New lessons from the EHP Science Education Program!
September 2008 marks an exciting month for the EHP Science Education Program! This month we are proud to relaunch our series of hot-off-the-press monthly lessons. We are also introducing our new thematic lesson concept.
Each month we will post two new lessons based on recent news and research articles published in Environmental Health Perspectives. Lessons teach students important science skills and content while connecting them with current and engaging environmental health topics. In addition to the new lessons each month, you can still access our library of past lessons and corresponding articles. All materials are available to download for FREE.
Thematic lessons are lessons that can be used alone or as part of a series of lessons to develop deeper understanding of a topic, concept, or skill. In addition to our regular monthly lessons, this year we will release three sets of four thematic lessons around the topics of global issues, genetics, and atmospheric structure and pollution this year. This month we are offering two thematic lessons on risk assessment modeling to give you a flavor of the thematic lesson concept—and the great things to come! Our first set of four thematic lessons will be released in January 2009.
Summary: Students read an article about a model developed to estimate the risk of exposure to pathogenic microbes when treated sewage waste (biosolids) is applied to fields. Next, they conduct an experiment to identify how soil/substrate material can affect water flow and design a simple model to show how different soils/substrate materials might affect bacteria survival. Students think critically to identify additional variables considered in the model.
This lesson can be used alone or as part of a series of lessons to develop deeper understanding of a topic or concept. Lesson 2 for September 2008, “Will I Get Sick? Modeling Microbe Exposure with Math,” can be implemented after this lesson to develop a greater understanding of modeling, the use of mathematics in modeling, and assumptions made in modeling.
Objectives: By the end of this lesson students should be able to:
- conduct an experiment testing how water flows through three different materials;
- describe how soil/substrate material type affects water flow;
- speculate about how the risk of pathogen exposure from sewage application to soil may change based on soil/substrate type;
- calculate simple flow rates; and
- identify additional variables that may affect the risk of pathogen exposure from sewage application to land areas.
EHP Article: Getting a Handle on Biosolids: New Model Estimates Microbial Exposure Risk http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2008/116-6/ss.html#gett
Summary: Students are introduced to a microbial risk assessment model to estimate the risk of illness resulting from sewage waste being applied to land. Students learn about the concept of modeling and the use of mathematics in modeling. The lesson concludes with students using different exposure scenarios to calculate the probability of getting sick from exposure to rotavirus.
This lesson can be used alone or as part of a series of lessons to develop deeper understanding of a topic or concept. Lesson 1 for September 2008, “Traveling Pathogens: From Farm Fields to Groundwater,” can be implemented before this lesson to develop a greater understanding of modeling in general as well as a more specific understanding of how soil or substrate type can affect contaminant transport and human exposure.
Objectives: By the end of this lesson students should be able to:
- identify the basic mathematical components of a microbial exposure risk assessment model;
- calculate the probability of a person getting sick from exposure to biosolids;
- describe in simple, accurate terms what the calculated risk probability means; and
- identify elements of the microbial exposure risk assessment model that increase or decrease risk.
EHP Articles:
Getting a Handle on Biosolids: New Model Estimates Microbial Exposure Risk http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2008/116-6/ss.html#gett
Microbial Risk Assessment Framework for Exposure to Amended Sludge Projects http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2008/10994/abstract.html
EHP Science Education Program
The EHP Science Education Program offers high-quality science and interdisciplinary lessons based on selected news and research articles published in Environmental Health Perspectives, the leading environmental health science journal. Lessons advance critical basic skills through the context of engaging, current environmental health topics.
Lessons are aligned with National Science Education Standards in biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology, and physical science, and are targeted at students in high school and undergraduate college. All lessons and corresponding articles can be downloaded here FREE.
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