The Integrated Environmental Health Middle School Project (IEHMSP) introduces middle school teachers and students in Washington State and New Mexico to the field of environmental health sciences (EHS) and facilitates interdisciplinary teaching across the middle school curriculum. The IEHMSP has developed a multi-tiered model of integrated and contextualized learning. Project materials have been used by school districts across Washington State and in New Mexico.
The IEHMSP has trained over 200 teachers in Washington and New Mexico. These teachers represent seven different subject areas. Teachers in science, language arts, math, social studies, health, library/media and technology have participated in professional development workshops to learn about EHS and to receive curriculum materials as well as links to local community resources. The project offers ongoing support to teachers in the form of in-class presentations, tours of university labs and access to a variety of classroom resources. Five cohorts of teachers have been trained during the project, and most continue to participate beyond their first year. Since the project began in 2001, over 13,000 students have been introduced to the topic of environmental health. Project materials are organized around seven environmental health core concepts: toxicity, exposure, dose/response, risk, individual susceptibility, environmental justice, and community resources & actions. As a culminating activity, teachers are encouraged to ask their students to identify and research EHS topics that are relevant to them as individuals and as members of their community.
In order to allow teachers to participate in the project in a variety of ways, a tiered model of EH curriculum integration was developed. This model is best represented as a pyramid that describes four discreet levels at which EHS topics can be integrated into classroom instruction (see figure 1). Teachers working alone and incorporating EHS content within the context of a single discipline are considered to be at LEVEL 1. Teachers teaching EHS content across two or more subject areas are considered to be at LEVEL 2. LEVEL 3 is similar to LEVEL 2, but with the addition of a teacher-directed EHS research project. LEVEL 4 represents the highest level of integration and contextualized learning, with teachers working across disciplines and allowing students to select and research their own community-based EHS topics. The articulation of this tiered model has allowed IEHMSP staff to "meet teachers where they are" and work with whatever time constraints or administrative barriers might otherwise have prevented their participation in the project.
Student Impacts
Based on an analysis of the pre and post test results of a subset of the students participating in the project during the 2004-05 school year (n=1061), students who conducted community-based EH research projects in their communities showed greater improvement in their problem solving abilities than those who did not, including significant improvement in their ability to identify community resources and communicate their findings.
Teacher Impacts
80% of participating teachers from both Washington State and New Mexico reported EHS materials were highly relevant to their curriculum
Teachers appreciated with the flexibility of the IEHMSP approach to integration and its ability to provide a range of opportunities for including EHS into the curriculum
Lack of planning time and school structures that inhibit team teaching were consistently reported as the greatest barriers to reaching beyond a level 1 integration
Project Sustainability
In order to assure that the momentum created by the IEHMSP project can continue beyond the life of the present grant, efforts have been made to partner with Washington State’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and identify opportunities for sustainability in a variety of institutionalized settings:
In the Sciences – All high school students in Washington State must pass the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) in order to graduate. IEHMSP project staff has participated in writing test items for the science WASL, bringing EHS expertise and content to the table.
In Social Studies – A selection of IEHMSP materials are now available through the OSPI website as “bridging documents” for the new Social Studies Classroom Based Assessment (CBA). This allows middle school social studies teachers to use EHS materials to fulfill their new assessment requirements.
In Health/Fitness - IEHMSP curricula are available to health and fitness teachers to help them address the state standards that relate to EHS
As preparation for the new Culminating Project Graduation Requirement – Washington State recently began requiring that all high school students must complete a culminating project in order to graduate. Middle school principals and school district representatives have recognized the value of IEHMSP materials as "training wheels" to allow middle school students to conduct individualized research projects in preparation for their high school requirements.
In addition to these efforts at sustainability in Washington State, IEHMSP staff in New Mexico have had project materials reviewed for state Science curriculum adoption.
The Quicksilver Question Web Module and Extension Activities - New Mexico(http://hsc.unm.edu/pharmacy/iehms/teachers.shtml)The Quicksilver Question Web Module - New Mexico is an online game that introduces middle school students to the connections between historic gold mining, mercury contamination, fish consumption and human health. Students explore the imaginary town of Quicksilver, NM, collecting key documents along the way that help them evaluate how much mercury is in the local lake, and the fish that live there. Keywords: Community Resources & Actions, Dose/Response, Environmental Justice, Exposure, Fish Consumption, Mercury, Individual Susceptiblity,Risk,Toxicity,Water Quality Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History, Geography, Civics, Economics, Health & fitness, Technology, Library media
IEHMSP
6-8
Community Resources
Environmental Health Fact Files: Diabetes - New Mexico(http://hsc.unm.edu/pharmacy/iehms/teachers.shtml)Environmental Health Fact File: Diabetes provides subject area specific lesson plans about diabetes in New Mexico to teachers of social studies, science, language arts, math and health and fitness. . The material is designed to facilitate teaching environmental health across multiple subject areas. Keywords: Community Resources & Actions, Diabetes, Dose/Response, Environmental Justice, Exposure, Individual Susceptiblity,Risk, Toxicity Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History, Geography, Civics, Economics, Health & fitness
IEHMSP
6-8
Toxicity
Environmental Health Fact Files Toxicology Lesson: Yeast & Household Substances(http://hsc.unm.edu/pharmacy/iehms/teachers.shtml) This lesson uses simple, readily available materials to introduce students to the concepts of dose/response and toxicity. Keywords: Toxicity, Dose/Response, Experiment, Yeast Subjects: Science
IEHMSP
6-12
Community Resources
The Quicksilver Question Web Module and Extension Activities(http://www.iehmsp.com/online/webModules/qsIntro.php)The Quicksilver Question Web Module is an online game that introduces middle school students to the connections between historic gold mining, mercury contamination, fish consumption and human health. Students explore the imaginary town of Quicksilver, WA, collecting key documents along the way that help them evaluate how much mercury is in the local lake, and the fish that live there. Printed extension activities in langauage arts, math, social studies, science, and health allow for more in-depth exploration of the issues raised by the narrative. Keywords: Community Resources & Actions, Dose/Response, Environmental Justice, Exposure, Fish Consumption, Mercury, Individual Susceptiblity, Risk, Toxicity, Water Quality Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History, Geography, Civics, Economics, Health & fitness, Technology, Library media
IEHMSP
6-8
Asthma
Environmental Health Fact Files: Asthma - Washington State Environmental Health Fact Files: Asthma - New Mexico (English & Spanish)Environmental Health Fact File: Asthma provides subject area specific lesson plans about asthma to teachers of social studies, science, language arts, math and health and fitness. At least two lessons are provided for each subject area. Additional resource materials are also included to help school librarians who are facilitating student research projects. The material is designed to facilitate teaching environmental health across multiple subject areas.
New Mexico(http://hsc.unm.edu/pharmacy/iehms/teachers.shtml)
Keywords: Asthma, Community Resources & Actions, Dose/Response, Environmental Justice, Exposure, Individual Susceptiblity,Risk, Toxicity Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History, Geography, Civics, Economics, Health & fitness, Technology, Library media
IEHMSP
6-8
Community Resources
Environmental Health Fact Files: Lead - Washington State Environmental Health Fact Files: Lead - New Mexico (English & Spanish)Environmental Health Fact File: Lead provides subject area specific lesson plans about the hazards of lead to teachers of social studies, science, language arts, math and health and fitness. At least two lessons are provided for each subject area. Additional resource materials are also included to help school librarians who are facilitating student research projects. The material is designed to facilitate teaching environmental health across multiple subject areas.
New Mexico(http://hsc.unm.edu/pharmacy/iehms/teachers.shtml)
Keywords: Community Resources & Actions, Dose/Response, Environmental Justice, Exposure, Individual, Lead, Lead Poisoning, Susceptiblity, Risk, Toxicity Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History, Geography, Civics, Economics, Health & fitness, Technology, Library media
IEHMSP
6-8
Community Resources
HEART(Health and Environment Activities Research Tool) Manual for Interdisciplinary, Problem-based Environmental Health Education - Washington State or New Mexico (English or Spanish)The Health and Environment Activities Research Tool (HEART) is an instuctional manual. It provides teachers with the tools they need to incorporate environmental health into their curriculum by engaging students in locally relevant research projects. The manual includes step-by-step guides for teachers, lesson plans, activities, rubrics and worksheets to guide students as they develop research projects. It also includes a list of additional resources for both teachers and students.
The Quicksilver Question Web Module and Extension Activities - New Mexico(http://hsc.unm.edu/pharmacy/iehms/teachers.shtml)The Quicksilver Question Web Module - New Mexico is an online game that introduces middle school students to the connections between historic gold mining, mercury contamination, fish consumption and human health. Students explore the imaginary town of Quicksilver, NM, collecting key documents along the way that help them evaluate how much mercury is in the local lake, and the fish that live there. Keywords: Community Resources & Actions, Dose/Response, Environmental Justice, Exposure, Fish Consumption, Mercury, Individual Susceptiblity,Risk,Toxicity,Water Quality Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History, Geography, Civics, Economics, Health & fitness, Technology, Library media
IEHMSP
6-8
Community Resources
Environmental Health Fact Files: Diabetes - New Mexico(http://hsc.unm.edu/pharmacy/iehms/teachers.shtml)Environmental Health Fact File: Diabetes provides subject area specific lesson plans about diabetes in New Mexico to teachers of social studies, science, language arts, math and health and fitness. . The material is designed to facilitate teaching environmental health across multiple subject areas. Keywords: Community Resources & Actions, Diabetes, Dose/Response, Environmental Justice, Exposure, Individual Susceptiblity,Risk, Toxicity Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History, Geography, Civics, Economics, Health & fitness
IEHMSP
6-8
Toxicity
Environmental Health Fact Files Toxicology Lesson: Yeast & Household Substances(http://hsc.unm.edu/pharmacy/iehms/teachers.shtml) This lesson uses simple, readily available materials to introduce students to the concepts of dose/response and toxicity. Keywords: Toxicity, Dose/Response, Experiment, Yeast Subjects: Science
IEHMSP
6-12
Community Resources
The Quicksilver Question Web Module and Extension Activities(http://www.iehmsp.com/online/webModules/qsIntro.php)The Quicksilver Question Web Module is an online game that introduces middle school students to the connections between historic gold mining, mercury contamination, fish consumption and human health. Students explore the imaginary town of Quicksilver, WA, collecting key documents along the way that help them evaluate how much mercury is in the local lake, and the fish that live there. Printed extension activities in langauage arts, math, social studies, science, and health allow for more in-depth exploration of the issues raised by the narrative. Keywords: Community Resources & Actions, Dose/Response, Environmental Justice, Exposure, Fish Consumption, Mercury, Individual Susceptiblity, Risk, Toxicity, Water Quality Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History, Geography, Civics, Economics, Health & fitness, Technology, Library media
IEHMSP
6-8
Asthma
Environmental Health Fact Files: Asthma - Washington State Environmental Health Fact Files: Asthma - New Mexico (English & Spanish)Environmental Health Fact File: Asthma provides subject area specific lesson plans about asthma to teachers of social studies, science, language arts, math and health and fitness. At least two lessons are provided for each subject area. Additional resource materials are also included to help school librarians who are facilitating student research projects. The material is designed to facilitate teaching environmental health across multiple subject areas.
New Mexico(http://hsc.unm.edu/pharmacy/iehms/teachers.shtml)
Keywords: Asthma, Community Resources & Actions, Dose/Response, Environmental Justice, Exposure, Individual Susceptiblity,Risk, Toxicity Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History, Geography, Civics, Economics, Health & fitness, Technology, Library media
IEHMSP
6-8
Community Resources
Environmental Health Fact Files: Lead - Washington State Environmental Health Fact Files: Lead - New Mexico (English & Spanish)Environmental Health Fact File: Lead provides subject area specific lesson plans about the hazards of lead to teachers of social studies, science, language arts, math and health and fitness. At least two lessons are provided for each subject area. Additional resource materials are also included to help school librarians who are facilitating student research projects. The material is designed to facilitate teaching environmental health across multiple subject areas.
New Mexico(http://hsc.unm.edu/pharmacy/iehms/teachers.shtml)
Keywords: Community Resources & Actions, Dose/Response, Environmental Justice, Exposure, Individual, Lead, Lead Poisoning, Susceptiblity, Risk, Toxicity Subjects: Reading, Writing, Communication, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History, Geography, Civics, Economics, Health & fitness, Technology, Library media
IEHMSP
6-8
Community Resources
HEART(Health and Environment Activities Research Tool) Manual for Interdisciplinary, Problem-based Environmental Health Education - Washington State or New Mexico (English or Spanish)The Health and Environment Activities Research Tool (HEART) is an instuctional manual. It provides teachers with the tools they need to incorporate environmental health into their curriculum by engaging students in locally relevant research projects. The manual includes step-by-step guides for teachers, lesson plans, activities, rubrics and worksheets to guide students as they develop research projects. It also includes a list of additional resources for both teachers and students.
The Integrated Environmental Health Middle School Project (IEHMSP) introduces middle school teachers and students in Washington State and New Mexico to the field of environmental health sciences (EHS) and facilitates interdisciplinary teaching across the middle school curriculum. The IEHMSP has developed a multi-tiered model of integrated and contextualized learning. Project materials have been used by school districts across Washington State and in New Mexico.
|