Tobacco Education Programs
—Minnesota Smoking Prevention Program
—Teens Against Tobacco Use (T.A.T.U.)
—Why Animals Don't Smoke
—Project Ideas and Lesson Plans
Facts About Tobacco PA SWAT

Youth Tobacco Survey Full Report

Report Highlights

Volunteer Opportunities for Students
(BUSTED! and Enforcement Compliance Checks)

  
Minnesota Smoking Prevention Program (MSPP)—4th to 8th Grade
The Minnesota Smoking Prevention Program (MSPP) is a school-based curriculum designed for all students in 4th – 8th grades. The peer-led component of the MSPP program uses same-age group leaders to facilitate many of the classroom activities, which increases the appropriateness of the program for any group of students, since students respond well to their peers.

The overall goal of the MSPP program is to prevent tobacco use among adolescents. Starting tobacco use prevention programs at age 11 to 15 is well justified, given the knowledge that nearly all smokers begin smoking by the age of 18.

The MSPP curriculum consists of six developmentally appropriate classroom sessions. Each session is 45-50 minutes in length, fitting well into a normal class period. Educational strategies include: cooperative learning groups, large-group discussions, interviews, role-plays, media, reports and goal setting. These activities were designed to actively engage the students, rather than provide them with lecture-style lessons.
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Teens Against Tobacco Use (T.A.T.U.)—Elementary and High School Youth
The American Lung Association developed this research-based program, which has three phases:
1. A T.A.T.U.-trained prevention specialist provides training to high school students about the dangers of tobacco use in a two-day, after-school workshop.
2. The trained high school students put together a prepared lesson for elementary age children.
3. The high school students make presentations of their lesson plans, lead small group activities and interact with an elementary classroom.
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Why Animals Don't Smoke—Preschool
This locally developed program uses visual images of various animals and why they have chosen not to smoke. Example: Visual image of a shark with large teeth chooses not to smoke because it will yellow his teeth. Animal paper bag puppets are made during the activity time to take home and reinforce the information about the negative consequences of smoking on health. Pre and post presentation questions are asked to measure knowledge gained.
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Project Ideas
Tar Jar
Using a large jar, add 3 cups of karo syrup. Be sure to use the dark syrup. It is best to seal the lid with super glue. When showing the jar to students, ask them to guess how much tar is in the jar. Afterwards, explain to them that there are 3 cups of tar in the jar. Tell them that this is how much tar will accumulate in a person's lungs if they smoke a pack of cigarettes a day for a year. Tell the students that the tar that goes into your lungs from tobacco looks just as it does in this jar. It is the same type of tar that construction workers put on the road. Be sure to tip the jar upside down so the students get the full affect of how the tar actually drips. Tell them that it drips down your lungs the same as it is dripping down this jar.
Emphysema Breathing Demonstration

This demonstration will show students how hard it is to breathe with emphysema. You will need:
1. A box of plastic coffee stirrerss (the narrow straw with hollow ends)
2. A stopwatch, or any watch taht allows you to count seconds

  • Pass out plastic coffee stirrerss to students. Each student should receive only one straw.
  • As you hand out the straws, tell students: "Put this straw in your mouth. I want you to breathe ONLY through your mouth. If you want to be sure you won't get any air in any other way, pinch your nose. Let's all try to breathe through the straw for one full minute."
  • At the end of one minute, ask students "How did it feel? Did you start to feel panicky about getting enough air? How do you think it would feel to breathe like that for a full day? For a year? For ten years? If you know that smoking will take away your lungs' ability to supply the body with oxygen, why would you still do it?"
More Teacher Resources

No Form of Tobacco Is Safe (High School)
Puzzles, Activities, Games, Facts About Tobacco and Tobacco Use
Smoking Prevention Campaign (High School)
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Tobacco Free Links

List of Movies (Smoke Free and Non Smoke Free)

 Tobacco Free Kids Fact Sheets    
       
Greene County Find Out Site      


Greene Find Out        
   
 

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Greene County Tobacco Control Program
Fort Jackson Building, 3rd Floor • 19 South Washington Street • Waynesburg, PA 15370
Phone: (724) 852-5276 • Fax: (724) 852-5368 • info@beetobaccofree.org • www.beetobaccofree.org