These Conversation Starter Videos are designed to initiate conversations about vaping with elementary students at different stages of their development. Engaging students in conversations about vaping helps them develop their health knowledge and the social-emotional Learning skills needed to respond to situations involving vaping.
The content for each of these scenario-based videos is derived from the Substance Use, Addictions, and Related Behaviours expectations in the elementary Health and Physical Education curriculum, 2019, and aligns with the Grade expectations for which the video is intended for use.
Students may also need to know about vaping and develop skills to respond to situations involving vaping at any grade and stage of their development in elementary school. The overall expectations provide an entry point to address the concept of vaping as one of the broader health concepts. Teachers may also consider using these videos in response to student needs, making connections to the overall expectations of the elementary Health and Physical Education curriculum, 2019.
Videos: Focus of Learning
Video 1, Making Safer and Informed Choices About Vaping may be used with Grade 4-5 students to facilitate conversations about substances contained in vape products, reasons why individuals may choose to vape, and how to use their communication and decision-making skills to respond to situations involving vaping.
Video 2, Responding to Peer Influences Involving Vaping may be used with Grade 6 students to facilitate conversations about factors influencing choice about vaping, how to respond to peer influences, and using social-emotional learning skills to make a informed decision and communicate their decision in situations when it differs from the decision of their peers.
Video 3, Factors that Influence Personal Choices about Vaping may be used with Grade 7-8 students to facilitate conversations about factors and influences to consider when making choices about vaping, strategies for making safer personal choices involving vaping while respecting the rights and choices of others, and using relationship, communication, and decision-making skills to effectively deal with situations involving vaping.
How to Use These Videos
Each video begins with thought provoking questions for teachers to facilitate whole or small group discussions about vaping before students view the scenario. Each video also includes a Pause feature with on-screen guiding questions. Teachers may use this feature to pause the video during viewing to engage students in conversations about vaping in context of the scenario. In addition, each video concludes with additional questions for teachers to facilitate follow up discussions with students after viewing the scenario to consolidate or extend the learning.
By viewing these videos and engaging in small group and whole group teacher facilitated discussions, students should feel empowered to make healthier and more informed decisions and choices in situations involving vaping.
Related Resources
Ophea’s Instructional Moments Videos: The Educator Voice: Talking About Vaping With Students - Part 1 and The Educator Voice: Talking About Vaping With Students - Part 2
Teachers might consider viewing Ophea’s Instructional Moments videos before using the Conversation Starter videos with students. These short, two series videos are designed to support teachers in understanding why it is important to have conversations about vaping with elementary students at different stages of their development, where vaping is addressed in the elementary Health and Physical Education curriculum, 2019, and opportunities for making explicit connections to the social-emotional learning skills.Teachers will also learn more about strategies for creating safer and more inclusive spaces when engaging students in conversations about vaping, including adopting a harm reduction approach. Effective teaching strategies to help students build their knowledge and skills to respond to situations involving vaping are also shared. Viewing this video series will support teachers in increasing their confidence and competence to engage students vaping education.
Ophea’s Educator Guide to Vaping Education
Teachers might consider reviewing Ophea’s Educator Guide to Vaping Education before using the Conversation Starter videos with students. This Guide contains a summary of the key ideas shared in Ophea’s Instructional Moments video series including why it is important to have conversations about vaping with elementary students at different stages of their development, where vaping is addressed in the elementary Health and Physical Education curriculum, and opportunities for making explicit connections to the social-emotional learning skills. The guide also contains a summary of strategies to create safer and more inclusive spaces when engaging students in conversations about vaping, a summary of a harm reduction approach, and teaching strategies to help students build their knowledge and skills to respond to situations involving vaping. A comprehensive list of available resources that teachers may access to build their confidence and competence to engage students in vaping education is also included in the guide.