Straw Activity
What to say when making an Elementary School Presentation…
- Hand out straws and explain that we are going to show them what it feels like to be a smoker.
Have them plug their noses and run in place for 10 seconds, breathing only through the straw. When they get done running ask them how they feel; a lot of them will state that they feel just fine. This is what it may feel like when someone just started to smoke. Many people feel fine when they begin to smoke, so they continue to smoke.
- Twist the straw once leaving a kink and enough room to still be able to breathe through the straw.
This is about 10 years of smoking. Show the tar jar and explain that, as a smoker, they have put 10-20 jars of this into their bodies. Have them run in place again for 10 seconds, breathing only through the straw. When they stop ask if it was any harder. Some will say yes, and some will say no. State that everyone is different and some people have gotten sick from smoking after 10 years, other have not. But, the addiction is so strong most keep smoking.
- Twist the straw a second time, leaving a second kink and enough room to still be able to breathe through the straw.
This is about 20 years of smoking. Show the tar jar and explain that, as a smoker, they have put 20-40 jars of tar into their bodies. Have them run in place again for 10 seconds, breathing only through the straw. When they stop most of them will be breathing heavy. Have them sit down and collect all the straws.
Ask these questions:
1) How many of you play basketball, baseball, swim, ride a bike, etc.
Just imagine doing those things or playing outside for recess and you could only breathe through a straw. That is what it is like for some people that have smoked for awhile. And sometimes this is permanent!
Remember – You never have to quit if you never start!
