Find simple strategies and activities that you can use effectively communicate
complex ideas on toxicology to students
General
Keyword
Description
Grade Level
Alcohol
Toxicity Testing with California Blackworms: Alcohol(/health/docs/blackworms-alcohol.pdf)
(267KB)
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.
5-8
9-12
Cancer
Good Cells Gone Bad - 2001
(/health/docs/good-bad.pdf)
(103KB)
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.
5-8
9-12
Exposure
Lemons and Onions(http://coep.pharmacy.arizona.edu/curriculum/lemons_onions/index.html)
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.
5-8
9-12
Nicotine
Toxicity Testing with California Blackworms: Nicotine(/health/docs/blackworms-nicotine.pdf)
(175KB)
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.
5-8
9-12
Plants
Race to Find the Cure: Isolation of Chemicals from Plant Leaves(/health/docs/chemicals-leaves.pdf)
(28KB)
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.
9-12
Poison
Name That Poison(/health/docs/name-poison.pdf)
(114KB)
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.
5-8
9-12
Tobacco
Chemicals and Human Health Web Site(http://coep.pharmacy.arizona.edu/curriculum/chh/index.html)
Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Lung Development Activity: Teacher's Guide and Student Sheet
9-12
Toxicology
Tox-in-a-BoxTM(http://depts.washington.edu/ceeh/Outreach/k12.html)
Tox-in-a-Box is a toxicology curriculum and resource kit for toxicologists and other environmental health professionals to use in outreach efforts to K-12 students and teachers. Developed by the COEP at the University of Washington, Tox-in-a-Box is both a literal and virtual suitcase of materials that can be used for many presentations to a wide range of students. The kit includes activities, slides, demonstrations, and a script of explicit instructions and tips for the presenter. The kit's materials are focused around five principles of toxicology and environmental health.
Student Introduction: Environmental Health(http://www.iehms.com/online/teachers/teacher_intro.php)
Download this engaging presentation with accompanying notes to introduce middle and high school students to environmental health concepts.
My World(http://www.ccit.bcm.tmc.edu/ceo/content.cfm?menu_id=103)Project goals and description: The award-winning My Health My World project develops exciting educational materials on environmental issues for elementary grades. Designed to meet National Science Education Standards, these materials promote a deeper understanding of relationships between the environment and health, while conveying the excitement of "doing science". They engage students and families in environmental issues as students learn fundamental physical and life science concepts and acquire problem-solving and decision-making skills. Each of the four completed My Health My World units targets a major environmental health topic and consists of a science adventure storybook, a teacher's guide to activities in science and math, a reading link language arts supplement and an Explorations mini-magazine for students to use with their families at home. See a description for each unit below.
Unit One: My World Indoors In this unit, readers meet the main characters of the My Health My World series: two squirrels (cousins) named Riff and Rosie, an old beaver named Mr. Slaptail, and a grasshopper-Chirpen J. Wingfellow, III-who serves as a guide for students and teachers. My World Indoors explores air quality and related issues, including allergies, in the places we live, study and work. The adventure story finds Riff and Rosie observing their neighbor, Mr. Slaptail, dragging a big dark bag down a moonlit road. What could be in that bag? As the mystery unfolds, the cousins discover Mr. Slaptail's cluttered, dusty home is packed full of trash, recycled products and chemical products such as paint and glue. It turns out that he uses this trash to make toys! But this lifestyle creates a contaminated indoor environment. Riff and Rosie help Mr. Slaptail clean up his house, making it a healthier place to live.
Unit Two: Water and My World Water and My World provides a fresh perspective on water and why it's important to the well-being of all living creatures. In the adventure story, Riff and Rosie are racing paper boats on Beaver Pond when they encounter many of their neighbors sadly leaving their homes. The marsh and creek have become murky, shallow and downright smelly! What is going on in Beaver Pond that the animals must leave? Riff and Rosie set out to discover the cause of pollution in their water environment. They find that the fertilizer making the nearby park beautiful also is creating a scummy swamp! The cousins work together with their neighbors to make their water livable again. This fun, educational book features colorful and informative science boxes. These highlighted areas discuss health related topics such as fresh water facts, water in the human body, pollutants and water runoff.
Unit Three: My Home Planet Earth My Home Planet Earth focuses on changes in the upper atmosphere, such as global warming, and how the changes may affect life on Earth. In this adventure story, Riff and Rosie can't wait to see what contraption Mr. Slaptail is masterminding now - on his rooftop! However, while helping him complete his solar water heater, an explosion occurs at the local coal mine. Community members rush to the site to find the owner, Beulah Diggerpaw, is trapped inside! How will they get her out? After Beulah is rescued, she announces she will close the mine which fuels most of the energy needs in Bright Water Corners. Now, what will they use for energy? Like all My Health My World story books, this one includes illustrated instructions for a toy used by Riff and Rosie during their adventure, as well as a glossary of health and science terms for student and teacher use.
Unit Four: Food and My World The latest My Health My World unit, Food and My World, examines food production, nutrition and food safety with unique activities for students and families. The story book places Curious Riff and Rosie in a new sleuthing situation with Mr. Slaptail. When they receive a strange, urgent note from him asking for their help, they know it must be big mystery, indeed! What could be happening that even Mr. Slaptail can't figure it out? While enjoying sandwiches made with vegetables from Mr. Slaptail's garden, the two cousins learn from their friend that leaves are disappearing from his lettuce plants. What could be happening to the leaves? Where are they going? And who-or what-is taking them? After a scary night in the garden, the secret is revealed. By the end of the story, Riff and Rosie learn some important lessons about food, plants, and good health.
BioEd Online(http://www.bioedonline.org/k%2D5/teacher-resources.cfm)
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.
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.
|