Resources
The Exchange has developed these lessons with Drug Science to equip teachers to talk about vaping in the classroom. All of these are freely accessible and we encourage teachers to use these to enable a classroom debate on whether the UK government should ban disposable vapes.
Lesson 1 – The History of Tobacco
This lesson provides the historical context for a meaningful conversation around the harms of smoked tobacco and how to reduce them. It sets vaping in its therapeutic context as a tool to reduce the harms of smoking.
The History of Tobacco - Slides
Lesson 2 – Nicotine and Vaping
In this lesson, pupils will learn more about vaping, initially as a tool to reduce harm for smokers. The harms of vaping will be assessed by looking at current scientific research and interviews with experts.
Lesson 3 – Debate: Should the government ban the sale of disposable vapes?
This lesson allows the children to engage with all sorts of perspectives on the issue of disposable vapes by examining both sides of the debate using evidence to support either side. This lesson should end in a debate amongst the students.
Whole School Approach to Reducing Vaping - training delivered by GHLL's Lead Teachers.
GHLL Lead Teachers have hosted a training session centred around reducing vaping.
Please log in to the review tool to take a look at the slides.
Vaping – KS3 form time activities
In these 3 form time sessions, students learn about social pressures around vaping, its impact, and the effects of nicotine on the adolescent brain:
Vaping: What and why?
Vaping: The impact
Vaping: Nicotine
Includes a "Guidance for teaching about vaping" document to support one-to-one conversations with young people.
Download the activities
Teenage Vaping: What's the harm?
Rachel Burden investigates the youth vaping phenomenon and asks if we should be worried about young people getting addicted. Watch on BBC One at 20:00 (22:40 in Wales) on Monday 4 September - and afterwards on BBC iPlayer (UK only)
Watch on BBC One at 20:00 (22:40 in Wales) on Monday 4 September - and afterwards on BBC iPlayer (UK only)
Vapes are electronic devices designed to allow people to inhale nicotine in a vapour. Using a vape is known as vaping. Vapes are also available without nicotine.
Also called:
- e-cigarettes
- e-cigs
- e-hookah
- e-liquids
- puff bars
- vape pens
- vape pods
- vape sticks
Vaping: a data-informed approach 
See the slides from the PSHE association's Spring Conference 2023 Vaping Workshop.
The Tobacco and Vapes Act is now law
The Tobacco and Vapes Act has become law – this world-leading legislation will help to create the first ever smokefree generation in the UK.
Over the past decade, almost 800,000 people in the UK have lost their lives to tobacco.
The law is a significant step towards protecting future generations from the harms of smoking – the biggest cause of cancer.
Around 13 million children alive today in the UK will never be able to be legally sold tobacco in this country thanks to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
You can read more here: The Tobacco and Vapes Act: starting a smokefree generation - Cancer Research UK - Cancer News
Vapes could lead to health harms in children, doctors warn
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has reviewed about 81 studies into vaping and said it is linked to higher rates of breathing problems and evidence of harm in babies whose mothers used vapes while pregnant.
The review said vaping should not be seen as a "harmless part of growing up".
The RCPH is calling on the UK government to go further in its proposals to place new restrictions around the sael of vapes and suggests limiting the number of flavours that are avaialble.
Vaping could lead to health harm in children and young people, doctors warn - BBC News
Tagged under: vaping, vapes, smoking, e-cigerettes, Key Stage 5
