The tobacco companies target young people with their advertising schemes and as a result too many young people start smoking, become addicted and therefore continue to smoke into adulthood.Although,trends in tobacco use are changing according to the American Lung Association. The public has become more aware of the health costs of tobacco use, and more individuals are making the choice to be tobacco free. However, according to the Surgeon General, tobacco use, particulary smoking, is the number one cause of preventable disease and death in the United States.
The concept of tobacco use is a complicated and controversial topic. Some people maintain that the reported negative health effects of cigarettes are exaggerated or simply coincidental. Others proclaim that it's the right of individuals to pursue their own pastimes, even if it is dangerous. By now, however, the majority opinion is that tobacco is bad for you, and even most smokers will admit that it's an expensive, unhealthy, and obnoxious habit. So why do people still use it? We've all heard that cigarettes are addictive, but how and why are they? How many different chemicals found in cigarettes? How many carcinogens are in cigarettes? What are some of the diseases associated with smoking? These are some of the questions that you will tackle in this WebQuest.
You are going to use the internet to investigate tobacco and answer the questions below. If you are having trouble finding information please check the Teacher's Page for some helpful links. Be sure to include the website that you find your information at the end of each task.
Task 1:
What is the addictive substance that is found in tobacco?
Why is it addictive (what does it do to your body)?
Task 2:
How many different chemicals are found in cigarettes when they are burned (smoked)?
What is a carcinogen and how many different ones are found in cigarettes?
Task 3:
What are 5 different chemicals found in cigarettes?
What is another non-tobacco product that you can find each of those chemicals in?
Task 4:
Smoking and tobacco use have been linked to many diseases. Select a specific disease (cancer is not specific, you must select a specific cancer) listed from one of the links provided. What is the name of your chosen disease, what are the signs and symptoms of the disease, and how/why is it linked to tobacco use.
Task 5:
What is carbon monoxide?
What effect does carbon monoxide have in the bloodstream?
Task 6:
What is environmental tobacco smoke (ETS)?
What effect does it have on your body?
Task 7:
In addition to tobacco use being potentially deadly it is also expensive! You are now going to calculate the cost of smoking for a person who smokes a pack of cigarettes a day (20 cigarettes). If a pack of cigarettes costs $5.85, how much would a person spend on cigarettes for 1 week, for 1 month, and then for a year? Finally, if you smoked 1 pack per day for 20 years how much money did you spend? You must show your work (the formula) even if you used a calculator.
Students will be graded on the following critera:
Task 1: 10 points - 4 pts. per question; 1 pt. for each citation
Task 2: 10 points - 4 pts. per question; 1 pt. for each citation
Task 3: 20 points - 2 pts. per chemical (5) and 2 pts. per other product (5)
Task 4: 20 points - 5 pts. for a disease, 10 pts. for signs and symptoms, 5 pts. for citation
Task 5: 10 points - 4 pts. for definition and 4 pts. for effect; 1 pt. for each citation
Task 6: 10 points - 4 pts. for definition and 4 pts. for effect; 1 pt. for each citation
Task 7: 20 points - 5 pts. for 1 week, 5 pts. for 1 month, 5 pts. for 1 year, and 5 pts. for for 20 years
After completing this Webquest you should now know the risks associated with smoking and tobacco use. It can be both deadly and expensive! The next time you are given the choice to smoke or chew tobacco I hope you make the right decision.
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2278.aspx?CategoryID=53
http://www.quitsmokingsupport.com/whatsinit.htm
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/QuitSmoking/QuittingSmokin…
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/tobaccocancer/cigarettesmokin…
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/e…
http://www.carbonmonoxidekills.com/15/carbon_monoxide_cigarettes
http://www.meds.com/lung/smoking/environmental.html
https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/ets_health.html
