Getting Kids Hooked

1. Set Focus 
Pose this essential question: Why would companies want to market e-cigarettes to teens?

2. Read and Discuss 
Have students read the article, marking key ideas and questions. Then ask them to answer the following questions, citing text evidence:

• Why did Alexa Addison start vaping? Why do you think the author begins the article with this anecdote? (Alexa Addison says she started vaping when e-cigarettes became attractive fashion accessories. Beginning the article with this anecdote helps set up two central ideas of the article: that vaping companies are designing their products to appeal to teens, and more teens are vaping as a result.)

• Based on the article, how is the FDA trying to regulate e-cigarette companies? How are companies skirting those regulations? (The FDA requires companies to apply to sell their products and to prove that they will not attract new customers. Products without approval are put on a watch list. Companies skirt the watch list by repeatedly changing their product’s name.)

• What is the section “Kicking the Habit” about? Why do you think the author ends with this section? (This section describes some possible ways people are trying to address underage vaping. Student answers about the author’s purpose may vary, but some may note that this section provides some solutions to the problem that the article presents, provides a resource to readers who want to quit vaping, and ends the article with a more positive tone.)

3. Core Skill Practice
Assign, print, or project the activity Figuratively Speaking. Have students identify and explain each example of figurative language.

4. Writing Prompt
Describe an e-cigarette ad you’ve encountered and analyze the techniques it used to sell its product.

5. Classroom Debate
Should the government ban flavored tobacco products?

6. Quiz & Skills
Use the quiz to assess comprehension and Analyze the Photo to practice visual analysis.