Vaping

Vaping Lesson

Teacher Narrative:

In this lesson, we are going to discuss vaping and e-cigarettes. You will be using resources to determine their safety and potential risks.

A. Introduction

Introduce the concept of vaping and show students images of vape products. Next, explain to students you are about to read them a series of statements. For each statement, they should write True or False on a sheet of paper.

Read these statements aloud:

1. E-cigarettes are not harmful to your health.
2. Most e-cigarettes or vape products like Juul or other vape pens only contain water and flavoring.
3. As long as an e-cigarette doesn’t contain nicotine, it’s completely safe.
4. A Juul pod contains as much nicotine as a whole pack of cigarettes.
5. Teens who vape are more likely to start smoking cigarettes.
6. Teens are more likely to become dependent on the nicotine in cigarettes than adults are.

Once students are finished answering True or False to each statement, have them set this sheet of paper aside. They will look at it again at the end of the lesson.

B. Small Group Activity

Next, separate the class into small groups. Distribute the informational text “The Health Impacts of E-Cigarettes” to the groups and direct them to take turns reading each paragraph aloud while other members record key facts. Link to handout.

Send groups online to explore the topic further, jotting down important details to add to their notes.

Note: These sites are current as of 2020 and come from reputable sites such as Missouri Poison Center, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and CDC. Teachers may wish to review these sites before the lesson to find the most relevant, up-to-date information.

Sites to explore:

• Missouri Poison Center: https://missouripoisoncenter.org/vaping/
• American Association of Poison Control Centers: https://aapcc.org/prevention/tobacco-liquid-nicotine
• National Institute on Drug Abuse: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/vaping-devices-electronic-cigarettes
• Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/index.htm

While students are working, write the True/False statements from the introduction on large pieces of paper and hang them around the room.

C. Sticky Note Activity

Students should close computers and review the notes they have taken. Next, instruct each group to choose one piece of evidence they think is most relevant to support or disprove each statement and write it on a sticky note. Have them add their sticky notes to the large sheets of paper around the room — one for each statement. Once the groups are finished, take some time as a class to discuss each statement and the students’ findings.

Optional Video

Watch ‘For Teachers: My Vaping Mistake, Mental Health‘ Here

D. Reflection

As a review, have students pick up their True/False answers from the beginning of the lesson. Read statements 1-6 again, and have students revise their answers. Then, ask students to reflect on the activity and what they learned. On the same sheet of paper they used for True/False statements, have them write responses to the following questions (each response should be 3-5 sentences):

1. What makes vaping especially harmful for teens?
2. If friends asked you to vape with them, what could you say to them?

Further information about this lesson can be found here: http://www.scholastic.com/youthvapingrisks/index.html#fda_more