An article that explains how arsenic, a naturally occurring heavy metal and poison, occurs in soil, and may be present in many foods, including rice.
A 27-minute video on the impact of pollutants on snow and ice from a public learning laboratory that promotes engagement with science and the natural world.
An article aimed at middle school students that addresses how runoff from agricultural activities is a leading source of water pollution, and how to limit its harmful environmental impacts.
An activity that demonstrates how the water cycle helps purify water using evaporation and condensation.
An article aimed at middle school students that addresses how runoff from agricultural activities is a leading source of water pollution, and how to limit its harmful environmental impacts.
A two-minute video created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the growing problem of nutrient pollution.
This fact sheet in English presents basic information about food safety issues around the home, including sources, symptoms, and avoidance strategies for Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Listeria poisonings.
This fact sheet in Arabic presents basic information about food safety issues around the home, including sources, symptoms, and avoidance strategies for Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Listeria poisonings.
Toxicology is a fundamental component of the scientific study of environmental health. This classroom experiment teaches students about the basic concepts of toxicology, including dose-response and exposure, through observing the effects of a toxicant (ethanol) on the behavior of California blackworms. This teacher's guide provides background information, laboratory instructions, discussion questions, and variations and supplemental activities for conducting the experiment.
An article that explains how arsenic, a naturally occurring heavy metal and poison, occurs in soil, and may be present in many foods, including rice.
Exploring the intersection of environmental health and susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2.
While eating lunch, three students begin to wonder about the safety of eating foods that contain arsenic. Through their research, they will discover where arsenic is found, how it is used, and its effects on human health.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences health topic on different types of substances which can trigger allergies and asthma.
Bacteria are useful in a variety of classroom science experiments. This activity teaches the basic laboratory techniques for growing bacteria in Petri dishes. This guide consists of a teacher version and a student version of the instructions.
BioEd Online is an online educational resource for educators, students, and parents. BioEd Online utilizes state-of-the-art technology to give you instant access to reliable, cutting-edge information and educational tools for biology and related subjects. The goal of BioEd Online is to provide useful, accurate, and current information and materials that build upon and enhance the skills and knowledge of science educators. Developed under the guidance of its expert Editorial Board, BioEd Online offers the following high-quality resources: downloadable lessons and curriculum guides, short courses, streaming video presentations, slide library, and nature science update.
Information about Bisphenol A (BPA) in food containers and packaging.
Find out what causes baldness - don't blame your grandpa, it's more complicated than that!
Booklet created by scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to discuss the connection between cancer and exposure to toxic substances in the environment.
This activity teaches students about the cellular changes that lead to cancer. It provides an overview of the prevalence of cancer, cell structure, and function, and a classroom activity and worksheet that reinforce lessons about cellular structure and the differences between cancer cells and normal cells.
The Report on Carcinogens is a science-based, public health document created by the National Toxicology Program (NTP). The report includes 248 listings of agents, substances, mixtures and exposure instances that are known or thought to cause cancer in humans.
Online story book about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Men and women who work in environmental public health are concerned with anything in the environment that may affect human health, from clean water to polluted air, mercury to mosquitoes. This interactive activity from Teachers Domain describes careers in different environmental public health disciplines. Learn about careers in these fields and how environmental public health professionals prevent disease, create safe environments, treat people sickened from environmental exposures, and help the public make healthy decisions.
Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory offers undergraduates two 8-10 week summer research programs that provide hands-on research training in the biological and biomedical sciences: NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates, and Maine IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence.
Location: Salisbury Cove, ME
This program provides students with interactive and fulfilling research experience in various laboratories and with very prestigious mentors at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Location: Smithville, TX
In this self-paced lesson, students learn how environmental factors affect the health of living things, including humans.
Keywords: Chemicals, environmental health, carbon monoxide, lead, radon, pets
Online story book following the adventures of Whiskers the cat. Poisonous plants, chemicals and foods are discussed.
In this video adapted from Earth Island Institutes New Leaders Initiative, New York student Shadia Wood tells how she became an environmental activist. Wood lives near several toxic waste sites and was concerned to learn that the New York Superfund money set aside for cleaning such sites in her state had gone bankrupt. Working with other students and environmental groups, Wood lobbied the New York legislature for eight years until the Superfund program was refinanced. Environmentalist Laura Haight says that this law was the most important environmental law passed in New York State in a decade.
This booklet, with an accompanying video, provides an overview of environmental pollution and ways in which citizens may contribute to the study and alleviation of pollution problems. It provides descriptions of and resources Community for four assignments that reinforce scientific methods for studying environmental problems. The first assignment encourages students to observe their local environment and think about potential sources of pollution. The second introduces the concept of disease clusters and demonstrates the concepts of probability and statistical distributions. The third assignment encourages group discussion of local environmental issues and requires students to learn about local environmental authorities and utilities. The fourth encourages critical thinking about local and global environmental problems. The booklet also includes a list of recommended printed and Internet resources.
A Game of Disease Mystery Solving Scenario: Dr. Wanda B. Better (Infant Pulmonary Hemorrhage)
The spread of diseases continues to be an important public health concern in the United States and abroad. Teaching accurate information about the nature and consequences of the growth and spread of disease is essential for helping students protect their own health and the health of others. This lesson aims to provide such information through four learning activities that address the following subjects: the spread of viruses, antibiotic action and microbial resistance to drugs, the spread and control of parasitic organisms, and the probability of contracting diseases. The teaching materials package includes an overview of the entire lesson and a description of the objectives, performance tasks, class structure, procedures, and evaluation of each activity.
Lesson plans and activities on water quality and nonpoint source pollution concepts for students in first through twelfth grade.
Downloadable guides for middle school students about protecting and improving water resources.
Downloadable presentation about pharmaceuticals in drinking water that includes information on unregulated contaminants, sources, treatment, and impacts of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
This Koshland Science Museum project examines the state of the world's water supply and what can be done to improve it.
Information on qualities and properties of water, including groundwater, wastewater, and sewage water.
Wetland Ecologist Lief Sigren is interviewed and discusses what a wetland ecologist is and what he likes most about his work!
Question and Answers on the subject of electric and magnetic fields (EMF) and how EMF compares to other forms of electromagnetic energy.
Fact sheet created by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) defining what endocrine disruptors are and how they can affect human health.
PBS Learning Media is a free digital media service for educational use from public broadcasting and its partners. You'll find media resources, support materials, and tools for classroom lessons, individualized learning programs, and teacher professional learning communities. The Environmental Public Health section of the website offers classroom-ready resources for middle and high school students to help examine real-world environmental perils and the role of public health.
Environmental Analyst Jim Burkhart, Ph.D. is interviewed and discusses what an environmental ecologist is and what he likes most about his work!
Online story book on the dangers of smoking while pregnant. This story looks at the long-term health effects from smoking on both the child and the entire family.
Students will learn the essential steps in an epidemiology investigation by studying John Snow's classic investigation of the cholera epidemic in London in 1854.
Keywords: Epidemiology, cholera, illness outbreak
Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Science, History
This entertaining and educational activity gives elementary and middle school students a hands-on lesson in evaluating environmental health problems. In a well controlled activity, students smash lemons and onions to observe what happens when they are exposed to the odors. Then they participate in a demonstration that links together the health problem, the hazard, and the people who are exposed. Afterwards they use the concept of links in a discussion about how scientists reach a conclusion that a hazard is responsible for causing health problems in people.
This fact sheet in English presents basic information about food safety issues around the home, including sources, symptoms, and avoidance strategies for Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Listeria poisonings.
Presentation on the impact substances can have on cancer risk.
Find out what causes baldness - don't blame your grandpa, it's more complicated than that!
Lots of things in our homes, schools and workplaces – and in wild and natural places – can cause harm sometimes. Why "sometimes"? The harm may depend on who you are - as well as what you do, what you are exposed to, and when.
Growth Biologist Marta L. Fiorotto, Ph.D. is interviewed and discusses what a growth biologist is and what she likes most about her work!
Students form teams that take on the roles of the professionals on the Hydroville Health Department team involved in determining the cause and control of an outbreak. Students follow the steps of an epidemiology investigation. They collect data, develop a case definition, and form a hypothesis about the cause of the outbreak. They learn data collection and analysis techniques used by such investigators, analyze simulated data, modify their case definition based on this analysis, and present their results in a press release and press conference format.
Keywords: illness outbreak, epidemiology, pesticides, environmental health, inquiry-based, integrated curriculum, problem-based, science careers
Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Mathematics, Science, Geography, Health & fitness
A lesson and activities that teach students in middle and high school about health effects associated with indoor air pollution.
The local school board has received complaints of illness at the newly renovated Hydroville Middle School. Many people believe that this is due to poor indoor air quality. High school students participating in this problem act as a team of environmental consults to determine if there really is an indoor air quality problem in the school. Student teams present their findings at the next school board meeting.
Keywords: indoor air quality, indoor air quality in schools, environmental health, inquiry-based, integrated curriculum, problem-based, science careers
Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Science, Geography, Health & fitness
Lessons and hands-on activities about lead in local soil.
Online story book following Bradley as he visits a doctor and discovers he has been exposed to lead. The story explores sources of lead and steps to prevent exposure.
Presentation introducing the history of lead use, methods of exposures and dangers of lead.
This fact sheet in English presents basic information about food safety issues around the home, including sources, symptoms, and avoidance strategies for Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Listeria poisonings.
An illustrated Native American folktale in which Mother Bear teaches children about lead.
Educational resources about sources of lead, lead poisoning symptoms, and associated research.
An animation about lead, its uses and the impact on human health.
Lung Doctor Cindy Jumper, Ph.D. is interviewed and discusses what a lung doctor is and what she like most about her work!
Activities for middle school students about mercury in the environment, in schools, and at home.
Microbiologist Linda Holman is interviewed and discusses what a microbiologist is and what she like most about her work!
A collection of 12 experiments and activities related to microorganisms in plant life, blood cells and skin cells, including an at-home activity. They were developed for use at the University of Rochester's 1999 Summer Science Camp for students in grades 5 through 8.
This video and accompanying extensive online educational resources look at health and air pollution and empower students to take an active role in environmental issues that can affect their health today and in the future.
Keywords: asthma, mold, air pollution, indoor air pollution, respiratory system, mystery, science, environmental health, health
Subjects: Science, Health & fitness
Online game that teaches students about assessing disaster risks and preparing for natural disasters.
Fictional story and downloadable script about establishing "Dryville," a new desert town, and the role water plays in all aspects of the process.
News releases from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and NIEHS-funded Researchers from 2018 to current year.
Toxicology is a fundamental component of the scientific study of environmental health. This classroom experiment teaches students about the basic concepts of toxicology, including dose-response, and exposure, through observing the effects of a toxicant (nicotine) on the behavior of California blackworms. This teacher's guide provides background information, laboratory instructions, discussion questions, and variations and supplemental activities for conducting the experiment.
Easy to follow guide showing students how to keep a laboratory notebook.
Learn more about nuclear technology, its benefits, and its dangers.
Discussion questions, study guides, and lesson plans that address indoor and outdoor air pollution's effects on human health.
A web-based science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) competition to solve an environmental problem in the community, for students in sixth through ninth grade.
An online repository of digital games and educational materials related to health, science, and the environment for elementary school students, parents, and teachers.
A lesson plan and accompanying activities that teach students to identify major causes and characteristics of air pollution, and technologies developed by engineers to reduce it.
Lesson plans, worksheets, and activities that teach students to identify causes, effects, and sources of air pollution, and the role of engineers in reducing pollution's harmful impacts.
A lesson plan and activity that models the movement of various pollutions through the air, for students in third through fifth grade.
A hands-on activity for students in fourth through ninth grades that addresses how trees benefit air quality.
Well-intentioned, but misguided outer space robot ZERO comes to Earth to help humans by spraying them with ozone. There, ZERO meets a scientist who explains ZERO's mistake by helping him understand the differences between atmospheric and ground-level ozone.
Information about the causes of haze and poor visibility from a resource that provides photographs and information on air quality conditions in the Northeastern United States.
A lesson plan and activity for middle school students about particulate matter, and health risks caused by polluted air.
A 13-minute video about pesticides, where they are found, how they are used, and their effects on human health.
This fact sheet in English presents basic information about food safety issues around the home, including sources, symptoms, and avoidance strategies for Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Listeria poisonings.
Students involved in the Hydroville Pesticide Spill Scenario act as members of the team of scientists and engineers that are sent to the site of a pesticide spill. Their task is to remove the liquid, evaluate the risk posed to the citizens of Hydroville, develop a proposal for complete cleanup of the site, and make a presentation about their proposal to an open meeting of the Hydroville Town Council.
Keywords: pesticides, toxicology, dose response, integrated, environmental health, problem-based, science careers
Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, Geography, Health & fitness
Isolation of Naturally Occurring Pesticides: In this classroom experiment, students learn principles of biology, environmental science, and ecology by observing the effects on fruit flies of naturally occurring pesticides, such as those found in various spices and flowers. This teacher's guide provides background information, a list of necessary materials, preparation instructions, and recommendations for variations on the experiment.
Curated links to consumer health information about pesticides in English and Spanish, including background information, prevention and risk factors, treatments and therapies, related issues, specifics, clinical trials, journal articles, and patient handouts.
This fact sheet in Arabic presents basic information about food safety issues around the home, including sources, symptoms, and avoidance strategies for Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Listeria poisonings.
Cell phones are currently used by 95% of American adults. The National Toxicology Program (NTP) conducted studies in rats and mice to help clarify potential health hazards from exposure to radio frequency radiation (RFR).
This lighthearted animation tackles phthalates, the chemicals used to make plastics more durable and flexible, and the risks they present to human health.
This parody on a classic video game teaches students about the dangers of the chemicals used in the production of plastics for the environment and human health.
Many important pharmaceuticals and other chemicals are derived from plants. This classroom experiment teaches students about the isolation of plant chemicals using chromatography. Students apply different mixtures of spinach extract, beet leaf extract, and food coloring to strips of filter paper; observe the separation of the components of the mixtures; and extract the isolated components from the filter paper using water. This package of materials includes a teacher's guide, student instructions and notes, and discussion questions and answers.
This fact sheet in English presents basic information about food safety issues around the home, including sources, symptoms, and avoidance strategies for Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Listeria poisonings.
This activity sheet raises awareness and provides information about nine different poisonous substances. Users match substances with their common health effects. Background information about hazardous substances is provided.
This fact sheet in Arabic presents basic information about food safety issues around the home, including sources, symptoms, and avoidance strategies for Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Listeria poisonings.
In this animated adventure, Polly Mer guides Olivia through the process of "growing" plastics on a plastics farm, introducing her to concepts such as monomers and polymers in a game-like environment.
Journey with Pollymer and two gameworld adventurers to a faraway land of Plasteroth. Here, leading a quest to forge the powerful Recy'clar sword, she will explain the different types of plastics and their recycling programs.
An activity that teaches students to design and build a filter to model how engineers design methods of removing particulate matter from industrial sources to minimize negative effects of air pollution.
Meet the people that are on the front line of our defense against environmental health problems.
Collection of scientist interviews including previous Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Dr. Ken Olden.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) prepares selected extramural publications from high impact papers published by Division of Extramural Research and Training (DERT) grantees.
Take a virtual tour of the labs, get accurate and non-technical explanations of complex research methods and instruments, check in on real-world examples of current research and more!
The purpose of this lesson is to investigate risk management, in order to prepare students to analyze risks and make informed choices based on their analyses. Using four learning activities, students in grades 9-12 build conceptual understanding, scientific investigation and practical reasoning while developing and using reading, writing, and mathematics.
An understanding of health care is critical for maintaining one's own health. This lesson aims to identify and investigate health care issues so that students maintain good health.
An understanding of health care is critical for maintaining one's own health. This lesson aims to help students identify and investigate health risks through four learning activities that address the following subjects: common causes of death, evaluation of personal daily health risks, health risks of substance abuse, and stress and mental health. The teaching materials package includes an overview of the entire lesson and a description of the objectives, performance tasks, class structure, procedures, and evaluation of each activity.
Online story book with Sharon, Mabel the Moose, Bertrand the Bear and Rufus the Rabbit as they explore different types of pollution.
A 27-minute video on the impact of pollutants on snow and ice from a public learning laboratory that promotes engagement with science and the natural world.
Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Lung Development Activity: Teacher's Guide and Student Sheet
Toxicology is a fundamental component of environmental health science. This classroom activity teaches about the basic concepts of toxicology as well as the scientific method and laboratory techniques by observing the mutagenic effects of tobacco on bacteria. Students prepare plates of bacteria and observe the effects on the colonies of the addition of varying concentrations of tobacco extract. The package of materials includes a teacher's guide, student instructions, student and class (pooled) data sheets, and discussion questions.
List of popular health topics featured on the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences website.
Chemicals, The Environment and You: Explorations in Science Toxicology and Human Health - Students explore the relationship between chemicals in the environment and human health, utilizing basic concepts in the science of toxicology. Developed by teachers, this curriculum includes six hands-on activities that will encourage students to think about chemical exposures, dose-response, and individual susceptibility.
Description: This free summer program offers an extensive variety of workshops for K-12 educators, pursuing the connections between health and the environment. Learn how to help students use scientific inquiry to develop an understanding of the mechanisms that affect the environment and our health. K-12 curricular materials will be featured from a network of institutions nationwide focusing on cancer, genetics, cell biology, indoor and outdoor air pollution, lead poisoning, water quality and toxicology. All workshops are facilitated by educators, scientists, and classroom teachers.
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
LSLC offers professional development workshops on a variety of topics to give educators experience with cutting-edge science technologies. LSLC also offers science camps to students during school breaks, and field trips for high school and middle school students.
Location: Rochester, NY
Interactive website for middle school students that includes information about acid rain, its harmful impacts, and how to take action to reduce it.
An activity on Nonpoint source pollution that demonstrates how a storm drain collects water during a rainfall event, as Urban and Industrial Runoff well as the impacts on water quality in aquatic environments, such as streams, rivers, and bays.
Downloadable article about streams in urban environments.
An animated educational video on what aquifers are, how they work, why they are important, and how to build one.
A three-minute animated video about industrial desalination as a potential solution to fresh water shortage.
Two-minute video that explains how the water cycle functions as nature's recycling system.
A three-part course about watersheds, wetlands, and water quality.
Fact sheet about water that includes information on the water cycle, drinking water, and environmental impacts of groundwater due to fertilizer, land-surface disturbances, landfills, and parking lot runoff.
A documentary video series that educates students about environmental health concepts through the eyes of young television journalists chronicling the local health department's investigation of a waterborne illness.
An activity that demonstrates how the water cycle helps purify water using evaporation and condensation.
An interactive online game that teaches students about the water treatment process, and how to take appropriate action to ensure water safety for consumption.
This video and accompanying extensive print teacher resources explore how water can become polluted, consequences of and potential remedies for water pollution. Students are engaged in a mystery and learn why it is important to take an active role in environmental issues that can affect their health today and in the future.
Keywords: water, water pollution, cholera, water cycle, water purification, mystery, science, environmental health, health
Subjects: Science, Health & fitness
This fact sheet in English presents basic information about food safety issues around the home, including sources, symptoms, and avoidance strategies for Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Listeria poisonings.
Online story book about the water cycle and ways in which we can conserve water and keep our water clean.
This fact sheet in Arabic presents basic information about food safety issues around the home, including sources, symptoms, and avoidance strategies for Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Listeria poisonings.
The town of Hydroville is experiencing some of the social, political, and environmental problems associated with rapid growth and development. The drinking water report shows that certain pollutants in the water supply have increased significantly.Students teams investigate possible causes of the increase in contaminants in the water supply and develop remediation options that will protect the drinking water from further contamination. Students report their findings to the city council through presentations and to the community through newspaper articles and public service announcements.
Keywords: water quality, drinking water, groundwater pollution, groundwater remediation, environmental health, inquiry-based, integrated curriculum, problem- based, science careers
Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Science, Social studies, Geography, Health & fitness
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