Please note: Each current events “Lesson of the Day” (renamed from our old “Article of the Day” feature) aims to be usable in a single class period.

Lesson Overview

Featured Article: “The Mysterious Vaping Illness That’s ‘Becoming an Epidemic’”

A surge of severe lung ailments has baffled doctors and public health experts. What should we do about it?

This lesson, including the featured Times article, is also available as a PDF.

Warm Up

Do you know anyone who vapes or has tried vaping? Do you know if vaping has affected their health in any way? Share what you know about the possible health risks from vaping.

Questions for Writing and Discussion

Read the article, then answer the following questions:

1. How does the opening anecdote about an 18-year-old who recently showed up in a Long Island emergency room show both the seriousness of vaping-related illnesses and how difficult they are to diagnose and treat?