Don't Get Lost in a Cloud

Grade: 6

Subjects: Health, Science, Reading

Learner Outcomes:
Students will learn how Hollywood glamorizes tobacco use.
Students will view examples of tobacco use in movies.
Students will express their views on tobacco use in the movies by doing a letter writing campaign.
Students will be made aware of the many celebrities who have died from tobacco related illnesses.
Students will become critical thinkers and critical viewers.
Students will keep a record of the number of times they observe someone smoking or see tobacco ads displayed anywhere in a television program or video and graph their results using Excel.

Duration: 4 Days (43 minute class periods)

Materials:
Smoke Screeners Video and Moderator's Guide
VCR/TV
Paper/Pencil
Hands Off Tobacco CD

Technology Tools:
Excel
Computer
Projection Device
Printer

Teacher Notes:

A free copy of the Smoke Screeners program can be obtained at Smoke Screeners .
A free copy of Hands-Off Tobacco can be obtained at the Fairmont General Hospital web site.

Acceptable use policy signed for all participating students.

Procedure: Day 1 (43 minute class period)
Following the guidelines in the Moderator's Guide, discuss with the students their movie viewing habits.
Steer the conversation toward the issue of smoking in the movies.
Introduce the Smoke Screeners Video
During the pauses and after viewing the video, use the discussion questions in the Mediator's Guide.
Have students watch any TV program for five days and tally the number of times they view someone using tobacco.
Tally their results on the Smoke Screener's Data Sheet . Give a due date for this assignment.

Procedure: Days 2 (43 minute class period)

Show students a list of celebrities that died from smoke related illnesses on the following sites:

Celebrities Against Smoking
Stars Against Smoking

   Give details about a letter writing campaign in which the class will draft a letter to write to various movie studios and television networks. Use the overhead to help each class compose a rough draft.
   Proof for mistakes and edit.
   Have the students copy the letter on paper.
   Students will type their letters on the computer.

Procedure: Day 3 (43 minutes)

Have students take their letter to the computer lab and type it using Microsoft Office.
Print each letter and mail it to the addresses provided from Smoke Screeners.
If time permits, have students view The Numbers Lie on the Hands Off Tobacco CD and complete the Hands Off Tobacco Quiz.
This quiz is also available at: Hands Off Tobacco Quiz

Procedure: Day 4 (Do after the students complete their Smoke Screeners Data Sheet)

When the students have completed their Smoke Screeners Data Sheet, discuss the results.
Take the students to the computer lab and show on the projector how to make a graph in Excel.
Print out a each student's graph.

Modifications:

Make special adjustments for students with special needs according to their IEP.

Enrichment Activities:

Have students the Tobacco Knowledge Quiz on the Tobacco Explorer CD.
Do the Smoke-Free Storyboard Sheet in the Smoke Screeners Moderator Guide and have students act out their script.
Have students view At the Movies on the Tobacco Explorer CD.