Tobacco. Gross.

Hopefully most of you know that smoking is bad. I don’t think this is going to come as a shock.

You shouldn’t do it. And hopefully you won’t. But if you were thinking about it for even just one second, go to this website. Watch their videos. Read the facts.

Either way you should check it out. They’re one of my favorite examples of advocacy in action. They narrow their focus (the shadiness of the tobacco industry) and they know how to reach their audience (teenagers). They also do a great job explaining why using the word “don’t” won’t work when it comes to smoking prevention.

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The Truth

Great. So we’ve established that you’re not going to smoke. Because only 3% of people who try to quit after they’ve started are successful. And you’re smart enough to know those odds aren’t great.

But the sad truth is that the majority of us know somebody who already smokes. And I can tell you that they know it’s not good. And they most likely want to quit. Our goal is to try and help them join the ranks of that elite 3%.

If it’s your parents, just keep on using the guilt factor. If that doesn’t work… try this site. It’s a new approach, and it seems to be working for a lot of people.

Show them this powerful PSA that just came out of Thailand

Hey, at least you can know that you tried. And trust me, they’ll thank you for it.

More hints and tips in the classroom...

Stressbusters Video Project

Hey 6th graders! Hope you’re excited about making your stress buster videos. Project Sheet: Stressbuster Video Instructions Rubric: Stress Busters Video Rubric If you need some inspiration,

Parents

Resources for parents are plentiful, and I’ll include any I come across that I think could be of use. Click here for some helpful parent

The Energy Bar Project: Part 2

Last week I wrote about part one of a new project my 8th graders have been working on where they analyze the health claims of

Advocacy through Art Project

Hey 7th graders! Here are the details for step one of your project. For teacher instructions, check out the details on this post for Choices