Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Activity

We are about to read a book about how the sugar industry impacted history. What role does sugar play in the world today? Working with a small group, do some research online. Create a brief presentation that uses both text and images to share some sugar facts. You might focus on one of the following sets of research questions or make up your own:

• How much sugar does the average American consume in a year? How has this number changed over time? How does it compare with sugar consumption elsewhere in the world?
• What are the hidden sources of sugar in our diet, and what words are used on food labels to indicate the presence of different forms of sugar? Why is sugar included in so many products?
• What are some unexpected uses for sugar around the house? What about in manufacturing and industry?

Be sure to cite your sources, including the sources of any images that you use.

Teaching Suggestion and Helpful Links: The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate to students that a text about sugar can be both interesting and relevant.