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.
An interactive activity adapted from the National Library of Medicine that enables students to explore potential agricultural environmental hazards.
Impact of Pollutants on Snow and Ice
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.
Improving Old MacDonald's Farm: Protecting Streams From "Fruited Plains"
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.
Water Purification by Evaporation and Condensation
An activity that demonstrates how the water cycle helps purify water using evaporation and condensation.
Improving Old MacDonald's Farm: Protecting Streams From "Fruited Plains"
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.
EnviroHealth Connections Lessons
These interdisciplinary lesson plans integrate environmental health topics into core content areas at both the middle school and high school level. The lessons are technology rich and effectively integrate media into the instructional process. Topics covered include: air pollution, asthma, environmental justice, food supply, evolution, weather, water, lead, urban development, genetics, obesity, food webs, global warming and cancer.
Keywords: air pollution, asthma, environmental justice, health, environmental science, food supply, evolution, weather, water, lead, urban development, genetics, obesity, food webs, global warming, cancer, etc.
Subjects: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, Geography, Civics, Economics, Health & fitness
Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Air (English) (196KB)
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.
Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Air (Arabic) (304KB)
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.
Toxicity Testing with California Blackworms: Alcohol (419KB)
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.
Digital Interactive Notebook: Arsenic Exposure
Exploring the intersection of environmental health and susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2.
What in the World Is Arsenic? Arsenic in Our Food
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.
Allergens and Irritants - 1998
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences health topic on different types of substances which can trigger allergies and asthma.
Guide to Plating Bacteria Using Sterile Technique - 2001 (35KB)
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.
Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in Food Contact Application
Information about Bisphenol A (BPA) in food containers and packaging.
What Really Causes Baldness (Hint: It's Not Your Grandpa)
Find out what causes baldness - don't blame your grandpa, it's more complicated than that!
Breast Cancer: Why the Environment Matters (677KB)
Fact sheet created by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences which looks at the connection between genes and the environment. Connections which can increase breast cancer risk.
Good Cells Gone Bad - 2001 (102KB)
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.
Careers in Environmental Health
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's Undergraduate Fellowships
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
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's Undergraduate Program
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.
Teen Fights for Toxic Waste Cleanup
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.
A Way Forward: Facing Climate Change
An eight-minute video about the global impacts of climate change.
Climate Change and Human Health Lesson Plans
NIEHS has developed Climate and Health learning modules for a variety of student audiences that explore the health impacts of climate change both in the United States and globally.
Climate Change Education Curriculum
Middle and high school curricula on climate change, and its impact on people and resources.
Fact sheets that answer frequently asked questions about how human activities contribute to climate change, and address observed changes in atmosphere, sea level, and temperature.
An online competition that engages students and teachers in practical strategies to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions.
Getting a Handle on Greenhouse Gases
An activity in which students measure their family's production of greenhouse gases, and determine how they can reduce their use of fossil fuels.
A two-minute animated video that provides an overview of the greenhouse effect.
Keeping an Eye on Our Changing Planet
Information about climate change from a public learning laboratory that promotes engagement with science and the natural world.
A high school lesson plan about global warming that includes student research and a student project.
What's the Difference Between Global Warming and Climate Change?
Information, scientific data, and resources about climate change and global warming.
Community Action and the Environment - Can You Help Save the Environment? (611KB)
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 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.
COVID-19, an infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has caused unprecedented disruption to billions of human lives. To help high school (grades 9-12) students learn more about this disease, NIEHS developed a curriculum designed to guide students as they explore various risk factors involved in COVID-19 spread and its resulting mortality, including biological, socio-economic, and environmental factors.
Cluster Busters: A Game of Disease Mystery Solving (632KB)
A Game of Disease Mystery Solving Scenario: Dr. Wanda B. Better (Infant Pulmonary Hemorrhage)
Environment and Health A to Z (2MB)
This colorful guide covers multiple subjects that may have an effect on our health.
Growth and Disease - 2001 (123KB)
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.
Arizona Water Quality Education Activities
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.
Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water
Downloadable presentation about pharmaceuticals in drinking water that includes information on unregulated contaminants, sources, treatment, and impacts of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Safe Drinking Water is Essential
This Koshland Science Museum project examines the state of the world's water supply and what can be done to improve it.
Water Quality Information by Topic
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!
EMF Electric and Magnetic Fields Associated with the Use of Electric Power (11MB)
Question and Answers on the subject of electric and magnetic fields (EMF) and how EMF compares to other forms of electromagnetic energy.
Endocrine Disruptors and Your Health (902KB)
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 - Environmental Public Health
PBS Learning Media is a free digital media service for educational use from public broadcasting and its partners. Youll 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.
What is an Environmental Analyst?
Environmental Analyst Jim Burkhart, Ph.D. is interviewed and discusses what an environmental ecologist is and what he likes most about his work!
Introducing Students to Environmental Justice: A North Carolina Case Study (184KB)
In this activity, students will be introduced to environmental justice by considering a North Carolina case study that involved a hazardous waste landfill and is often credited with launching the national environmental justice movement. This lesson follows the 5E inquiry model, using engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation to promote student learning.
Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Science, Social studies, History, Civics, Economics
Race to Find the Cure: Isolation of Chemicals from Plant Leaves (68KB)
In this short activity, students view an excerpt from the 1998 film A Civil Action, which is based on the 1996 non-fiction account of a water contamination case in Woburn, Massachusetts. After viewing the film, students assume the role of environmental scientists and apply their knowledge of water and hazardous waste contamination to create a plan to help lawyer, Jan Schlichtmann, try the case. This activity can be used as an assessment piece to determine your students' understanding of the many variables influencing water quality studies, especially when health risks are involved.
Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Science, Social studies, History, Civics, Economics
Water: Muddle Up and Clean Up (315KB)
In this activity, adapted from the lesson "There Is No Point to This Pollution" in the Water Quality Educators Guide by Healthy Water, Healthy People, students use critical thinking to predict how water becomes polluted. This activity is designed to safely model the ways in which pollutants and hazardous chemicals may react when they reach water and the cumulative effect of land uses on water quality. Common household items (food coloring, vegetable oil and corn syrup) represent pollutants and also hazardous chemicals that are commonly found at hazardous waste sites, including Superfund sites, across the country. By simulating the contamination of water by various kinds of chemicals, students are introduced to current information on hazardous waste sites in North Carolina and the clean up techniques being employed.
Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Science, Social studies, History, Civics, Economics
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.
What Should I Use to Clean My Shower?
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.
Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Food Safety - 2001 (345KB)
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.
Environment and Gene Interactions Cancer Module (3MB)
Presentation on the impact substances can have on cancer risk.
What Really Causes Baldness (Hint: It's Not Your Grandpa)
Find out what causes baldness - don't blame your grandpa, it's more complicated than that!
You and Your Genes - Making it in a Tough Environment (341KB)
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!
What Makes a Product Hazardous?
Students read product labels noting signal words, hazardous properties, and routes of exposure. They inventory hazardous household products in their homes and identify unsafe storage and use of products, and write a memo to their parents detailing what they found and recommended changes.
Keywords: Household chemicals, risk, routes of exposure, environmental health
Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Science, Health & fitness
Mysterious Illness Outbreak Scenario
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
Why Study Indoor Air Pollution?
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
Are There Dangerous Levels of Lead in Local Soil?
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.
Get the Lead Out: Your Environment, Your Health! (941KB)
Presentation introducing the history of lead use, methods of exposures and dangers of lead.
Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Heavy Metals - 2001 (188KB)
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.
How Mother Bear Taught the Children About Lead
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.
Silent but Leadly: Toxicity of Lead
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!
Mercury: Middle School Activities
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!
University of Rochester Summer Science Camp--Microorganisms - 1999 (361KB)
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.
EnviroMysteries: Breaking the Mold
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
Nanotechnology Safety Assessment
National Toxicology Program (NTP) fact sheet discussing the nanotechnology safety initiative.
Online game that teaches students about assessing disaster risks and preparing for natural disasters.
The Story of Water in Dryville
Fictional story and downloadable script about establishing "Dryville," a new desert town, and the role water plays in all aspects of the process.
NIEHS Press Releases and News Stories
News releases from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and NIEHS-funded Researchers from 1996 to current year.
Toxicity Testing with California Blackworms: Nicotine (337KB)
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.
Guide to Keeping Laboratory Notebooks - 2002 (75KB)
Easy to follow guide showing students how to keep a laboratory notebook.
Nuclear Energy: the Good, the Bad, and the Debatable (479KB)
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.
Air Pollution: What's the Solution? For Teachers
Teachers' materials for a curriculum for students in grades 6-12 that includes lessons about ground-level ozone and particulate matter.
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.
Helping to Find a Solution to Air Pollution
An activity in which students write letters about ways that they can reduce air pollution in their communities.
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: What's Air Got to Do with It? Properties & Quality
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.
Weather's Role - Air Pollution: What's the Solution?
Activity for students in grades 6-12 to determine the role of weather in air pollution, and make comparisons and determinations about ozone levels.
Air Pollution: What's the Solution? For Teachers
Teachers' materials for a curriculum for students in grades 6-12 that includes lessons about ground-level ozone and particulate matter.
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.
Weather's Role - Air Pollution: What's the Solution?
Activity for students in grades 6-12 to determine the role of weather in air pollution, and make comparisons and determinations about ozone levels.
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.
Middle Level Science: Be Particular About Your Matter!
A lesson plan and activity for middle school students about particulate matter, and health risks caused by polluted air.
Sources of Particulate Matter - Air Pollution: What's the Solution?
Activity for students in grades 6-12 to determine particulate matter emissions from various sources and determine the source type emitting the most PM10 and PM2.5 in their states.
So What's Making It Look Brown Outside?
A science experiment for high school students to collect and measure particulate matter, and determine which vehicles have higher particulate emissions.
An interactive air pollution simulator that shows how individual choices, environmental factors, and land use contribute to air pollution.
A Zest for Pests...Pesticides, the Environment and You
A 13-minute video about pesticides, where they are found, how they are used, and their effects on human health.
Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Pest Control (English) (310KB)
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.
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.
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.
- Teacher's Guide (122KB)
- Student Sheets (34KB)
Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Pest Control (Arabic) (364KB)
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.
Studies on Radiofrequency Radiation Emitted by Cellular Phones
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).
Phthalamon: Phthalates and Your Health
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.
Race to Find the Cure: Isolation of Chemicals from Plant Leaves (68KB)
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.
Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Look-A-Likes - 2001 (209KB)
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.
Name That Poison (113KB)
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.
Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Look-A-Likes (Arabic) - 2001 (400KB)
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.
Hands-on Activity: Cleaning the Air
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 Experts: Environmental Health
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.
Selected Extramural Publications
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Program Analysis Branch prepare selected extramural publications from high impact papers published by Division of Extramural Research and Training (DERT) grantees.
Unsolved Mysteries of Human Health
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!
Risk Management and Health Care - 2001 (112KB)
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.
Risk Management: Health Risks - 2001 (96KB)
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.
Risk Management - 2001 (97KB)
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.
Online story book with Sharon, Mabel the Moose, Bertrand the Bear and Rufus the Rabbit as they explore different types of pollution.
Impact of Pollutants on Snow and Ice
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.
Chemicals and Human Health Web Site
Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Lung Development Activity: Teacher's Guide and Student Sheet
Tobacco Induced Mutations - 2001 (562KB)
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.
NTP Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (87KB)
Chemicals, The Environment and You: Explorations in Science 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.
University of Texas's Annual Environmental Health Sciences Institute for K-12 Educators
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.
University of Rochester's Outreach Program at Life Science Learning Center (LSLC)
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 well as the impacts on water quality in aquatic environments, such as streams, rivers, and bays.
Streams in the City: It's a Hard (Surface) Life
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.
Desalination: A Solution for Our Water Needs
A three-minute animated video about industrial desalination as a potential solution to fresh water shortage.
The Water Cycle: Nature's Recycling System
Two-minute video that explains how the water cycle functions as nature's recycling system.
The Watershed Sleuth Challenge
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.
Water Purification by Evaporation and Condensation
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.
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.
EnviroMysteries: Water +? = Trouble
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
Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Water (English) (269KB)
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.
Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Water (Arabic) (346KB)
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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