“KICK IT” - SMOKING
The London Bus Theatre Company
Established in 1995, The London Bus Theatre Company is one of the most respected Theatre in Education companies in the United Kingdom and has been funded by BP, The Big Lottery, The Arts Council, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Tesco, Umbro and Essex Police as well as working for councils and NHS Trusts. Set up with the express objective of tackling head on the twin problems of drugs and bullying amongst young people, The London Bus drama workshops and DVDs have proved to be extremely helpful to schools, colleges and youth organisations as part of their social studies programmes and PSHE requirements.
Football/Sports for Young People
From running workshops for tens of thousands of school children in the last two years, London Bus has learnt that football and sports culture has superseded all others for both boys and girls. Football, in particular is the ideal vehicle for Health and Drugs Awareness Education as research proves that young people who are interested in sport are less likely to start smoking.
Drug Awareness for Young People
No-one doubts that drug misuse is increasing amongst young people of school age. For example, the incidence of cigarette smoking among teenage girls is approaching epidemic proportions.
It is imperative that we, as a community, do our utmost to support schools in delivering drug awareness. Preventative education must be a preferred option for our pupils. Empowering young people with the ability to say “No” to home and peer pressure is not always easy to deliver in schools, either due to lack of resources or pupils being too young to take advantage of available literature. One fantastic way of achieving this is by producing a DVD as impactive as the TV and computer games which already excite them.
“Kick It” - Smoking
Rather than producing a DVD covering the usual bases in drugs awareness, we have focused purely on the dangers of cigarette smoking. This is for two reasons. Firstly, we believe being offered cigarettes is the first opportunity children are given to find the wherewithal to be assertive in relation to potential problems with drugs. Secondly, quite simply, every year around 100,000 smokers die as a result of their habit. The two factors are not unrelated. In any event approximately 570 children start smoking every day in Britain and almost no-one starts smoking as an adult. The majority of people who take up smoking do so in adolescence.
“Kick It” - Smoking is approximately 5 minutes in length and delivers a powerful anti-smoking message for children of all ages. The DVD is suitable for Key Stages 2 - 4 and considers: what is in a cigarette, how smoking can affect your health and performance at sport, the social and financial costs and peer group pressure.
Ideas for classwork and extension activities
1. What is in a cigarette? There are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, many of which are harmful. In the video we mention carbon monoxide and strychnine. Ask pupils to find out the names of some of the other chemicals. The internet is a good place to start.
2. Discuss with pupils how smoking can affect your health. Which body parts do cigarette smoking harm?
How can smoking affect your performance at sport? Are you valuing your body by smoking cigarettes?
3. Ask pupils to design a poster encouraging people not to smoke.
4. Smoking is very damaging to the environment: it causes deforestation and is the cause of fires. Cigarette smoke pollutes the atmosphere and can damage the health of non-smokers through passive smoking. Discuss with pupils how cigarette smoke can harm people, particularly with asthma. Is smoking selfish? Are you showing respect for others if you smoke?
5. There are a number of different reasons why young people start smoking: peer group pressure, following the example of parents or other family members, copying people they admire and thinking it makes them look more adult and “cool”. Discuss with pupils whether or not something one inch from the end of your nose that is on fire looks cool? Ask the pupils to get into small groups and take it in turn to role-play saying “no” to cigarettes from their friends. Point out that they have to be realistic and assertive with their answers. In the DVD we suggest “No. I’ve already done that; it’s really boring”.
6. In the DVD we mention the many benefits of being a non-smoker. Discuss with pupils the benefits of being a non-smoker. Ask pupils why do people continue smoking? Some of the reasons are: addiction from nicotine, stimulation, habit, comfort, relaxation (cigarettes are actually a stimulant) and weight control.
7. Decision-making and assertiveness is vital for children when in situations relating to drug use. A terrific game for encouraging pupils to think for themselves is to have three points in the room: one meaning “yes”, one meaning “no” and the third meaning “sometimes”. Ask the children questions such as: “Are you a tidy person?” “Do you watch lots of TV?” “Are you a fussy eater?” “Are you someone who thinks for themselves?” “Are you someone who follows the crowd?” Ask them on each question to walk to the point that applies to them.
8. It is illegal for shopkeepers to sell cigarettes and tobacco to people under eighteen years of age but many still do. Ask pupils why this is still happening? Discuss with pupils how much a packet of cigarettes a day cost for one year and work out what you could buy for the same money.
9. Discuss with pupils where they could find help, who they could talk to if they had a problem or were curious about cigarettes. For example: parents, carers, doctors and teachers.
10. As smoking cigarettes is very damaging to the environment and health of the nation, do pupils think that cigarettes should be banned? What would happen if there was a ban? Discuss with pupils the consequences: the government that imposed the ban would become unpopular with smokers, less revenue from the taxes on tobacco products, unemployment as tobacco companies are major employers and cigarettes could be made and sold illegally resulting in more crime.
11. Ask pupils if smoking is risky? Is it worth it? How could people be encouraged not to smoke? How would the world be without cigarette smoking?