Grades Levels: 6-8 Subjects Addressed: Science, Math, Social Studies, History, English Language Arts
Project Description
The goal has been to develop an engaging model for integrating environmental health science into math, English language arts, social studies, and science of rural grades 6-8. Rural is emphasized because of public concern for increased numbers of environmentally-related diseases in rural Texas (birth defects, lead poisoning, etc.). Rural schools are less likely than metropolitan schools to receive state of the art information on environmental health, but may need it most. Rural schools have less interaction with college professors that might influence their career choices. Middle school was chosen as it is the prime developmental period for social skills and is central to channeling young adolescents into the mainstream of American life by making vast improvements in their academic and personal competence (and resulting societal contribution). It is the most powerful venue to ensure our nation's leadership in math and science, but this period has received little education reform in recent years. Environmental health information and research experiences provided by faculty from the Center for Environmental and Rural Health will be integrated into the four disciplines by the College of Education and disseminated into rural settings via existing mass media distant learning methods and professional teacher development programs through the Texas Rural Systemic Initiative. The scientist-teacher approach will direct faculty human interface within public schools. The specific aims are: 1) to integrate existing environmental health materials/issues into engaging multimedia learning materials tailored for rural middle school students [develop integrated curricula (math, English, social studies, and science) transmitted to public schools via currently established and popular Internet Web sites]; 2) to provide professional teacher development programs [(develop/execute short courses for teams of teachers from the same school) that integrate implementing Web-based environmental health science curriculum units that enhance teachers' awareness of environmental health problems and solutions]; and 3) to provide a human interface and online interaction to establish partnerships among middle school and scientists directly (faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates visit and present environmental health issues and the excitement of conducting research to public school students directly or online). Through information on new discoveries and integration of local /rural environmental health themes, the knowledge that certain behaviors/situations increase risk of human disease and that basic research is needed to improve public health will be publicized. Important rural environmental health science themes integrated across disciplines will help reduce barriers to learning, improved enthusiasm and ownership for learning, and improved overall academic performance. A greater depth of understanding of how the environment interacts with individual age and susceptibility to impact human health through the proposed educational themes that arch disciplines will reduce the burden of human illness or dysfunction from environmental influences.
Integrative Curricular Module Impact
These 6th-8th grade curricular modules (consisting of 140 days of instruction per subject based on an adventure story) have shown to have a positive impact on student learning. Using pre- and post-test measures, it was evident in both public school classrooms and summer camp settings, the Integrative Curriculum was effective in increasing the knowledge learned in various subjects by middle-school students. Individual lessons with accompanying teacher guide, lesson plans, activities, and worksheets are available online(http://peer.tamu.edu/MiniMods.asp).
Teacher Professional Development Impact
Teachers attending workshops (n=1,155) and working through the Integrative Curriculum increased their proficiency in technology and increased their content knowledge across the various subjects. A group of 166 teachers from 9 workshops throughout Texas scored significantly higher on post-tests (62%) than pre-tests (58%) on content material for all four subject areas (math/science/social studies/English) and toxicology and shared these curricular materials with 423 teachers and 7,071 students.
Scientists’ Visits Impact
Scientists’ visits and presentations to students increased student knowledge of environmental health issues, and students said these presentations were useful and changed the way they think about environmental health. Following scientists’ visits, post-tests revealed that students (n=619) had a greater (p<0.01) understanding of environmental health concepts than they did before the scientists’ visits (pre-tests). Following scientists’ visits to 1725 students, 93% stated they learned useful information and 60% said the presentations changed the way they thought about the environment and health. Similar data were found for three different scientists in schools with varied numbers of students and varied academic status. Hence, impact of scientists’ visits in public school classrooms is transportable as most scientists in different school settings would be successful.
Kiss of the Assassin(http://peer.tamu.edu/MiniMods.asp?grade=6)The Kiss of the Assassin focuses on pathogens and bacterial infectious diseases (Chagas disease in this case) that can be obtained from insects, like the "kissing bug," that harbor the bacteria and serve as vectors for the disease. Twenty lessons including activities, handouts, worksheets, and testing materials in science, math, social studies and English/language arts. Subjects: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History
PEER
6
Hepatitis
Midnight at the Marble Tomb(http://peer.tamu.edu/MiniMods.asp?grade=6)Midnight at the Marble Tomb focuses on the health consequences of raw sewage in streets, acupuncture, tattoos, body piercing (of the nose, ears, lips, eyebrows, and belly button), blood transfusions, and organ donations in India. Fourteen lessons including activities, handouts, worksheets, and testing materials in science, math, social studies and English/language arts. Subjects: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History
PEER
6
Water Quality
Tut's Revenge(http://peer.tamu.edu/MiniMods.asp?grade=6)Tut's Revenge is about water contamination during construction of King Tut's tomb in ancient Egypt. Subjects: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History
PEER
6
Water Quality
Tut's Revenge(http://peer.tamu.edu/IntegratedCur.shtml)Tut's Revenge is about water contamination during construction of King Tut's tomb in ancient Egypt. Subjects: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History
PEER
6
Chagas Disease
Kiss of the Assassin(http://peer.tamu.edu/IntegratedCur.shtml)The Kiss of the Assassin focuses on pathogens and bacterial infectious diseases (Chagas disease in this case) that can be obtained from insects, like the "kissing bug," that harbor the bacteria and serve as vectors for the disease. Subjects: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History
PEER
6
Influenza
March Madness(http://peer.tamu.edu/MiniMods.asp?grade=7)March Madness focuses on the influenza epidemic surrounding World War I. Sixteen lessons including activities, handouts, worksheets, and testing materials in science, math, social studies and English/language arts. Subjects: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History
PEER
7
Yellow Fever
Texas, 1867(http://peer.tamu.edu/MiniMods.asp?grade=7)Texas: 1867 deals with the yellow fever epidemic in Texas after the end of the Civil War. Seventeen lessons including activities, handouts, worksheets, and testing materials in science, math, social studies and English/language arts. Subjects: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History
PEER
7
Yellow Fever
Texas, 1867(http://peer.tamu.edu/IntegratedCur.shtml)Texas: 1867 deals with the yellow fever epidemic in Texas after the end of the Civil War. Subjects: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History
PEER
7
Influenza
March Madness(http://peer.tamu.edu/IntegratedCur.shtml)March Madness focuses on the influenza epidemic surrounding World War I. Subjects: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History
PEER
7
Brown Lung
The Waterfall Ghost(http://peer.tamu.edu/IntegratedCur.shtml)The Waterfall Ghost deals with the 19th-century textile industry and the byssinosis (brown lung) that many workers contracted. Subjects: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History
PEER
8
Cholera
Dark Poison(http://peer.tamu.edu/IntegratedCur.shtml)Dark Poison concerns a cholera epidemic in New York in the 1830s. Subjects: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History
PEER
8
Cholera
Dark Poison(http://peer.tamu.edu/MiniMods.asp?grade=8)Dark Poison concerns a cholera epidemic in New York in the 1830s. Thirteen lessons including activities, handouts, worksheets, and testing materials in science, math, social studies and English/language arts. Subjects: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History
PEER
8
Smallpox and Bioterrorism
Three Rivers, Three Nations(http://peer.tamu.edu/MiniMods.asp?grade=8)Three Rivers, Three Nations takes a look at bioterrorism, focusing on the use of smallpox during the French and Indian War in the 18th Century. Seventeen lessons including activities, handouts, worksheets, and testing materials in science, math, social studies and English/language arts. Subjects: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History
The goal has been to develop an engaging model for integrating environmental health science into math, English language arts, social studies, and science of rural grades 6-8. Rural is emphasized because of public concern for increased numbers of environmentally-related diseases in rural Texas (birth defects, lead poisoning, etc.). Rural schools are less likely than metropolitan schools to receive state of the art information on environmental health, but may need it most. Rural schools have less interaction with college professors that might influence their career choices. Middle school was chosen as it is the prime developmental period for social skills and is central to channeling young adolescents into the mainstream of American life by making vast improvements in their academic and personal competence (and resulting societal contribution). It is the most powerful venue to ensure our nation's leadership in math and science, but this period has received little education reform in recent years. Environmental health information and research experiences provided by faculty from the Center for Environmental and Rural Health will be integrated into the four disciplines by the College of Education and disseminated into rural settings via existing mass media distant learning methods and professional teacher development programs through the Texas Rural Systemic Initiative. The scientist-teacher approach will direct faculty human interface within public schools. The specific aims are: 1) to integrate existing environmental health materials/issues into engaging multimedia learning materials tailored for rural middle school students [develop integrated curricula (math, English, social studies, and science) transmitted to public schools via currently established and popular Internet Web sites]; 2) to provide professional teacher development programs [(develop/execute short courses for teams of teachers from the same school) that integrate implementing Web-based environmental health science curriculum units that enhance teachers' awareness of environmental health problems and solutions]; and 3) to provide a human interface and online interaction to establish partnerships among middle school and scientists directly (faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates visit and present environmental health issues and the excitement of conducting research to public school students directly or online). Through information on new discoveries and integration of local /rural environmental health themes, the knowledge that certain behaviors/situations increase risk of human disease and that basic research is needed to improve public health will be publicized. Important rural environmental health science themes integrated across disciplines will help reduce barriers to learning, improved enthusiasm and ownership for learning, and improved overall academic performance. A greater depth of understanding of how the environment interacts with individual age and susceptibility to impact human health through the proposed educational themes that arch disciplines will reduce the burden of human illness or dysfunction from environmental influences.
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