Smoking and Your Health PSHE lesson plan
A secondary PSHE lesson for Years 9 to 13 that helps UK teachers introduce smoking and vaping in a structured, ready-to-teach way. Pupils explore the health risks linked to smoking, consider the pressures that can influence decisions about substance use, and learn where to find support if they or someone they know wants to quit. The lesson keeps the focus on knowledge, decision making and help seeking rather than fear based messaging, giving teachers a calm, practical way to open discussion.
Substances & Risky Behaviours
Snapshot
Smoking and Your Health.
The lesson gives teachers a structured way to introduce smoking and vaping using clear, non judgemental language and a focus on informed decision making. Feedback: 4.6/5 from 30 teacher ratings
Prep time:
5 to 10 minutes
Lesson length:
45 to 50 minutes
Key Focus
Understanding smoking and vaping risks and seeking support to quit
Lesson Format
Teacher-led discussion and structured activities
What pupils will learn
By the end of the lesson, students will be supported to:
Recognise
recognise the short and long term health risks linked to smoking and vaping
recognise situations where peer pressure may influence decisions about smoking or vaping
recognise that wanting support to quit is a common and valid experience
Understand
understand why people may start or continue smoking or vaping despite known health risks
understand the legal and health considerations around smoking and vaping
Practise
practise language for managing peer pressure around smoking or vaping
practise identifying where to find support if they or someone they know wants to quit
practise weighing up risks when thinking through decisions about substance use
Who this lesson is for?
This lesson is designed for secondary pupils in Years 9 to 13 who are developing the knowledge and reasoning skills to think through decisions about smoking and vaping. Pupils may have varying levels of prior awareness, from general health education to more direct experience of smoking, vaping or peer pressure.
It is suitable for:
secondary PSHE lessons
health education
pastoral care, form time or personal development sessions
wellbeing focus weeks with a health theme
wider substance use or risk education programmes
Suitability should be based on more than age alone. Teachers should consider the lesson focus, pupil maturity, cohort needs, classroom culture, existing discussion norms and available support pathways.
Best used when
Use this lesson when students need clear, practical language for recognising unkind behaviour and knowing what to do next.
Introducing health education on substances Use when pupils are beginning to learn about smoking and vaping as part of a health education sequence.
Reinforcing decision making skills Use when pupils need practice weighing up risks and pressures around substance use.
Building help seeking confidence Use when pupils need to understand where to find support to quit or reduce smoking or vaping.
Supporting personal development programmes Use when embedding the lesson within a wider PSHE or personal development unit.
Addressing peer pressure Use when pupils need language and strategies for managing pressure from friends or social situations.
Preparing for wellbeing focus weeks Use when scheduling health related content during a wellbeing or health focus period.
The lesson can be used proactively with the whole class. It does not need to follow a specific incident.
Why this lesson matters
Pupils benefit from clear, factual information about smoking and vaping before they face real decisions about trying or continuing either. Understanding risk in plain terms helps pupils reason through pressure rather than reacting to it in the moment. Smoking and vaping education is not only about warning pupils away from harm. It also builds decision making skills, gives pupils language to manage peer pressure, and normalises seeking support if they want to quit or cut down. The lesson supports a school culture where health decisions are discussed openly and pupils know that support is available without judgement.
How this lesson supports wellbeing
This lesson supports student wellbeing by building practical social and emotional skills students can use in everyday school life. It helps students develop:
Capability How the lesson supports it
Health literacy Pupils build accurate knowledge of the risks linked to smoking and vaping.
Decision making Pupils practise weighing up risk, pressure and consequence before acting.
Resisting pressure Pupils rehearse language for managing peer pressure around substance use.
Help seeking Pupils learn where and how to find support if they want to quit.
Self awareness Pupils reflect on their own reasons or influences around smoking or vaping.
Critical thinking Pupils consider why people continue smoking or vaping despite known risks.
For teachers and school leaders, the lesson contributes to broader wellbeing, respectful relationships, child safety and pastoral care goals in Australian primary schools.
Teaching notes & Delivery Considerations
This lesson includes content about unkind behaviour, exclusion and asking adults for help. It should be taught with calm, clear discussion norms.
Before teaching
Remind pupils not to name classmates or share personal stories about other people
Frame discussion around general examples and scenarios rather than personal disclosures
Make clear the lesson focuses on risk, decision making and support, not judgement
Be prepared to follow your school's safeguarding procedures and speak with the designated safeguarding lead if a pupil discloses harm or says they feel unsafe
During delivery
Use factual language about health risks rather than dramatic or alarmist framing
Keep examples general, such as being offered a cigarette or vape, rather than specific to individuals
Give pupils time to think through and discuss decision making scenarios
Reinforce that wanting support to quit is common and nothing to be embarrassed about
Supporting safe discussion
Encourage privacy and respectful discussion rather than personal disclosure
Remind pupils that support options exist if they want to talk to someone after the lesson
Direct any specific concerns to a trusted adult or the appropriate school contact
Adaptation options
Use small group discussion for pupils who prefer not to speak in front of the whole class
Extend discussion into media and marketing influences for older or more confident groups
Adjust depth of content depending on year group and prior health education
