1. Lesson #14: Power to be Tobacco Free!
Learning targets:
Today we Will: Focus on more reasons not to use tobacco
So that we can: make good life choices
We will know we have it when: We can write a letter to another middle school student and convince him/her not to use tobacco

2. Bellwork (at your table)
With your table group:
List 5 Refusal Skills
(Think of what you would do/say if somebody offered you tobacco)
List 5 Ways to Reduce Exposure to Tobacco Smoke

3. Meeting our Physical and Emotional Needs…
Why peer pressure happens…
Physical Safety: need to be protected from physical harm
Physical Safety
Self-esteem
Sense of Belonging to Groups
Emotional Safety
Self-esteem:
need to feel positive about self and to have others feel positive about you
Emotional Safety: need to be protected emotionally
Sense of belonging to groups: need to have groups to belong to, to feel appreciated, to give and receive love, and to have friends

4. Reasons to Quit… Within 20 minutes… Within 12 hours…
Your Heart Rate drops back down to normal
Within 12 hours…
The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal
Within 2-3 months after quitting…
Your heart attack risk begins to drop
Your lung function begins to improve
1-9 months after quitting…
Your coughing and shortness of breath decrease
1 year after quitting…
Your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s
5-15 years after quitting…
Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker’s
10 years after quitting
Your lung cancer death rate is about half of that of a smoker’s
Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decrease
15 years after quitting…
Your risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a nonsmoker’s

5. Resources for Information and Assistance
Trusted adults, such as parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins
School staff members, such as teachers, librarians, and other adults at school
School or community libraries
Local counseling agencies or organizations that give information (AHA), such as a public health department
Church or religious institutions
Internet as a Resource?
Who is the author of the article?
Are you using a website that ends in “.gov” or “.edu”
Is the site selling something?
Does this information come from a website where anyone can write anything (ex.-Wikipedia)?
Does the author site sources that end in .gov or .edu?

6. Persuading others…
As much as we know about the dangers of tobacco, it is sad to say that someone you know might decide to use it…
At your table, brainstorm at least 5 things you would say to convince them not to use tobacco…
Remember our Top 10 lists?

7. 10 Point Assignment: Letter to Another M.S. Student
Write a letter to another Middle School Student
Address it: “Dear Middle School Student
Do NOT write a name…
Convince them not to use tobacco
Should be at least 7 sentences long
Give at least 5 reasons (mental, emotional, social, etc.)
Some of your letters will be put on display