E-cigarettes: what you need to know.

• Position: HEADS UP: REAL NEWS ABOUT DRUGS AND YOUR BODY

Electronic cigarettes--which deliver nicotine (a highly addictive drug) without smoking--have emerged in the past decade as a popular alternative to tobacco cigarettes. They may offer benefits to some smokers already addicted to nicotine. However, e-cigarettes also deliver a set of risks and unknowns--especially for teens. In fact, recent research suggests a link between teen use of e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes. We urge you to share this timely article with your students.

SUBJECT

* Science Literacy

* English Language Arts

* Health/Life Skills

* Media Literacy

COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS

* RI.1 & RST.1 Cite textual evidence

* RI.2 & RST.2 Central idea and details

* W.2 Write informative texts

NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS

* PS1.B Chemical Reactions

* PS3.D Energy and Chemical Processes in Everyday Life

* LS1.D Information Processing

NATIONAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS

* Structure and Function in Living Things

* Personal and Community Health

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES

* Production, Distribution, and Consumption

* Science, Technology, and Society

Critical-Thinking Questions:

Grades 6-8:

1. How are e-cigarettes similar to tobacco cigarettes, and how are they different?

2. What are some of the risks of e-cigarettes to teens?

   Grades 9-10:

1. Compare and contrast e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes.

2. How might e-cigarettes negatively affect teens?

   Grades 11-12:

1. Analyze the ways in which e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes differ, as well as the traits they share.

2. Articulate the risks e-cigarettes pose to teens.

   Additional Tools for Lesson:

   Visit scholastic.com/headsup/e-cigarettes/tools for grade-tiered resources that support teaching this lesson and article:

   * Answer Key for Critical-Thinking Questions and Work Sheet

   * Academic and Domain-Specific Vocabulary Lists

   * Additional Writing Prompts

   * Expanded Paired-Text Reading Suggestions

   * Expanded Standards Charts for Grades 6-12

   Resources and Support:

   * Teaching resources and drug info: scholastic.com/headsup /teachers and teens.drugabuse.gov

   * Teen help for quitting smoking: teen.smokefree.gov

   * "I'm Ready to Quit": www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips /quit-smoking

   Writing Prompts:

   Instruct students to use evidence from the article in their responses to the writing prompts.

   * Grades 6-8: Why is it important for scientists to research e-cigarettes?

   * Grades 9-10: Should e-cigarettes be illegal for teens?

   * Grades 11-12: Evaluate the appropriateness of laws that mandate...