Lesson Idea | Tobacco Yucks

Objectives/Goals

The student will be able to:
- list and describe the negative side effects of tobacco use on the human body
- illustrate the short and long-term effects of tobacco use by drawing a character depicting the results of use
- encourage others to avoid tobacco use

Materials

- Poster paper per student or per 2 students
- Coloring supplies
- Tobacco Yucks slides/presentation
- Speakers
- Tobacco Yucks notes

Steps

- Ask the students “What’s so ‘yucky’ about tobacco?” Guide them in the direction on
the negative side effects on the body.
- Slide 2 Show them the “Myth or Fact” video on YouTube.
- Ask the students if they believed any of the myths?
- Slide 3 Before viewing each of the three videos ask them:
- What makes someone healthy or unhealthy? Does smoking cause a person to be more or less healthy?
- What happens to the lungs when someone smokes? Where does the smoke go when someone inhales smoke from a cigarette? What chemical causes most of the dark coloration inside the body?
- Warning! The lungs video could be considered graphic in nature as it shows pigs lungs affected by smoke. Please view the videos prior to class to determine if it is age/maturity level appropriate.
- What is addiction? What can you be addicted to that isn’t illegal?
- Slide 4 Discuss some of the major side effects of using tobacco. As you go through the list have students take notes on the “Tobacco Yucks Notes” page.
- Explain that some of the negative side effects come more from smoking/chewing tobacco. Ask why they think that is? Example: Chewing tobacco soaks through the mouth and gums and may affect that area more than just smoking. Or smoking a cigarette may be bad for you lungs because of inhaling the actual chemical filled smoke.
- Slide 5 Go through the pictures of effects on the body from smoking/chewing tobacco.
- Warning! Again this may be too graphic for some students and age levels. View them prior to class and use what will aid in understanding.
- Slide 6 and Slide 7 “Tobacco Yucks Project”
- Explain that they will depict the negative side effects of tobacco by drawing a character and listing what happens to the body.
- They should include a title or name, a description of what happens, and make it neat.

For further information, please visit Health Smart Virginia website.