GRADE 6: LESSON PLAN 3
Lesson 3: Health and Societal Impacts of Smoking and Vaping
Students will learn how smoking and vaping affect health, the environment, and society, and how companies target youth through marketing.
This lesson is aligned with the following learning outcomes from the NL Grade 6 Health Curriculum:
My Health in My Environment
- Recognize the effects of smoking and vaping on the body.
- Discuss the individual and societal impacts of smoking and vaping.
- Identify environments that are required by law to be smoke/vape free.
- Explore the effects of second-hand smoke on physical health and general well-being.
- Consider the effects of air pollution on the environment.
Responsible Decision-Making
- Consider the influence of various factors (e.g., self-concept, knowledge and experience, peers, family, school and community, and media) on decision-making.
- Explore how tobacco and vaping products are marketed to youth and how advertising, packaging, and social media can influence their choices and perceptions.
Being Safe in All Environments
- Describe how environmental factors related to smoking and vaping may influence health.
Learning Activities
The following activities are designed to support the delivery of this lesson and help reinforce key concepts. Some activities are available in multiple formats to offer flexibility and accommodate teacher or student preferences.
- Learning Activity 1: The Impacts of Smoking and Vaping
- Introductory Activity
Students will watch a video, followed by a True or False activity to learn about the impacts of smoking and vaping on health, society, and the environment.
- Exploration Activity: Health Risks Comparison: Smoking vs. Vaping
Students will research the effects of smoking and vaping on the body, society, and the environment and present their findings to the class.
- Sharing and Reflection: Student Trivia
Students will create trivia questions that review what they learned about the health impact of smoking and vaping.
- Learning Activity 2: Vaping Costs & Marketing Tricks: A Math and Media Investigation
- Introduction: Canadian Regulations on Marketing Vaping to Youth
Starting with a video, this activity explores how vaping marketing targets youth and considers advertising regulations.
- "Teens who see e-cigarette ads are more likely to start vaping" - Youtube Video New Canadian Vape Marketing Regulations: PDF
Students will rotate through stations to examine vape ads, flavours, designs, and packaging, discussing why these marketing tactics appeal to youth and how they might influence choices.
- Exploration Activity: The Cost of Vaping
In this exploration activity, students will examine the economic costs of vaping.
- Sharing and Reflection
Students will reflect on a time when marketing influenced their desire to buy a product.
- Learning Activity 3: Making Decisions about Smoking and Vaping
- Infographics: Factors Influencing Decision-Making and FACE Decision-Making Model
Students may find it helpful to refer to the following infographics as they work through this Learning Activity.
- Pre-Activity: Factors Influencing Decision-Making Quiz
Students will participate in a quiz involving scenarios about the different factors that influence decision-making.
- Exploration Activity: FACE Decision-Making Scenarios: Teacher Dicussion Guide
Provides guidance for discussion for each scenario in this activity.
- FACE Decision-Making Model
Students will use the FACE Decision-Making Model and the Factors Influencing Decision-Making infographics to help guide their decision-making processes for each scenario.
- Exploration: FACE Decision-Making Scenarios
Students will assess how careful decision-making about smoking and vaping can affect one’s well-being.
Scenario 2: Jordan’s Social Media Dilemma
- Sharing and Reflection: Design a Resource for Younger Students
Students will create a resource for younger classes to share what they have learned about the health and societal impacts of smoking and vaping.
These resources may help support the delivery of the lesson plan and learning activities:
Educational Materials
The relevant Educational Materials for this lesson are referenced throughout the lesson plan; additional ones are available here.
Substance Snapshots
Relevant Substance Snapshots are noted in the lesson plan; more may be accessed here.