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addition: the forming of a dependence on a drug.
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bronchitis: the inability to clear the lungs and air passages of phlem, leading to infection and breathlesses.
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carbon monoxide: a poisonous gas contained in cigarettes, which hinders the release of oxygen into the body.
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emphysema: a disease that breaks down the walls of the air sacs throughout the lungs and makes it difficult to breath.
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lung cancer: the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lung.
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heart disease: a disease of the circulatory system in veins and arteries become hardened with plaque leading to high blood pressure or a heart attack.
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passive smoking: The inhalation of smoke from cigarettes smoked by other people.
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Tobacco Institute: a lobby organization which is designed to pursue the political and economic interests of the tobacco industry.
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Nicotine: An active drug in tobacco which causes smokers to be addicted.
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Surgeon General: the chief american medical officer for health.
Lesson Plan 1
Objective
The students will learn the origins of tobacco and how its use spread from the Americas throughout the world.
Materials
Student activity maps, large world map, globes, crayons, reference materials (see bibliography).
Discuss
Ask the children if they know people who smoke cigarettes, pipes, or cigars. Then ask if they know who were the first people to smoke tobacco. Discuss how tobacco was first used by Native Americans. Explain how Christopher Columbus brought tobacco back to Spain, and its use spread throught Europe and the rest of the world.
Activities
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1. Have students touch, see, and feel tobacco leaves and pass them around the room. This demonstrates how tobacco use spread throughout the world. Explain that tobacco contains nicotine which is an addictive drug. When people begin using it regularly, its use is difficult to stop.
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2. Using a large map of the world, explain Columbus’ voyage of the Atlantic Ocean from Spain to the West Indies, and around the Gulf of Mexico. Tell the students how it was suprising for Christopher Columbus and his sailors to see the Native Americans smoke tobacco.
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3. Have students label and color world maps.
Lesson Plan 2
Objective
The students will learn how cigarette manufacturers mislead and disceive consumers into thinking cigarettes are “cool”. The students will create Anti-smoking advertisements (Posters and Billboards) which demonstrate the harm caused by smoking.
Materials
Magazine advertisements, newspaper advertisements, photographs of billboards, construction paper, old magazines, art supplies.
Discuss
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1. Pass out newspaper and cigarette advertisements, (40-50 clippings) and have the students look for feelings expressed by models and slogans advertising the products to consumers.
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2. Then have the whole class discuss and brainstorm the cigarette manufactures’ message about smoking.
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3. Based on prior knowledge, have the students brainstorm slogans and feelings they would put into Anti-smoking advertisements.
Activities
Making Anti-smokings billboards, posters, and collages.
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1. Using old magazines, have the students clip photos of solom, sad, fearful or angry faces for their anti-smoking advertisements.
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2. Paste or draw pictures on construction paper, and have the students write anti-smoking slogan statements to put in their projects.
Lesson Plan 3
Objective
The students will learn how to gather information through conducting a survey.
The students will graph the information gathered through surveying smokers and non-smokers.
The students will gain insights about smoking from smokers and non-smokers.
Materials
Surveys for smokers and non-smokers.
Discuss
Though people are smoking less in the 1990’s than in the past, one million teenagers begin smoking each year, and some never quit. It is important for children to discover first hand why people smoke, and how they began smoking.
Activity
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1. The students are to use the surveys for smokers and non-smokers, and to gather as much information as possible.
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2. After the surveys are completed, the students should graph and discuss the information gathered.
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3. Teachers may also want to have the students write their own survey questions rather than using the surveys provided.
Non-Smokers Survey
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1. Have you ever tried smoking even once?
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2. Have you ever been a regular smoker?
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3. Rank the following reasons for not smoking:
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causes bad breath
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habit too costly $
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Related illnesses; such as heart disease and lung cancer
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fear of becoming addicted to nicotine
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4. Do you think we need stronger regulations or higher taxes on tobacco products?
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5. Do you think people should have the right to smoke cigarettes?
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6. Do you dislike second-hand smoke?
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7. Do you feel second-hand smoke is harming your health?
Smokers Survey
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1. At what age did you begin smoking?
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2. Why did you start smoking?
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3. How many cigarettes do you smoke each day?
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4. How much money do you spend on cigarettes per day?
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5. Do you fear contracting smoking related illnesses such as lung cancer or heart disease?
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6. Would you like to quit smoking?
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7. Have you ever tried to quit smoking?
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If yes, about how many times have you tried to quit?
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8. Do you believe cigarettes to be addictive?
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9. Do you think we need stonger regulations or higher taxes on tobacco products?
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10. Do you think people should have the right to smoke cigarettes?
Cross Curricular Activities
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1. Writing (Essay)
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Essay Prompt: You are the President of the United States. Write a bill banning the sale of tobacco products. Include health and economic reasons why society should be free of tobacco use.
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Alternative Prompt:
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You are president of the United States.
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Write a proposal to eliminate already existing restrictions on the marketing and sale of tobacco. Include reasons why age laws, advertisement restrictions, taxes, etc. should be eliminated from tobacco products.
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2. Writing (Surgeon General Warning)
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Expose students to the four warnings used on cigarette packages, and assign them to write stronger warnings for cigarettes.
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Cigarette manufactures are required to put one of the following Surgeon General warnings on cigarette packages:
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A. Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide.
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B. Quitting smoking now greatly reduces serious risks to your health.
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C Smoking by pregnant women may result in fetal injury, premature birth, and low birth weight.
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D. Smoking causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy.
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* Have the stronger warnings include words such as: Death, Cancer, Addiction, Disease, Etc.
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3. Persuasive Writing (Please Don’t Smoke)
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Have the students write persuasive letters to smokers they know. The letters should try to convince smokers to quit smoking. If the children don’t know any smokers, the alternative letter writing assignment is for them to convince a non-smoking friend or family member never to begin smoking.
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4. Pursuasive Letter Writing
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Have the students write their congress person and United States senator expressing their views on smoking and the tobacco industry. This should be written in the form of a business letter. The students may also ask for relative view points the politicians may have concerning these issues.