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Primary Science · Year 6Chapter 4 · Diet, exercise, drugs and lifestyle
Year 6 Science · Diet, exercise, drugs and lifestyle · Lesson 4.5

Year 6 Science: Tobacco, alcohol and caffeine

Part of the Year 6 Science diet, exercise, drugs and lifestyle chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

4.5

Tobacco, alcohol and caffeine

Year 6
A2: recognise the impact of drugs, including tobacco, alcohol and caffeine, on the way the body functions
Story. At a family party, Ruby sees a grown-up drink a cup of coffee and a glass of wine. “Are they both drugs?” she asks. Her grown-up explains: “Caffeine and alcohol both change how the body works. Some things are safe for adults, and children should avoid them.”

Some substances that adults use change the way the body works, and are not suitable for children.

Children should avoid all three. A healthy lifestyle, with good sleep, exercise and a balanced diet, does not need any of them.

The table in section 4.4 shows the general effects. The rows below are the three substances in this section.

SubstanceWhat it does to the body
Tobacco smokedamages the lungs and the heart, and is very harmful
Alcoholaffects the brain and judgement, and can damage the liver
Caffeine, in tea, cola and some energy drinkscan make the heart beat faster and keep you awake

Key ideas

  • Tobacco smoke damages the lungs and the heart.
  • Alcohol affects the brain and judgement, and can damage the liver.
  • Caffeine can make the heart beat faster and keep you awake.
  • Children should avoid tobacco, alcohol and caffeine, and ask a trusted adult if they are unsure.
Worked example 4.5.1
Which part of the body does tobacco smoke damage, according to the table? Write the two organs.

Method. Read the tobacco row.

  1. Read the row. Tobacco smoke damages the lungs and the heart.
    lungs and heart
  2. Write the answer. So the organs are the lungs and the heart.
    lungs and heart
  3. Write the answer.
    the lungs and the heart

Check. Both organs depend on a healthy circulation and breathing. ✓

Worked example 4.5.2
Which organ can be damaged by alcohol, according to the table? Write the name.

Method. Read the alcohol row.

  1. Read the row. Alcohol affects the brain and judgement, and can damage the liver.
    liver
  2. Write the name. So the organ is the liver.
    liver
  3. Write the answer.
    liver

Check. The liver can be damaged by alcohol. ✓

Worked example 4.5.3
Caffeine can make the heart beat faster. Is this a good reason for children to avoid it? Write yes or no.

Method. Think about the heart.

  1. Think about the effect. A faster heart beat is an effect that children do not need.
    faster
  2. Decide. So children should avoid caffeine, and the answer is yes.
    yes
  3. Write the answer.
    yes

Check. Children should avoid caffeine. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: caffeine is found in some drinks that look like soft drinks. Always check with a grown-up what a drink contains.

Exam tip

Exam tip. Name the organ and the effect, for example: tobacco damages the lungs and the heart.

Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). Look at the labels on a cola or a tea packet with a grown-up, and find the word caffeine if it is listed. Talk about why children should avoid it. Plan one healthy drink to have instead, such as water or milk.

Exercise 4E  Tobacco, alcohol and caffeine

1
FWhich organs does tobacco smoke damage? Write the two names.
2
FWhich organ can alcohol damage? Write the name.
3
FWhich substance can make the heart beat faster and keep you awake? Write the word.
4
FName one drink that contains caffeine, according to section 4.5. Write the name.
5
FShould children avoid tobacco, alcohol and caffeine? Write yes or no.
6
FWhich organ is affected by both tobacco smoke and caffeine? Write the name.
7
FWhich substance affects the brain and judgement? Write the word.
8
PSRuby thinks a cola is safe to have every day because it is only a drink. Is Ruby right? Write yes or no.
9
PSPriya's grown-up has a cup of tea. Does tea contain caffeine, according to section 4.5? Write yes or no.
10
PSWrite one healthy drink that a child can have in place of a caffeinated drink. Write the name of the drink.
11
RExplain why tobacco smoke harms the heart as well as the lungs. Write one sentence.
12
RExplain why a child might feel tired after drinking a lot of caffeine late in the day. Write one sentence.
13
RChallenge: explain why the healthiest choice for a child is to avoid tobacco, alcohol and caffeine. Write one sentence.

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