The Biography of Tobacco takes a fascinating look at a product at the center of great controversy. The addictive drug nicotine found in cigarettes keeps smokers hooked causing a variety of health problems. Yet, tobacco is grown in more than 125 countries around the world and is a very valuable crop to some countries' economies. Children will learn about the history of the tobacco plant, how it is grown and sold throughout the world, and how a battle is being waged for our health against large, powerful tobacco companies. Other topics include
• What is a commodity?
• tobacco as an early cure for toothaches and tapeworm
• from a "New World" crop to being grown all over the world
• one of the biggest cash crops in the United States, China, Brazil, and India
• how tobacco use has dropped in North America but is growing in other parts of the world
Teacher's guide available.