Image of a person blowing a bubble from pink gum and background is layers of purple sticks of gum
Roos Koole/Getty Images (teen); Shutterstock.com (all other images)
Infographic,

The Sticky Story of Gum

A delightful infographic about chewing gum

From the December 2023/January 2024 Issue

Learning Objective: Students read an infographic, then use it as a model to create their own.

Featured Skill: Visual Literacy,

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Roos Koole/Getty Images (teen); Shutterstock.com (all other images)

By the Numbers

At Least 9,800 Years
how long humans have been chewing gum

$2.6 Billion
total amount of gum sales in the United States in 2021 

383
pieces of gum each American chews a year, on average

Then/Now

Then
Until the mid-1900s, most gum came from trees. Native peoples in North America chewed bits of spruce tree resin. Prehistoric Europeans chewed on birch bark pitch.

Now
Today most gum contains plastic and rubber plus natural and artificial flavors and sweeteners. Bubble gum often contains an ingredient that’s used to make bicycle tire inner tubes!

Should You Chew Gum?

Yes

  • It can help you focus and lower stress.
  • It can fight cavities (if it’s sugar-free).
  • It increases saliva, which is good for oral health.

No

  • It can lead to cavities if it contains sugar.
  • It can cause headaches.
  • Sugar-free gum can upset your stomach.

Taste Test

The most popular gum flavors are minty. But if you’re feeling brave, why not give these a try?

  • bacon
  • wasabi
  • Thanksgiving dinner
  • pickle
Icon of a lightbulb

Writing Prompt

Using “The Sticky Story of Gum” as a model, make an infographic titled “The Story of Chocolate.” Present your infographic on a poster or with a digital tool such as Canva. 

This article was originally published in the December 2023/January 2024 issue.

Activities (2)
Skill-Building Activities
Answer Key (1)
Activities (2)
Skill-Building Activities
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

Download the Lesson Plan

Table of Contents

1. Prepare to Read

2. Read and Discuss

3. Write

1. PREPARE TO READ (1 MINUTE)

  • Give students a minute to preview the infographic.

2. READ AND DISCUSS (5 MINUTES)

  • Break students into groups to read each section of the infographic and discuss what they find interesting, surprising, or convincing. 

  • Reconvene as a class and ask volunteers to summarize the central idea and details from the infographic.

3. WRITE (90 MINUTES)

  • Distribute the Writing Planner, which guides students through the research and design process needed to respond to the prompt that appears at the bottom of page 32 of the magazine or the bottom of the digital story page:

Using “The Sticky Story of Gum” as a model, make an infographic titled “The Story of Chocolate.” Present your infographic on a poster or with a digital tool such as Canva.

  • An entry form for the writing contest is available here to download.

Text-to-Speech