Project Title:

The Real Scoop on Tobacco

Brief Decription of Project:
You have been hired by the parents of Icabod, a sixth grade student. They suspect their child of smoking or about to start.  He's gone through D.A.R.E. and listened to the lectures of his parents and teachers.  However, he thinks they are all just handing him a line.  After all, he sees lots of adults smoking and figures it isn't really so bad. In fact, he thinks it's pretty cool. But he might listen to you.  After all, you're his peer. That's what his parents are counting on.  They've hired you to convince him to quit smoking. To do so, you must show your commitment to the fight against youth using tobacco and create a memorable message for him. Do a good job - it could be a matter of life and death.

Grade Level:  6-8

Desired Number of Participants (if collaboration with other classes):
class

Project Timeline:
one week

Curriculum Subject Area(s):
Health, Biology, Language Arts ,Science

Objectives of Project:
Students will

Materials/Resources: (List Both on-line and off-line materials/resources needed)

On-line:
http://www.autonomy.com/ Master Anti-Smoking Page is a great resource for links to organizations working to combat the smoking habit. It also provides a way to ask an expert specific questions. You'll need to scroll down quite a bit to find the Anti-Smoking page listed under "Specialty Pages - General Interest".
http://www.ca.cancer.org/ American Cancer Society is the site specifically targeting tobacco control.  It provides facts about smoking cigars and includes a position statement and cigar fact sheet.
http://www.quitnet.org/ Quit-Net is a site by the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program with information on how to quit, resources, news items, and great links
http://www.acde.org/" The Learning Trip   has easy-to-understand information on the physical reasons people continue to smoke and on nicotine's effects on various parts of the body
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhmeyers/ If Tobacco Ads Really Told the Truth is a fun site showing kids' versions (parodies) of tobacco ads.
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/  Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids includes information about recent legislation (laws) and policies. Be sure to check out the "Kid's Corner". It's written just for you.
http://www.erinet.com/fnadoc/smoke.htm  Adverse Effects of Smoking  has some interesting information - including a picture of a smoker's lung
Off-Line:
Magazines, brochures, poster board, construction paper

Procedure(Step by step instructions for developing the project):
So here's what you're being paid to do: Become an expert about tobacco use and issues surrounding its use.
Create an ad or poster that visually conveys the message you want to get across. Demonstrate your commitment to fight tobacco use by writing a letter to a tobacco company and an editorial for the local paper. Get Icabod's attention and give him a memorable message using a music video, skit, or TV commercial.
The Process
Determine how you will organize information in your journal.  You will use this to record all information and activities throughout the project, including a log of your daily activities, brainstorming questions, notes from research, comments from other students, drafts of project tasks, etc.
Conduct research on tobacco and respond to the following questions:
What diseases are caused by smoking cigarettes? smoking cigars? chewing tobacco?
What influences people to smoke?
What keeps them smoking?
What are the facts about nicotine?
What can you find out about the tobacco industry?
Identify and explain the significance of recent ourt cases involving the tobacco industry.
Collect any other interesting or important facts.</UL>
 In your journal, brainstorm the position and supporting facts you will use to convince Icabod to stop smoking.
Collect tobacco ads, posters, etc. and analyze them using the following questions:
What graphic design techniques did they use to appeal to you?
What does the ad say directly?
What does it say indirectly (hinting, suggesting)?
Who do you think this advertisement is designed to interest? How does it do this?
Based on your research, design an advertisement or poster to convey your message about tobacco use. Consider analyzing any ads aimed at your age level for techniques graphic designers use to attract you. Use these techniques in your ad to promote your position on tobacco use.
Spread the word by writing an editorial to your local newspaper making a persuasive statement about one of the issues related to youth using tobacco. To get a feel for style and format of this type of writing, read a variety of editorials published in newspapers or magazines. Does the editorial convince you to agree with the author's position? If so, how was it convincing? If not, why wasn't it convincing? How can you relate this to your task of writing an editorial?
Go directly to the source! Write a letter to tobacco companies stating your concerns for their impact on youth. Support with facts from your research and ad analysis.
Give a message that'll stick!  Determine how you will convince Icabod to quit smoking. Select from the following presentation ideas or propose your own idea. Regardless of your approach, you need to be convincing, relate important facts, and connect with your audience.

Extensions to other subject areas:
Students could use this model as a starting place for investigations into alcohol and other drugs.
 

Student Evaluation Method:
Project presentation and Journal
 

Project Evaluation