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Lesson Resources


Use these factsheets, booklets and news articles to enhance your science lessons

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Booklets
Keyword Description Grade Level
Cancer  Cancer and the Environment. What you need to know. What you can do. (/health/docs/cancer-enviro.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (598 KB)
          9-12 12+
Disease  Environmental Diseases from A to Z - 1996 (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/enviro-a-z.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (4.5MB)
     5-8 9-12     
EMF  EMF Electric and Magnetic Fields Associated with the Use of Electric Power (/health/docs/emf-02.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (11.7MB)
          9-12 12+
Genetics  You and Your Genes - Making it in a Tough Environment - 2000 (/health/docs/your-genes.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (436KB)
     5-8 9-12     
Notebooks  Guide to Keeping Laboratory Notebooks - 2002 (/health/docs/guide-notebooks.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (76KB) This guide is a useful resource for teachers who want to give their students a basic introduction to how scientists keep a record of their research.
     5-8 9-12     
Ozone  Ozone Alerts - 2000 (/health/docs/ozone-alert.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (1.1MB)
          9-12 12+
Prevention  Family Guide--20 Easy Steps to Personal Environmental Health Now (/health/docs/family-guide.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (347KB)
               12+

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Factsheets
Keyword Description Grade Level
Asthma  Allergens and Irritants - 1998 (/health/topics/conditions/asthma/research.cfm)
          9-12 12+
Cancer  Environmental Factors and Breast Cancer Risk (/health/docs/brca-fs.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (619KB)
               12+
Cancer  Report on Carcinogens (RoC) (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=72016262-BDB7-CEBA-FA60E922B18C2540)
               12+
Chemicals  National Toxicology Program Chemical Nomination and Selection Process (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=FA3A9126-F1F6-975E-77628D884842E601) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (100 kb)
               12+
Children  New Directions in Children's Environmental Health Research (/health/docs/child-enviro-health.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (2.3MB)
               12+
Chromium  Hexavalent Chromium (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=FA39687A-F1F6-975E-77AF2FB252CBAC62) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (237 kb)
               12+
Definition  What is Environmental Health? (/health/docs/enviro-health-define.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (2.7MB)
          9-12 12+
Endocrine  Endocrine Disruptors (/health/docs/endocrine-disruptors.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (1.1MB)
               12+
Lead  Lead and Your Health (/health/docs/lead-fs.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (3.5MB)
          9-12 12+
Medicine  Medicinal Herbs (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=FA38E1D8-F1F6-975E-70EE5DC805B55F39) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (254 kb)
               12+
Nanotechnology  Nanotechnology Safety Assessment (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=FA3A301C-F1F6-975E-73A68961E3CF276C) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (227 kb) National Toxicology Program
          9-12 12+
Obesity  Obesity and the Environment (/health/docs/obesity-fs.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (1.5MB)
          9-12 12+
Occupation  Occupational Exposures (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=FA3B0DE5-F1F6-975E-769D391CD98046E1) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (225 kb)
               12+
Oceans  Oceans of Discovery (/health/docs/ocean-fs.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (1.7MB)
          9-12 12+
Phones  Studies on Radiofrequency Radiation Emitted by Cellular Phones (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntpweb/index.cfm?objectid=7E733ABE-BDB5-82F8-FBDC3F58C0CEE928)
               12+
Risk  NTP Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=FA3804AB-F1F6-975E-72274AB8CD2561CF) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (100 kb)
               12+
Toxicology  The NTP Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=FA36C9FE-F1F6-975E-749476B92E546F45) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (98 kb)
               12+
Water  Safe Drinking Water Program at National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=FA387506-F1F6-975E-7660F4F6FF7F9877) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (242 kb)
               12+

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Flyers
Keyword Description Grade Level
Air  Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Air - 2001 (/health/docs/kids-indoor-air.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (359KB) 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.
K-4 5-8 9-12     
Air  Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Air (Arabic) - 2001 (/health/docs/kids-indoor-air-ar.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (362KB) 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.
K-4 5-8 9-12     
Food  Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Food Safety - 2001 (/health/docs/food-safety.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (346KB) 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.
K-4 5-8 9-12     
Lead  Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Heavy Metals - 2001 (/health/docs/heavy-metals.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (285KB) 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.
K-4 5-8 9-12     
Lead  Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Heavy Metals (Arabic) - 2001 (/health/docs/heavy-metals-arabic.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (237KB) 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.
K-4 5-8 9-12     
Pesticides  Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Pest Control - 2001 (/health/docs/kids-pest-control.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (311KB) 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.
K-4 5-8 9-12     
Pesticides  Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Pest Control (Arabic) - 2001 (/health/docs/kids-pest-control-ar.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (353KB) 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.
K-4 5-8 9-12     
Poison  Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Look-A-Likes - 2001 (/health/docs/kids-lookalikes.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (173KB) 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.
K-4 5-8 9-12     
Poison  Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Look-A-Likes (Arabic) - 2001 (/health/docs/kids-lookalikes-ar.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (304KB) 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.
K-4 5-8 9-12     
Water  Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Water - 2001 (/health/docs/health-kids-water.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (270KB) 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.
K-4 5-8 9-12     
Water  Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Water (Arabic) - 2001 (/health/docs/health-kids-water-ar.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (640KB) 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.
K-4 5-8 9-12     

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Interviews with Scientists/Researchers
Keyword Description Grade Level
Ecologist  What is a Wetland Ecologist? (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/baylor/riff3.htm)
     5-8 9-12     
Environmental Analyst  What is an Environmental Analyst? (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/envanaly.htm)
     5-8 9-12     
Growth Biologist  What is a Growth Biologist? (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/baylor/riff4.htm)
     5-8 9-12     
Lung Doctor  What is a Lung Doctor? (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/baylor/riff1.htm)
     5-8 9-12     
Microbiologist  What is a Microbiologist? (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/baylor/riff2.htm)
     5-8 9-12     
Professions  Meet the Experts: Environmental Health (http://experts.thinkport.org/envirohealth/default.aspx) Exit NIEHS
          9-12 12+
Professions  Scientist Video Interviews (http://peer.tamu.edu/interviews.shtml) Exit NIEHS
          9-12 12+

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News
Keyword Description Grade Level
Environment  Beyond the Bench Articles (http://www.ehponline.org/topic/bench.html)
          9-12 12+
News  NIEHS Press Releases and News Stories (/news/releases/index.cfm)
               12+
Research  Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) Headliners (http://www.ehponline.org/science-ed/) EHP journal each month selects a paper authored by an NIEHS grantee to include in the NIEHS News section.
          9-12 12+
Research  Selected Extramural Publications (/research/supported/sep/index.cfm)
          9-12 12+
Topics  Environews by Topic - Table of Contents (http://www.ehponline.org/topic/)
          9-12 12+
Topics  Health Topics A to Z (/health/topics/atoz/index.cfm)
          9-12 12+

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Pamphlets
Keyword Description Grade Level
Definition  Sharon Finds the Environment (/health/docs/storytime.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (797KB) See also, Story Time: Sharon finds the Environment(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/sharon/sharon.htm).
K-4 5-8          
Definition  The New Environmental Health (/health/docs/new-enviro-health.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (671KB)
          9-12 12+
Parkinson's  Role of the Environment in Parkinson's Disease (/health/docs/enviro-parkinson.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (1.2MB)
          9-12 12+
Teenagers  It's Your Scene, Teen (/health/docs/scene-teen.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (266KB)
     5-8 9-12     

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Storybooks
Keyword Description Grade Level
Carbon Monoxide  What Could It Be, Beverly? (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/beverly/home.htm)
K-4 5-8          
Chemicals  What's Wrong Whiskers? (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/whiskers/home.htm)
K-4 5-8          
ETS  Mama Didn't Know (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/mama/home.htm)
K-4 5-8          
Environment  My World (http://www.ccit.bcm.tmc.edu/ceo/content.cfm?menu_id=103) Exit NIEHS 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.
K-4 5-8 9-12     
Lead  Bradley and the Bad Pb (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/bradley/home.htm)
K-4 5-8          
Safety  Read the Label Mabel (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/mabel.htm)
K-4 5-8          
Stewardship  Sharon Cleans Up (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/sharon/sharon2.htm)
K-4 5-8          
Stewardship  Sharon Finds the Environment (/health/docs/storytime.pdf) Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (797KB) See also, Story Time: Sharon finds the Environment(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/sharon/sharon.htm).
K-4 5-8          
Water  Water, the Never Ending Story (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/waterkmac/water1.htm)
K-4 5-8          

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Videos
Keyword Description Grade Level
Environment  Public Service Announcements (/news/video/health/index.cfm)
K-4 5-8 9-12 12+

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Websites
Keyword Description Grade Level
Biology  BioEd Online (http://www.bioedonline.org/) Exit NIEHS 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.
               12+
Environment  Hydroville (http://www.hydroville.org/) Exit NIEHS High school students work together using scientific methods to unravel environmental mysteries based on real-life scenarios. Include link to BTB article from description:
          9-12 12+
Environment  Veggie-Mon - I'm in Charge of My Own Health (http://www.veggie-mon.org) Exit NIEHS
K-4 5-8 9-12 12+

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USA.gov Department of Health & Human Services National Institutes of Health
This page URL: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/scied/teachers/lesson.cfm
NIEHS website: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/
Email the Web Manager at webmanager@niehs.nih.gov
Last Reviewed: January 05, 2009