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For Students | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Skip Navigation For Students Close the left navigation Add Search Science Education Materials: Grade Level: K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 12+ Grade Level: Air and My World Indoors K - 4 5 - 8 Activities to explain how our bodies use the air we breathe and the importance of keeping our air clean. Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Air (English) (196KB) K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 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. Grade Level: Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Air (Arabic) (304KB) K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 This fact sheet in Arabic presents basic information about food safety issues around the home, including sources, symptoms, and avoidance strategies for Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Listeria poisonings. Grade Level: Allergens and Irritants - 1998 9 - 12 12+ National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences health topic on different types of substances which can trigger allergies and asthma. Grade Level: BioEd Online K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 12+ 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. Grade Level: What Really Causes Baldness (Hint: It's Not Your Grandpa) K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 12+ Find out what causes baldness - don't blame your grandpa, it's more complicated than that! Grade Level: Breast Cancer: Why the Environment Matters (770KB) 12+ Booklet created by scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to discuss the connection between cancer and exposure to toxic substances in the environment. Report on Carcinogens (RoC) 12+ The Report on Carcinogens is a science-based, public health document created by the National Toxicology Program (NTP). The report includes 248 listings of agents, substances, mixtures and exposure instances that are known or thought to cause cancer in humans. Grade Level: What Could It Be, Beverly? K - 4 5 - 8 Online story book about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Grade Level: Careers in Environmental Health 5 - 8 9 - 12 Men and women who work in environmental public health are concerned with anything in the environment that may affect human health, from clean water to polluted air, mercury to mosquitoes. This interactive activity from Teachers Domain describes careers in different environmental public health disciplines. Learn about careers in these fields and how environmental public health professionals prevent disease, create safe environments, treat people sickened from environmental exposures, and help the public make healthy decisions. Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory's Undergraduate Fellowships 12+ Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory offers undergraduates two 8-10 week summer research programs that provide hands-on research training in the biological and biomedical sciences: NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates, and Maine IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence. Location : Salisbury Cove, ME University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's High School Program 9 - 12 12+ This program provides students with interactive and fulfilling research experience in various laboratories and with very prestigious mentors at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Location : Smithville, TX University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's Undergraduate Program 9 - 12 12+ This program provides students with interactive and fulfilling research experience in various laboratories and with very prestigious mentors at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Location : Smithville, TX Grade Level: Chemical Hazards at Home K - 4 5 - 8 In this self-paced lesson, students learn how environmental factors affect the health of living things, including humans. Keywords : Chemicals, environmental health, carbon monoxide, lead, radon, pets What's Wrong Whiskers? K - 4 5 - 8 Online story book following the adventures of Whiskers the cat. Poisonous plants, chemicals and foods are discussed. Grade Level: What is a Wetland Ecologist? 5 - 8 9 - 12 Wetland Ecologist Lief Sigren is interviewed and discusses what a wetland ecologist is and what he likes most about his work! Grade Level: EMF Electric and Magnetic Fields Associated with the Use of Electric Power (6MB) 9 - 12 12+ Question and Answers on the subject of electric and magnetic fields (EMF) and how EMF compares to other forms of electromagnetic energy. Grade Level: PBS Learning Media - Environmental Public Health K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 12+ PBS Learning Media is a free digital media service for educational use from public broadcasting and its partners. You'll find media resources, support materials, and tools for classroom lessons, individualized learning programs, and teacher professional learning communities. The Environmental Public Health section of the website offers classroom-ready resources for middle and high school students to help examine real-world environmental perils and the role of public health. Grade Level: What is an Environmental Analyst? 5 - 8 9 - 12 Environmental Analyst Jim Burkhart, Ph.D. is interviewed and discusses what an environmental ecologist is and what he likes most about his work! Grade Level: Mama Didn't Know K - 4 5 - 8 Online story book on the dangers of smoking while pregnant. This story looks at the long-term health effects from smoking on both the child and the entire family. Grade Level: What Should I Use to Clean My Shower? 9 - 12 Students will learn the essential steps in an epidemiology investigation by studying John Snow's classic investigation of the cholera epidemic in London in 1854. Keywords : Epidemiology, cholera, illness outbreak Subjects : Reading, Writing, Communication, Science, History Grade Level: Lemons and Onions 5 - 8 9 - 12 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. Grade Level: Food and My World K - 4 5 - 8 Activities to help explain how our bodies use the food we eat and how we can keep our food safe. Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Food Safety - 2001 (345KB) K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 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. Grade Level: Environment and Gene Interactions Cancer Module (3MB) 9 - 12 12+ Presentation on the impact substances can have on cancer risk. Grade Level: What Really Causes Baldness (Hint: It's Not Your Grandpa) 5 - 8 9 - 12 Find out what causes baldness - don't blame your grandpa, it's more complicated than that! You and Your Genes - Making it in a Tough Environment (341KB) 5 - 8 9 - 12 Lots of things in our homes, schools and workplaces – and in wild and natural places – can cause harm sometimes. Why "sometimes"? The harm may depend on who you are - as well as what you do, what you are exposed to, and when. Grade Level: What is a Growth Biologist? 5 - 8 9 - 12 Growth Biologist Marta L. Fiorotto, Ph.D. is interviewed and discusses what a growth biologist is and what she likes most about her work! Grade Level: Mysterious Illness Outbreak Scenario 9 - 12 Students form teams that take on the roles of the professionals on the Hydroville Health Department team involved in determining the cause and control of an outbreak. Students follow the steps of an epidemiology investigation. They collect data, develop a case definition, and form a hypothesis about the cause of the outbreak. They learn data collection and analysis techniques used by such investigators, analyze simulated data, modify their case definition based on this analysis, and present their results in a press release and press conference format. Keywords : illness outbreak, epidemiology, pesticides, environmental health, inquiry-based, integrated curriculum, problem-based, science careers Subjects : Reading, Writing, Communication, Mathematics, Science, Geography, Health & fitness Grade Level: Indoor Air Quality Scenario 9 - 12 The local school board has received complaints of illness at the newly renovated Hydroville Middle School. Many people believe that this is due to poor indoor air quality. High school students participating in this problem act as a team of environmental consults to determine if there really is an indoor air quality problem in the school. Student teams present their findings at the next school board meeting. Keywords : indoor air quality, indoor air quality in schools, environmental health, inquiry-based, integrated curriculum, problem-based, science careers Subjects : Reading, Writing, Communication, Science, Geography, Health & fitness Grade Level: Bradley & the Bad Pb K - 4 5 - 8 Online story book following Bradley as he visits a doctor and discovers he has been exposed to lead. The story explores sources of lead and steps to prevent exposure. Get the Lead Out: Your Environment, Your Health! (941KB) 9 - 12 12+ Presentation introducing the history of lead use, methods of exposures and dangers of lead. Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Heavy Metals - 2001 (188KB) K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 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. Lead Busters K - 4 5 - 8 Illustrated online story book about the adventures of the Lead Buster Club as they look for lead in their neighborhoods, homes and school. Grade Level: What is a Lung Doctor? 5 - 8 9 - 12 Lung Doctor Cindy Jumper, Ph.D. is interviewed and discusses what a lung doctor is and what she like most about her work! Grade Level: What is a Microbiologist? 5 - 8 9 - 12 Microbiologist Linda Holman is interviewed and discusses what a microbiologist is and what she like most about her work! Grade Level: EnviroMysteries: Breaking the Mold K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 This video and accompanying extensive online educational resources look at health and air pollution and empower students to take an active role in environmental issues that can affect their health today and in the future. Keywords : asthma, mold, air pollution, indoor air pollution, respiratory system, mystery, science, environmental health, health Subjects : Science, Health & fitness Grade Level: Guide to Keeping Laboratory Notebooks - 2002 (75KB) 5 - 8 9 - 12 Easy to follow guide showing students how to keep a laboratory notebook. Grade Level: Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Pest Control (English) (310KB) K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 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. Pesticide Spill Scenario 9 - 12 Students involved in the Hydroville Pesticide Spill Scenario act as members of the team of scientists and engineers that are sent to the site of a pesticide spill. Their task is to remove the liquid, evaluate the risk posed to the citizens of Hydroville, develop a proposal for complete cleanup of the site, and make a presentation about their proposal to an open meeting of the Hydroville Town Council. Keywords : pesticides, toxicology, dose response, integrated, environmental health, problem-based, science careers Subjects : Reading, Writing, Communication, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, Geography, Health & fitness Isolation of Naturally Occurring Pesticides: In this classroom experiment, students learn principles of biology, environmental science, and ecology by observing the effects on fruit flies of naturally occurring pesticides, such as those found in various spices and flowers. This teacher's guide provides background information, a list of necessary materials, preparation instructions, and recommendations for variations on the experiment. Teacher's Guide Student Sheets Grade Level: Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Pest Control (Arabic) (364KB) K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 This fact sheet in Arabic presents basic information about food safety issues around the home, including sources, symptoms, and avoidance strategies for Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Listeria poisonings. Grade Level: Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation Studies (2MB) 12+ Fact sheet created by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) on studies in both rats and mice. These studies were used to help clarify health hazards from exposure to radio frequency radiation (RFR) in 2G and 3G cellphones. Grade Level: Race to Find the Cure: Isolation of Chemicals from Plant Leaves (68KB) 9 - 12 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. Grade Level: Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Look-A-Likes - 2001 (209KB) K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 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. Name That Poison (113KB) 5 - 8 9 - 12 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. Grade Level: Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Look-A-Likes (Arabic) - 2001 (400KB) K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 This fact sheet in Arabic presents basic information about food safety issues around the home, including sources, symptoms, and avoidance strategies for Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Listeria poisonings. Grade Level: Meet the Experts: Environmental Health 9 - 12 12+ Meet the people that are on the front line of our defense against environmental health problems. Scientist Video Interviews 9 - 12 12+ Collection of scientist interviews including previous Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Dr. Ken Olden. Grade Level: Selected Publications 9 - 12 12+ The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) prepares selected extramural publications from high impact papers published by Division of Extramural Research and Training (DERT) grantees. Grade Level: Sharon Cleans Up! K - 4 5 - 8 Online story book with Sharon, Mabel the Moose, Bertrand the Bear and Rufus the Rabbit as they explore different types of pollution. Grade Level: Chemicals and Human Health Web Site 9 - 12 Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Lung Development Activity: Teacher's Guide and Student Sheet Tobacco Induced Mutations - 2001 (562KB) 9 - 12 Toxicology is a fundamental component of environmental health science. This classroom activity teaches about the basic concepts of toxicology as well as the scientific method and laboratory techniques by observing the mutagenic effects of tobacco on bacteria. Students prepare plates of bacteria and observe the effects on the colonies of the addition of varying concentrations of tobacco extract. The package of materials includes a teacher's guide, student instructions, student and class (pooled) data sheets, and discussion questions. Grade Level: Health Topics A to Z 9 - 12 12+ List of popular health topics featured on the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences website. Grade Level: NTP Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (87KB) 12+ Chemicals, The Environment and You: Explorations in Science Toxicology and Human Health - Students explore the relationship between chemicals in the environment and human health, utilizing basic concepts in the science of toxicology. Developed by teachers, this curriculum includes six hands-on activities that will encourage students to think about chemical exposures, dose-response, and individual susceptibility. Teacher's Guide Grade Level: University of Texas's Annual Environmental Health Sciences Institute for K-12 Educators K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 12+ Description : This free summer program offers an extensive variety of workshops for K-12 educators, pursuing the connections between health and the environment. Learn how to help students use scientific inquiry to develop an understanding of the mechanisms that affect the environment and our health. K-12 curricular materials will be featured from a network of institutions nationwide focusing on cancer, genetics, cell biology, indoor and outdoor air pollution, lead poisoning, water quality and toxicology. All workshops are facilitated by educators, scientists, and classroom teachers. Location : Austin, Texas, USA Grade Level: University of Rochester's Outreach Program at Life Science Learning Center (LSLC) 5 - 8 9 - 12 LSLC offers professional development workshops on a variety of topics to give educators experience with cutting-edge science technologies. LSLC also offers science camps to students during school breaks, and field trips for high school and middle school students. Location : Rochester, NY Grade Level: EnviroMysteries: Water +? = Trouble K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 This video and accompanying extensive print teacher resources explore how water can become polluted, consequences of and potential remedies for water pollution. Students are engaged in a mystery and learn why it is important to take an active role in environmental issues that can affect their health today and in the future. Keywords : water, water pollution, cholera, water cycle, water purification, mystery, science, environmental health, health Subjects : Science, Health & fitness Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Water (English) (269KB) K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 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. Water and My World 9 - 12 Activities to help explain how our bodies use the water we drink and how we can keep our water supplies safe. Water, the Neverending Story K - 4 5 - 8 Online story book about the water cycle and ways in which we can conserve water and keep our water clean. Grade Level: Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Water (Arabic) K - 4 5 - 8 9 - 12 This fact sheet in Arabic presents basic information about food safety issues around the home, including sources, symptoms, and avoidance strategies for Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Listeria poisonings. Grade Level: Water Quality Scenario 9 - 12 The town of Hydroville is experiencing some of the social, political, and environmental problems associated with rapid growth and development. The drinking water report shows that certain pollutants in the water supply have increased significantly.Students teams investigate possible causes of the increase in contaminants in the water supply and develop remediation options that will protect the drinking water from further contamination. Students report their findings to the city council through presentations and to the community through newspaper articles and public service announcements. Keywords : water quality, drinking water, groundwater pollution, groundwater remediation, environmental health, inquiry-based, integrated curriculum, problem- based, science careers Subjects : Reading, Writing, Communication, Science, Social studies, Geography, Health & fitness Some content courtesy of the National Library of Medicine. Related Links Kids Homepage Back to Top Last Reviewed: December 30, 2025