   
|
Everyday in the UK, over 900 school children (aged under 16) try smoking!
This is a serious health concern that both teachers and parents currently face and until recently the only tools available to help combat this issue have been limited to either basic educational videos or high end peer education programmes which can cost in the tens of thousands of pounds.
What’s new?
With the launch of Operation Smoke Storm this has now changed. Presented as a brand new style of highly effective, but low cost learning, this resource equips teachers with an innovative way of creating a lasting shift in students’ attitudes towards smoking and the tobacco industry
Operation Smoke Storm uses the latest in multi-media technology to inform young students in a way that they most enjoy – via video and motion graphics! This helps to promote truly effective learning by moving young students beyond a state of passive listening to one of enthusiastic participation. Online sessions also include a mix of well proven learning techniques such as personal reasoning, problem solving, and group collaboration activities; all of which tap into a range of different learning styles and encourage students to take ownership of their personal learning journeys. This innovative approach ultimately provides teachers with an effective way of countering negative peer influence by moving away from telling young people what to think to helping them form their own opinions.
A recent London-based school trial showed that Operation Smoke Storm improved student attitudes and misconceptions held about smoking by as much as 39% and increased awareness of key smoking issues by 77%! Click here to view full trial report.
What’s the harm?
Once young people become hooked as lifelong consumers of tobacco they’re simply treated as a disposable commodity, exploited right up until the time they either quit or die from their habit. Influencing young people’s attitudes towards smoking early in their school career is vital, especially considering that only 0.5% of 11 year olds regularly smoke compared with 15% of all 15-year olds. 
What’s required of students?
Operation Smoke Storm comprises 3 separate 50 minute sessions. Each session cleverly exposes the harm smoking can cause, but also extends and shifts the axis of learning to include the darker side of tobacco business by encouraging students to blow the lid off this unscrupulous industry. Students (role playing as secret agents) must combine devious brain power with undercover sleuth in order to achieve their classroom mission objective:
To infiltrate R.I.Payne Tobacco (a fictional tobacco company) posing as job interview candidates, then gather sensitive company secrets before reporting back on their dangerous products and unethical business practices.
What’s required of teachers?
Very little! During each session all facts are delivered via an online fusion of short films and interactive group games. This means that teachers require neither training nor prior knowledge of the subject of smoking. They are simply required to follow the very basic teacher notes provided and click on the mouse when prompted. Other than what we provide for you, there are no extra materials or equipment required. We have even highlighted the many Curriculum points that Operation Smoke Storm covers across subjects such as PSHE, Science, Art & Design, English and Music, thereby alleviating teachers workloads rather than adding to it.
All that is left for you to do is impress your students with this totally unique and exciting teaching experience.
Quitting smoking
For detailed information on how to quit smoking and the benefits of quitting please visit: http://smokefree.nhs.uk
Find your local Free Stop Smoking Service at: http://smokefree.nhs.uk/ways-to-quit/local-nhs-stop-smoking-service
