Smokefree checks
The Smokefree Challenge starts at the beginning of November. All students and the teacher then sign a signature poster. The Smokefree Challenge includes three Smokefree checks. The first takes place at the start in November, the second in January and the third in March. The teacher then records in the digital monitor how many students in the class do or do not smoke. If desired, teachers can link a lesson suggestion to the Smokefree checks. Between Smokefree checks two and three, teachers receive the creative assignment.
Lesson suggestions
The Smokefree Challenge is more effective when, in addition to counting the number of smokers and non-smokers, attention is also paid to the topic of smoking in class. That is why lesson suggestions are available for each Smokefree check. These lesson suggestions have been combined into a lesson card with instructions. The lesson suggestions take approximately 5 to 25 minutes per assignment. Examples include a Kahoot quiz about the Smokefree Challenge, watching videos and discussing them, or a knowledge quiz about smoking, e-cigarettes and hookahs.
Creative assignment
The creative assignment is an ‘open assignment’. This means that students may decide for themselves how they want to complete it. Examples include a video, a vlog, a poster, an image, a photo, a rap, song lyrics or a poem. Anything is possible, as long as it shows the benefits of not smoking. As a teacher, you will receive a clear description of exactly what the product must meet. Once the creative assignment is complete, teachers can choose to take a photo of the product and upload it to the monitor. This way, the final result can remain in the classroom to continue motivating the students. You can also choose to send the final result to the GGD or IVZ.
How can you ensure that students do not start smoking?
Compaen VMBO from Zaandam took part last year. By participating in the challenge, Compaen VMBO wanted to prevent students from smoking their first cigarette. The focus was mainly on the positive consequences of not smoking and on the challenge. Nathalie Boschman, a mentor at the school in Zaandam, talks about the success in 2020: “Of course, you never know whether students are being 100% honest. But no one in my class started smoking during the challenge.” Nathalie also has tips for other schools, including: ‘just get started’ and ‘make someone at school responsible for the project’. Read the story of Compaen VMBO’s experience on Gezondeschool.nl/inspiratie here.