Pre-Viewing Educational Module

This module is designed to prepare students before watching Taking a Toke. It provides teachers with resources to introduce concepts and foster initial discussions.

Go to Post-Viewing Module

Introduction Discussion Questions Activities

Introduction

Teacher's Guide: Preparing for Taking a Toke

Welcome to the pre-viewing module for Taking a Toke. This guide will help you prepare your students for the documentary with age-appropriate discussions about vaping and its effects on adolescent development.

Learning Objectives

Assess students' current knowledge and perceptions about vaping tobacco
Create a safe environment for open discussion about nicotine use
Establish a foundation of facts before viewing the documentary
Prepare students to engage critically with the documentary content

Before You Begin

It's important to create a safe, non-judgmental space where students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts without fear of punishment or ridicule. Make it clear that the goal is education and open dialogue, not to identify who may be using vaping tobacco.

Consider sending a note to parents/guardians informing them about the documentary viewing and discussion topics, inviting them to continue the conversation at home.

Discussion Questions

Pre-Viewing Discussion Questions

These questions are designed to gauge students' current understanding and attitudes toward vaping tobacco use. Consider using anonymous polling tools to encourage honest responses.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT VAPING TOBACCO?

Ask students to share what they believe to be true. Common responses may include:

"It's harmless and fun"
"It's addictive"
"Legal for adults 21 and over"

Teacher Note:

After collecting responses, provide factual information about vaping, including its legal status in your state, medical research on its effects on developing brains, and the difference between medical and recreational use.

DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO USES VAPES?

Anonymous responses might include:

Family members
Neighbors
Friends
Themselves

Teacher Note:

This question helps establish the relevance of the topic to students' lives. Remind students they don't need to name specific individuals. The goal is to recognize that vaping is a real issue that affects many communities.

WHAT DOES VAPING TOBACCO SMELL LIKE?

Students might describe it as:

Flowers
Skunk
Sewage

Teacher Note:

This question helps identify students who might have been exposed to vaping nicotine. It's also an opportunity to discuss how tobacco vaper products today come in many forms beyond the traditional cigarettes, including oils and vape cartridges that may not have the characteristic smell.

Additional Questions to Consider

What have you heard about how vaping tobacco affects the brain?
Do you think vaping tobacco is dangerous? Why or why not?
Why do you think some people choose to use vapes?
What questions do you have about vaping that you hope the documentary will answer?

Activities

Pre-Viewing Activities

1. Myth vs. Fact Sorting Activity

Create cards with common statements about vaping tobacco (both true and false). Have students work in groups to sort them into "myth" and "fact" categories. After the documentary, revisit these cards to see if opinions have changed.

Example statements:

"Vaping tobacoo is not addictive"
"Vaping tobacco use has no long-term effects on the brain"

2. Research Assignment

Assign students to research specific aspects of nicotine vaping use and its effects. Topics could include:

Research on vaping's effects on adolescent brain development

Students can present their findings in a brief presentation or create a fact sheet to share with the class before watching the documentary.

3. Journal Prompts

Have students respond to reflective journal prompts such as:

What pressures do teenagers face regarding tobaccco use?
How do you make decisions about your health and wellbeing?
What questions do you have about tobacco that you hope to learn from the documentary?
What would you do if a friend offered you a vape?

Questions or Comments?

If you have any questions about these educational materials or need additional resources, please contact: lori@takingatoke.com