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Vape vs Reality?

Lesson Plan

Vape vs Reality Lesson Plan

Students in grades 5–8 will learn three real health risks of vaping, debunk common myths, and practice simple, age-appropriate strategies to say “No” to vaping.

Vaping is increasingly common among tweens and early teens. This lesson equips younger students with clear facts, builds confidence to resist peer pressure, and promotes healthy choices before habits form.

Audience

Grades 5–8

Time

25 minutes

Approach

Interactive poll, myth-fact relay, guided discussion, worksheet

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Poll

3 minutes

  • Use the Vaping Poll Warm-Up: Ask students to raise hands if they’ve ever seen a vape device in stores, online, or among friends.
  • Tally responses under “Seen Vapes” and “Know Someone Who Vapes.”
  • Briefly ask: “What reasons have you heard for why kids try vaping?”

Step 2

Myth or Fact Relay

5 minutes

  • Divide the class into small teams and give each a deck of myth/fact cards from Myth or Fact Relay.
  • Teams take turns reading a card, deciding if it’s a myth or fact, and placing it under the correct column on chart paper.
  • After sorting, quickly review any tricky cards as a class.

Step 3

Slide Deck Overview

7 minutes

  • Present the Vape vs Reality Slide Deck, using simple language and colorful visuals.
  • Highlight three key health risks (e.g., lung irritation, throat soreness, headache) and explain why vapes aren’t just flavored mist.
  • Show one or two age-friendly examples of vape ads and ask: “Why do you think companies use bright colors or candy flavors?”

Step 4

Guided Discussion

5 minutes

  • Use the Vaping Risks Discussion to prompt:
    • Where have you seen vapes or vape ads?
    • What story did someone tell you about vaping?
    • How would you say “No thanks” if a friend offered a vape?
  • Encourage short, 1-sentence responses and capture key ideas on the board.

Step 5

Worksheet Activity

3 minutes

  • Students complete the Vaping Risks Worksheet, filling in three health risks, circling myth/fact statements, and writing a friendly refusal sentence.
  • Collect worksheets for quick teacher feedback.

Step 6

Wrap-Up & Pledge

2 minutes

  • Ask each student to write on an index card one thing they will say or do to avoid vaping (e.g., “I’ll choose gum instead” or “I’ll walk away and call a friend”).
  • Have students place their pledge cards on the board as an exit ticket.
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Slide Deck

Vape vs Reality

Today we will:
• Learn 3 real health risks of vaping
• Bust common vaping myths
• Practice simple ways to say “No”

Welcome students! Explain that vaping means using e-cigarettes which heat liquid into a mist you breathe in. Today we’ll learn what really happens to our bodies, spot myths, and practice saying “No.”

Warm-Up Poll

Raise your hand if you have:
• Seen a vape device in a store or online?
• Seen friends or family using a vape?

(Count and chart responses)

Conduct a quick show-of-hands poll. Tally answers on the board under “Seen a vape?” and “Know someone who vapes?” Use this to connect to their experiences.

Myth or Fact?

  1. “Vape mist is just water vapor.”
  2. “Vapes don’t have nicotine.”
  3. “Flavors make vaping safe.”
  4. “Small vapes can’t hurt you.”

Read each statement aloud. Ask students to call out “Myth!” or “Fact!” Then reveal the answer and explain in kid-friendly terms.

Health Risks of Vaping

• Irritates your lungs (makes you cough)
• Worsens asthma symptoms and breathing issues
• Sore throat and chest tightness
• Headaches and dizziness
• Gum and mouth irritation
• Rapid heartbeat and higher blood pressure

Use simple diagrams or pictures (lungs, throat, heart) to show how vaping can cause these problems.

Hidden Chemicals

Vape liquids can include:
• Heavy metals (like lead)
• Allergy-linked chemicals (diacetyl)
• Irritating gases (formaldehyde)

Show an image of e-liquid ingredients or chemical symbols. Explain that flavor liquid and heat can make chemicals you can’t taste or smell.

Vaping with Weed

• Some vapes have THC (from marijuana)
• Affects your brain – can make it hard to think or learn
• Can make you feel anxious, scared, or dizzy
• Harms lungs and throat just like regular vaping
• Illegal for anyone under 21

Explain that some vape pens use THC, the part of marijuana that makes you feel “high.” Emphasize it’s unsafe and illegal for kids.

Nicotine & Addiction

• Nicotine changes young brains
• Causes strong cravings
• Hard to stop once you start

Use a simple brain cartoon to illustrate how nicotine changes the brain. Emphasize it’s addictive, so stopping is hard.

How to Say “No”

Try these simple replies:
• “No thanks, I’m good.”
• “I choose water/gum instead.”
• “Not for me—let’s play!”

Invite volunteers to practice. Model one refusal, then let students come up with their own ideas. Keep it light and fun.

Your Pledge

Write or draw one thing you will do to avoid vaping and help friends stay

Ask students to think of one promise they can make today. Explain that we’ll collect these as exit tickets.

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Worksheet

Vaping Risks Worksheet

A. How Can Vaping Hurt You?

List three ways vaping can affect your body:

  1. _______________________________


  2. _______________________________


  3. _______________________________


B. Myth or Fact?

Circle Myth or Fact. Then write one sentence explaining why you chose it.

  1. “Vape mist is just water vapor.”
    Myth / Fact
    Explanation: ___________________________

  2. “Vapes always have nicotine.”
    Myth / Fact
    Explanation: ___________________________

  3. “Flavored pods are like candy flavors.”
    Myth / Fact
    Explanation: ___________________________

C. Practice Saying “No”

If a friend offers you a vape, what would you say? Be clear and polite:





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Discussion

Vaping Risks Discussion for Grades 5–8

Purpose

Help students share what they know about vaping, clear up any confusion, and practice saying “No” in a safe, respectful way.

Discussion Guidelines

  • Take turns and listen quietly when others speak.
  • Keep answers short (1–2 sentences).
  • Be kind and respectful—no teasing.

1. What Is Vaping?

Prompt: In your own words, what is vaping?
Follow-Up: Where have you seen or heard people talk about vaping (TV, social media, friends)?

2. Myths vs. Facts

Prompt: Share one thing you’ve heard about vaping. Do you think it’s a myth or a fact?
Follow-Up: Why did you choose myth or fact?

3. Health Risks

Prompt: What can vaping do to your body?
Follow-Up: Which health risk from our slide deck surprised you the most?

4. How to Say “No”

Prompt: If a friend offers you a vape, what would you say?
Follow-Up: Let’s practice one polite refusal together.

Next Steps

After our chat, complete the Vaping Risks Worksheet to:

  1. Write down three health risks
  2. Circle myth or fact and explain
  3. Practice your own refusal sentence

Thanks for sharing—your voice matters in keeping everyone vape-free!

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Activity

Myth or Fact Relay

Time: 5 minutes
Group Size: Teams of 3–4 students

Materials:

  • Small stack of index cards with vaping statements (myths and facts)
  • Chart paper or whiteboard labeled “Myth” and “Fact”
  • Markers

Instructions:

  1. Divide into teams and line up next to your card deck.
  2. On “Go!”, the first student picks a card, reads it aloud, and places it under “Myth” or “Fact” on the chart.
  3. Tag the next teammate to do the same. Continue until all cards are sorted.
  4. Gather as a class and review any cards you’re unsure about.

Debrief Questions:

  • Which myth surprised you the most?
  • Why is it important to know the difference between myths and facts?
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Game

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