S3-5 Smoking Teacher Notes
Introduction
This section covers aspects of smoking within the Standard Grade Science (Biology) syllabus. The intention is to provide online content and activities for pupils, along with additional teacher support in the form of suggestions and ideas for classroom work and downloadable activity sheets.
The pupil content begins with an introduction on the basic facts about smoking and leads the student through to consider how smoking affects the body together with strategies for giving up.
Curriculum references
Standard Grade References
Biology Topic 5
Sub topic b (9)
Sub topic d (23)
Classroom Applications
Introduction
Class discussion to establish basic knowledge and perceptions, attitudes and experience of smoking. For example, consider the effects of smoking on 'fitness'.
The Facts
This section can be used to support any classroom discussion and group work.
Learning outcomes
- Smoking related disease can kill.
Extension work
If 13 people are killed per hour how many people die from smoking related diseases per day?
How many people will die this month?
Class Discussions on the economic impacts of smoking and smoking related disease.
What's in smoke?
A brief resume of the three major components of smoke - NICOTINE, CARBON MONOXIDE and TAR.
Learning outcomes
- Explain the short term and long-term harmful effects of smoke components.
- Explain the harmful effects of smoke components, eg. Nicotine is addictive and narrows blood vessels, affecting blood pressure while accelerating the heart; tar causes lung cancer; carbon monoxide replaces oxygen in the blood.
- Know that carbon monoxide combines irreversibly with haemoglobin (H)
Extension work
Draw and annotate a diagram of an alveolus to emphasise the role of the blood in the transport of some of the components of smoke.
Describe, with reasons, the likely effects of smoking on the development of a foetus. (Unit 7B)
Set up a smoking machine to compare the amount of tar trapped from a filter-tipped cigarette and a non filter-tipped one. Temperature of smoke can also be measured to link into the effects on cilia for next screen.
The Breathing System
The key aspects of the effects of smoking are related to the breathing system and can be introduced through a review of the physiology of the UPPER AND LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT activity.
Learning outcomes
- To understand the physiology of the Upper and Lower Respiratory Tract.
- Revision of lung function and cell structure (unit 8B).
Extension work
Using the accompanying worksheets on the upper and lower respiratory tracts, pupils can review their knowledge of online learning.
Respiratory system
The key aspects of the effects of smoking are related to the breathing system and can be introduced through a review of the physiology of the UPPER AND LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT activity.
Learning outcomes
- To locate the lungs in the upper part of the body (thorax), protected by the ribcage and separated from the lower part of the body (abdomen) by the diaphragm.
- To describe the role of the thorax including ribs, intercostal muscles, diaphragm, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli and pleural membranes.
Extension work
Using the accompanying worksheets on the upper and lower respiratory tracts, pupils can review their knowledge of online learning.
Physiology of the trachea
This section reviews specialised cells and focuses specifically on the two key cells that are affected by smoking.
Learning outcomes
- Identify and describe how ciliated cells are adapted to their function.
- Identify and describe how goblet cells are adapted to their function.
- Understand the role of the mucous membranes in defending the body against infection.
Extension work
Review other sites around the human body where ciliated cells may be present and their function e.g. Lining the oviduct to waft the egg towards the uterus, or where mucus may be secreted e.g. Nasal cavities.
Smoking and health
A visual reminder of the effect of smoking on the lungs. The short and long term effects.
Learning outcomes
- Describe the effects of cigarette smoke on tissues of the lungs, gaseous exchange and oxygen availability to body cells.
Extension work
Research the data relating to the instances of lung cancer over the last 60 years. Explain why there was an increase in men suffering from the disease post-WW2. Why was the incidence of lung cancer in women initially not as great? Why are more women now suffering from lung cancer than men?
Smoking and your lungs
Photographs to show a cancerous lung.
Learning outcomes
- Smoking tobacco causes lung cancer.
Extension work
Students are tasked to research into attitudes towards smoking 30 years ago, 60 years ago and today. Look at data on key issues such as disease, social structure and lifestyle. This work could extend to discussions with older relatives.
The benefits of not smoking
This section covers the immediate to long-term benefits in not smoking.
Learning outcomes
- Describe how ideas about smoking have changed as evidence has accumulated.
- To evaluate the misuse of drugs.
Extension work
Produce a poster or leaflet encouraging people to give up smoking.
Give it up
This section looks at the strategies available to stop smoking and so avoid the long-term effects.
Learning outcomes
- To be able to appreciate that through knowledge about the effects of smoking, attitudes towards smoking have changed.
Extension work
Find data referring to the incidence of lung cancer between males and females over the last 60 years.
Appreciate that the general trend now is that male cancer is going down, but female cancer is continuing to increase.
Investigate the arguments for why teenage girls/young women have a higher incidence of smoking than teenage boys/young men.
Summary
A brief synopsis of the information covered.
Revision time
A typical exam question to test the students knowledge.
Useful web links
Downloads
Pupil Section Exe Files
These are versions of the pupil material for this topic that you can download and use offline. Simply save the .exe file to your desktop and double-click it.
Smoking
PDF files
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