Smoking and Your Health wellbeing lesson plan
A secondary wellbeing lesson for Years 9 to 13 that helps Australian teachers introduce smoking and vaping in a structured, ready-to-teach lesson. Students learn to recognise the health risks linked to smoking, understand the pressures that can influence decisions to start or continue, and practise identifying support pathways for quitting. The lesson keeps the focus on knowledge, decision-making and help-seeking, giving teachers a calm, non-judgemental way to open discussion about smoking and vaping without relying on scare tactics.
Substances & Risky Behaviours
Snapshot
Smoking and Your Health.
This lesson gives teachers a structured way to introduce smoking and vaping using clear, non-judgemental language. Feedback: 4.6/5 from 30 teacher ratings
Prep time:
5 to 10 minutes
Lesson length:
45 to 50 minutes
Key Focus
Understanding smoking risks and building confidence to seek support to quit
Lesson Format
Teacher-led discussion and structured activities
What students 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 common situations where peer pressure can influence decisions about smoking or vaping
recognise signs that someone may want or need support to quit
Understand
understand why smoking and vaping can be difficult to stop once started
understand the health and legal considerations relevant to smoking and vaping
understand that seeking support to quit is a positive and achievable step
Practise
practise identifying support options and services available to help someone quit
practise using decision-making language to respond to peer pressure
practise asking questions about smoking and vaping in a respectful, non-judgemental way
Who this lesson is for?
This lesson is designed for secondary students across Years 9 to 13 who are building knowledge about substance use, health risks and decision-making. It suits students with varying levels of prior exposure to smoking or vaping, whether through curiosity, peer environments or personal experience.
It is suitable for:
secondary wellbeing or Health lessons
PDHPE units covering substance use and personal health
pastoral care or advisory sessions
respectful, non-judgemental discussions about risk and decision-making
proactive substance use education programs
Suitability should be based on more than age alone. Teachers should consider the lesson focus, student 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 substance use education Use when students are beginning structured learning about smoking, vaping and related health risks.
Reinforcing a Health or PDHPE unit Use when building on existing content about substance use, decision-making or personal health.
Supporting informed decision-making Use when students need practical language for weighing up risks and pressures around smoking or vaping.
Practising peer pressure responses Use when students are learning how to respond to social pressure to try or continue smoking or vaping.
Building help-seeking confidence Use when students need to understand where to find support if they or someone they know wants to quit.
Creating a structured wellbeing discussion Use when you want a calm, non-judgemental class discussion about smoking, health and quitting support.
The lesson can be used proactively with the whole class. It does not need to follow a specific incident.
Why this lesson matters
Students benefit from clear, factual information about smoking and vaping before they face real decisions about trying or continuing use. Understanding risks early supports informed choices rather than relying on guesswork or peer opinion alone. Substance use education is not only about warning students away from smoking. It also involves helping students understand health and legal considerations, recognise pressure, and know that support is available if someone wants to quit or cut down. This lesson supports a school culture where students feel comfortable asking questions and seeking help around smoking and vaping, without fear of 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 Students build accurate knowledge about the risks associated with smoking and vaping.
Decision-making Students consider the factors that influence choices about starting, continuing or quitting.
Peer pressure awareness Students recognise social pressure and consider ways to respond confidently.
Help-seeking Students learn where to find support if they or someone they know wants to quit.
Risk awareness Students connect health and legal considerations to real-life decision-making.
Self-management Students consider strategies that support healthier choices over time.
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 students not to name classmates or share personal stories about smoking or vaping
Frame discussion around general examples and scenarios rather than personal disclosures
Make clear the lesson is about building knowledge and decision-making, not judging individual choices
Identify local or school-based support options students can be directed to if they want to quit or learn more
Be prepared to follow your school's child safety, wellbeing or child protection procedures if a student discloses harm or says they feel unsafe.
During delivery
Use factual, non-alarmist language when discussing health risks
Avoid scare tactics or assumptions about why a student may or may not smoke or vape
Give students space to ask questions without judgement
Reinforce that quitting is a process and support is available
Supporting safe discussion
Keep the focus on general information rather than personal disclosures
Redirect any personal questions to a private conversation with a trusted adult
Remind students that seeking support to quit is a positive step, not a failure
Adaptation options
Use small group or paired discussion for students who may find whole class discussion less comfortable
Provide written reflection options for students who prefer not to speak aloud
Extend discussion time on support pathways if students show interest in quitting resources
This lesson does not replace medical advice or specialist quit smoking support. Encourage students to speak with a trusted adult or health professional for individual guidance.
