LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Identify a range of health risks associated with nicotine use; identify ways in which some companies target children in the sale of items containing nicotine; distinguish facts from myths about nicotine.

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 7: Avoid or reduce health risks.

CASEL: Responsible decision-making

KEY VOCAB

susceptible

tactics

inflammation

Lesson Plan: Your Body on Nicotine

Whether in a vape, a cigarette, or chewable tobacco, this addictive drug is a real drag.

PREPARING TO READ

Before you read the article “Your Body On... Nicotine,” ask your students the following pre-reading question:

How does nicotine use affect your mind, body, and mood?

READING AND DISCUSSION

  • Have your students read the article “Your Body On... Nicotine” independently; read the article out loud to them; or have students partner-read the article out loud.
  • After they’ve read the article, revisit the pre-reading question. Have their answers changed?

BUILDING COMPREHENSION AND VOCAB

Check students’ comprehension of and engagement with the story with the following assessment tools:

  • Comprehension Quiz
  • Vocab Builder

EXPANDING SEL OPPORTUNITIES

Continue the learning journey with the following writing prompt:

In DANGERS OF NICOTINE, have students write a one- to two-page essay to reflect on what they learned from the article. First, have them explain why some teens might want to use nicotine despite knowing the risks. Then they should use a mix of their own prior learning and facts from the article to explain a few of the reasons they found most convincing for teens to stay away from this harmful drug. To conclude, have them reflect on what schools can do to help reduce nicotine use among teens: Are schools already doing enough, or does more attention need to be paid to this issue?

Print the Lesson Plan

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