To quit or not to quit...

Key Stage: 3 & 4
Year (s): 7+                                                                                
Number of pupils  25+                          

Learning Objectives (Knowledge, Concept, Attitude & Skill)

1 The pupils will be able to identify a number of ways to help smokers to quit. (Knowledge)

2 The pupils will be able to identify why the government are spending so much money to help smokers to quit (Attitude)

Links to National Curriculum

General Plan of Session (with approximate timings)

1.Ask the class if they could change one thing in their lives what would it be?  Ask them why do they wish they could change it?  Explain with The Cycle of Change how people change their habits all the time, and importantly how they can slip back into bad habits. Explain that this diagram is used by the government to help smokers to quit. Information and resources are used to persuade smokers to think about stopping, prepare to stop, stop smoking, and maintain their non-smoking lifestyle.(15 min's)

2. Explain that the Government has invested over £60 million pounds to stopping smoking, especially into poorer areas such as Manchester.  Ask the group why do they think the government are especially looking at poorer areas such as Manchester?  (5 min's)

3. Now ask the children what they think that £60 Million Pounds is being spent on.  Explain that the money has been spent on training specialist cessation officers to help smokers to quit, to tackle mis-information given to young people, to provide more no smoking buildings / restaurants, to help pregnant smokers, to ban Tobacco advertising and to advertise  cessation services to people such as the residents of Manchester. (10 min's)

4. You may find that the young people will talk about Nicotine Replacement Therapy and the latest Zyban drug.  You can give them each a copy of the NRT & Zyban sheet describing how each drug works to help smokers to quit.  The government have recently announced that all NRT products and Zyban will be available on prescription rather than the £20- 30 cost for one weeks supply from the pharmacy. (10 min's)

Resources to be used

Hyperlinked handouts and pens or pencils.

Extension