Video 2: Responding To Peer Influences Involving Vaping

This video may be used to initiate conversations about vaping with elementary students in Grades 6 as part of learning about Substance Use, Addictions and Related Behaviours. Engaging students in facilitated conversations based on the scenario and on-screen questions contained in the video will help students develop the health knowledge and social-emotional Learning skills needed to resist pressures they may face to engage in harmful behaviours like vaping, and equip them with the critical thinking and decision making skills required to make informed decisions about their health.

While viewing this scenario students learn about the factors influencing an individual's choice about vaping, consider how to respond to peer influences involving vaping, and use their social-emotional learning skills to make an informed decision and communicate their decision in situations when it differs from the decision of their peers.

The Scenario

Two children who are in grade 6 are walking to school together. They find a vape on the ground before they get to school property. They know that it is a vape. They are trying to decide what they should do with it but arrive at school before their decision has been made. The characters decide to meet up after school to talk more about what to do. One character is struggling with the decision throughout the day, trying to decide how to deal with the situation.

Thought Provoking Questions

Before Viewing: How can peers influence a person’s decisions about vaping? How might you respond to influences involving vaping?

During Viewing: What do you know about Vape products? How might the substances contained in a vape affect a person physically or mentally? What might influence youth in situations involving vaping like this one? What would you do in this situation and why?

After Viewing: How do you think the character’s handled the situation after they finished their conversation? What would you have done in this situation? How would you use your communication and decision-making skills to make a safer, and more informed decision for yourself, even if your friends made a different decision?