Common Core State Standard L.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: Video of a current news event is presented for discussion to encourage student participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the video. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.
10/19/2015
Dietary Supplements Lead To Over 20,000 ER Visits Yearly
A new federal study has found dietary supplements cause more than 20,000 emergency room visits each year, with many involving heart problems in young adults. Supplements designed for weight loss or increased energy caused roughly 70 percent of the negative symptoms involving chest pain, heart palpitations and faster-than-normal heart rates. Dietary supplements are treated as food and do not face the same rigorous government rules on testing, manufacturing and labeling that are required for prescription drugs.
■Class discussion: Do you or anyone in your family take vitamins or other dietary supplements? Do you and your family consult your doctor before taking supplements? Can you find stories about supplements being recalled for containing contain substances that can cause death or serious health problems? Do supplements always contain what is on their labels? Why did Congress pass a law that that deems supplements safe until proven the contrary? How much does the $32 billion-a-year industry spend on political lobbying?