettes, are highly addictive because they contain nicotine.

Correct Answer: nicotine pouches

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

5 Questions

Q1.
Match the words to the 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:tar,a substance in tobacco smoke that can cause cancer

a substance in tobacco smoke that can cause cancer

Correct Answer:illegal vapes,vapes sold illegally in the UK that may contain banned substances

vapes sold illegally in the UK that may contain banned substances

Q2.
Because they look the same as legal vapes, illegal vapes can be to spot.

Correct Answer: hard, difficult, tricky

Q3.
Which of the following is found in vapes?

Correct answer: flavourings
benzene
tar
ammonia
carbon monoxide

Q4.
A legal vape in the UK can contain a maximum of nicotine.

1%
Correct answer: 2%
5%
10%
90%

Q5.
Why is the statement 'vaping is harmless' incorrect?

Correct answer: Vapes contain nicotine and chemicals that can harm the lungs.
Vaping is only harmful if you do it every day.
Vaping is harmless if you are over 18.
Vapes only harm people who have never smoked before.