Lesson 12.1: Tobacco Products and Vaping

Overview

This lesson focuses on the various types of tobacco products, ingredients, effects, and consequences of tobacco use. The increased popularity of e-cigarettes and vaping as well as who is using and how it is a dangerous alternative to smoking are also discussed.

Learning Targets

  • LO1: Describe what tobacco is and name its main ingredient.
  • LO2: Explain short- and long-term health effects of tobacco products on a person.
  • LO3: Evaluate how vaping is as dangerous as smoking.
  • LO4: Examine the impact of secondhand smoke, thirdhand smoke, and secondhand aerosol.

Preparation

Chapter Opener: Use the chapter 12 What Do I Know About Tobacco Products? self-assessment to introduce the chapter before moving on to Lesson 12.1 or assign the self-assessment as a homework task before starting this lesson.

For the Warm-Up Activity: Write the Journal Question on the board or identify (and copy as needed) the worksheets you plan to use:

For the Content Focus: Open the Lesson 12.1 PowerPoint slides or make copies of the Lesson 12.1 Note-Taking Guide.

For the Lesson Focus: Copy the Lesson 12.1 Skill-Building Challenge Worksheet: Making Healthy Decisions.

Warm-Up Activity

Select a warm-up activity to help get your class focused and on task.

  • Self-Assessment: Have students complete the What Do I Know About Tobacco Products? self-assessment.
  • Journal Question: Can you name four types of tobacco products? Can you list the common ingredient found in all forms of tobacco?
    • Option: Write or project the question and have students respond in their journal or on their “bell ringer” sheet as they enter class.
    • Option: Have students discuss the question with a partner or in a small group.
  • Vocabulary Review: Have students work individually, in pairs, or in small groups to complete the Lesson 12.1 Vocabulary Review Worksheet.
  • Quiz: Have students complete the Lesson 12.1 Quiz to assess their prior knowledge.
    • Option: Collect the quiz and use it alongside a posttest to demonstrate student learning.
    • Option: Have students share their answers with a partner and then go over the answers together as a class.

Lesson Content

Review the content from the textbook lesson.

Lesson Focus: Making Healthy Decisions

  1. Give each student a copy of the Lesson 12.1 Skill-Building Challenge Worksheet: Making Healthy Decisions.
  2. Students use information from the lesson and their decision making steps to come to an individual decision as to whether Oaklynn should try vaping or not.
  3. Ask students to find a partner and share their decision making process and final decision as to what Oaklynn should do.
  4. Have students share their final decisions with the class to see whether anyone thought Oaklynn should try vaping, and if so, why.

Challenge Activity

Have students needing an additional challenge work on the following Thinking Critically task.

Substantial health risks were discussed in this lesson concerning vaping and overall tobacco use. Based on the information in the lesson, why do you think teens continue to vape despite knowing its short- and long-term risks?

Reflection and Summary

Review the critical content from today’s lesson. Review the learning targets and ask students to answer each question posed.

Can you...

  • Describe what tobacco is and name its main ingredient?

    Tobacco is a plant grown for its leaves, which are dried and put into tobacco products. The main ingredient in tobacco is nicotine, which is an addictive chemical.

  • Explain short- and long-term health effects of tobacco products on a person?

    Short-term health effects can include decreased lung function, poor physical performance, and an increase in sports-related injuries. Teens who smoke are three times more likely to use alcohol as well. Long-term health effects can include lungs never performing at full capacity; higher rates of anxiety compared to nonsmokers; and negative effects on learning, memory, and cognition. Long-term effects also include being more likely to continue smoking as an adult when started using tobacco as a teen.

  • Evaluate how vaping is as dangerous as smoking?

    Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol produced of an e-cigarette. The aerosol produced from the e-liquid contains extremely high levels of nicotine, ultrafine cancer-causing chemical particles, and heavy metals.

  • Examine the impact of secondhand smoke, thirdhand smoke, and secondhand aerosol?

    Secondhand smoke and secondhand aerosol can cause adolescents to be sick more frequently, can trigger asthma attacks, and can impair adolescents’ ability to learn.

    Chemical residue from thirdhand smoke remains on all surfaces and cannot be entirely eliminated, even with regular cleaning; therefore, anyone who touches these surfaces gets this residue on their skin.

Assessment

Complete one or more of the following assessment tasks for this lesson.

Take It Home

Talk to an adult family member or close friend who has smoked or vaped before and discuss with them the effects of second- and thirdhand smoke or second- and thirdhand aerosol. If someone has smoked or vaped in your home or family car, examine the impact the residue in the home or car may still have on you, family and friends.

Option: Assign the What Do I Know About Tobacco Products? self-assessment as a homework task if it was not used at the start of this lesson.