K-12 Science and Health Education
Working with teachers and scientific experts to provide FREE reliable resources to help introduce, reinforce, and supplement education programs.
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-Biology
-- MedlinePlus
(Grades 6 -12+) Easy to read health information. An excellent source for all ages. Also available in Spanish - PubMed
(Grades 11 – 12+) A citation index for articles from medical and life science journals. View the PubMed tutorial for site navigation guidence. - Visible Human Project
(Grades 6 – 12+) Complete, anatomically detailed, 3D representations of the normal male and female human bodies.
Careers
-- Enviro-Health Links - Education, Careers, and Outreach in Toxicology and Environmental Health
(Grades 6 – 12+) Links to Web sites about education and careers in toxicology and environmental health. - Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America’s Women Physicians
(Grades 6 – 12+) Features the lives and work of women physicians from the 19th century. - Haz-Map
(Grades 6 – 12+) Choose a job, and learn about its dangers. - Health Occupations
(Grades 6 – 12+) Resource links to information about health occupations.
Disasters
-Drought
- Drought
(Grades 8 - 12)
Information page about droughts, why they occur, and their impact on our health and the environment.
National Library of Medicine - Drought Factsheet (PDF, 1.22 MB)
(Grades 1 - 8)
Factsheet about droughts for students.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Earthquakes
- Earthquake Safety at School
(Grades K - 12)
Informative guide to help prepare students for earthquakes.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Earthquakes Factsheet (PDF, 1.32 MB)
(Grades 1 - 8)
Factsheet to help students understand earthquakes.
Federal Emergency Management Agency - Seismic Sleuths: Earthquakes - A Teacher's Package
(Grades 7 - 12)
Lesson plans to help students understand why earthquakes happen and how to protect themselves and their community.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Shake Out Curriculum (PDF, 394.43 KB)
(Grades K-12)
A matching game lesson plan to help students prepare of an earthquake.
Southern California Earthquake Center
- The Adventures of Terry the Turtle and Gracie the Wonder Dog
(Grades 3 - 6)
A short story for elementary school students about how to prepare for an earthquake.
Federal Emergency Management Agency - Tremor Troop Earthquakes (PDF, 4.72 MB)
(Grades K - 6)
Lesson plans that define earthquakes, where and why they occur, and safety and survival tools.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Floods
- Floods Factsheet (PDF, 1.32 MB)
(Grades 1 - 8)
Engaging factsheet to help students better understand floods.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Floods iQuest
(Grades 6 - 8)
Lesson plan to teach students about the causes and impact of flooding on the environment and human health.
NASA
- Storms and Floods
(Grades 8 - 12)
Information page about wildfires, why they occur, and their impact on our health and the environment.
National Library of Medicine
General Disaster
- After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal (PDF, 115.30 KB)
(Grades PK - 3)
Steps for helping young children after a disaster.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- Be a Hero
(Grades K - 12)
What to do before, during, and after an emergency.
Ready.gov - Do the Prep Step!
(Grades K - 12)
Steps to help children and their families prepare for an emergency.
Save the Children - Mickey & Friends Disaster Preparedness Activity Book
(Grades K - 5)
Activity book on what to do to prepare for different types of disasters.
American Red Cross - Monster Guard: Prepare for Emergencies
(Grades 1 - 6)
This game app teaches students about where different disasters happen within the US and how to prepare for them.
American Red Cross - Natural Disasters: Nature's Fury
(Grades 6 - 12)
Examines real life experiences of Americans from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century's encounters with natural disasters.
Library of Congress - Natural Hazards
(Grades 6 - 12)
Introduction to natural hazards and how to avoid or reduce their impact.
PBS Learning Media - Practical Information on Crisis Planning Brochure
(Grades K - 12)
Guide to preparing schools for a crisis.
US Department of Education - Ready, Set, Prepare (PDF, 2.95 MB)
(Grades K - 8)
Games and activities to help students prepare for a disaster
Utah.gov - Stop Disasters Game
(Grades 4 - 12)
Interactive game where players make economic and residential development decisions to help reduce effects of disasters on the inhabitants.
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
Hurricanes
- Hurricanes Factsheet (PDF, 1.35 MB)
(Grades 1 - 8)
Easy-to-read factsheet about hurricanes for students.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Landslides
- Landslides and Debris Factsheet (PDF, 1.29 MB)
(Grades 1 - 8)
Easy-to-read factsheet about Landslides and debris for students
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Tornadoes
- Tornado Factsheet (PDF, 1.28 MB)
(Grades 1 - 8)
Easy-to-read factsheet about Tornadoes for students
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Wildfires
- Let's Clear the Air: The Danger of Forest Fire Smoke to Firefighters
(Grades 6 - 12)
Article about the impact of wildfires on the health of firefighters.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Middle School Teachers' Resources
(Grades 6 - 8)
Lesson plans and activities to teach middle school students about wildfires.
US Forest Service - My Feelings About Fire (PDF, 942.68 KB)
(Grades K - 1)
Lesson plan to help young students cope with fire.
University of Wisconsin - Smoke and Ash Inhalation Related to Wildfires
(Grades 9 - 12)
Article about the effects of fire on human health.
National Geological Society of America - Wildfires
(Grades 8 - 12)
Information page about wildfires, why they occur, and their impact on our health and the environment.
National Library of Medicine - Wildfire Factsheet (PDF, 1.24 MB)
(Grades 1 - 8)
Factsheet about wildfires for students (Grades 1 - 8)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Wildfire Lesson Plans
(Grades 5 - 8)
Lesson plans about wildfires.
Penn State University
Environmental Health Science/Chemistry
-- ChemIDplus
(Grades 7 – 12+) View and manipulate chemical structures for over 388,000 chemicals. Create SIS and TRANS models, conduct structure similarity searches, and view chemical synonyms. - Earth Day: Your Health and Environment (PDF, 1.03 MB)
Printable flier that links to online resources to help plan your Earth Day activities. - Environmental Health Student Portal
(Grades 6 – 8) Connecting middle school students to environmental health information. - Household Products Database
(Grades 6-12+) Learn about the potential health effects of chemicals in common household products. - TOXinvaders
(mobile iOS game) (Grades 6 - 12). Learn chemistry while saving the environment from toxic chemicals. - Tox Town
(Grades 6 - 12+) Guide to commonly encountered toxic substances. Includes classroom materials. Also available in Spanish. - Tox Town-Based Curriculum Units/Science Club
(Grades 6 - 8) Discovering the Connection: Your Environment, Your Health is an afterschool science club curriculum for middle school students. It can also be used in a science classroom or in an interdisciplinary program that connects science and society. - ToxLearn and Toxicology Tutorials
(Grades 9 - 12+) Written at the introductory college student level and teaches basic toxicology principles. - TOXMAP
(Grades 9 – 12+) Uses maps of the U.S. to visually explore data from the EPA. Includes classroom materials. - ToxMystery
(Grades 1 – 5) Interactive site teaching elementary school students about toxic substances in the home. Includes lesson plans and activities. Also available in Spanish.
Forensics and Medical Technology
-- Frankenstein - Penetrating the secrets of nature
(Grades 6 - 12+) Explores Frankenstein as a framework for discussing the ethics involved in scientific research. - Rewriting the Book of Nature: Charles Darwin and the Rise of Evolutionary Theory
(Grades 9 - 12+) Explore the scientific discoveries and contributions of Charles Darwin. - Visible Human Project
(Grades 6 – 12+) Complete, anatomically detailed, 3D representations of the normal male and female human bodies. - Visible Proofs: Forensic Views of the Body
(Grades 6 - 12+) Collection of images, videos and stories about the history and the development of forensics. Includes lesson plans.
Games
-- Base Chase
(Grades 7 - 12) Mobile iOS game that teaches DNA base pairing. Students build DNA strands of various animals. - Bohr Thru
(Grades 7 - 12) Mobile iOS game that teaches students about the first 18 chemicals on the periodic table and how to build Bohr Models to show the structure of the element. - Run4Green
(Grades 6 - 12) Mobile iOS game that teaches students about environmental conservation. - ToxInvaders
(Grades 6 - 12) Mobile iOS game that teaches chemistry while saving the environment from toxic chemicals.
- ToxMystery
(Grades 1 – 5) Interactive site teaching elementary school students about toxic substances in the home. Includes lesson plans and activities. Also available in Spanish.
General Health
-- Against the Odds: Making a Difference in Global Health
(Grades 3 - 12+) How communities work to improve quality of life. Classroom resources included. - Come On, Mom, Dad, Get Healthy! (PDF, 764.11 KB)
(Grades 6 - 8) Teens Against Parent Addiction Squad Take Action. View lesson plans. - Children’s Page
(Grades 3 – 8) Health and safety materials for students. Includes quizzes and games. - MedlinePlus
(Grades 6 -12+) Easy to read health information. An excellent source for all ages. Also available in Spanish. - PubMed
(Grades 11 – 12+) A citation index for articles from medical and life science journals. View the PubMed tutorial for site navigation guidence. - Teen Health
(Grades 7 – 12) Materials written specifically for teens about health and safety.
Genetics
-- GeneEd Web site
(Grades 9 -12+) Links to vetted genetic Web sites based on high school science curriculum. Includes lesson plans and current events. - Navigating GeneEd Web site
An overview of GeneEd, which discusses its potential use in the classroom and includes teacher testimonies. - Genetics Home Reference
(Grades 6 – 12+) Information about genetic conditions - Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine
(Grades 9 - 12) Explore the genetics of the characters and the roots of the creatures and magic in the Harry Potter book series in terms of Renaissance science and historical lore. Lesson plans included. - Navigating genetics education resources from the National Library of Medicine
Training video on using online genetics education resources from the National Library of Medicine in the classroom.
Health Information Tutorials
-- Evaluating Internet Health Information Tutorial
(Grades 6 – 12+) Learn how to evaluate health information found on the Web. - Finding and Using Health Statistics
(Grades 9 -12+) Course in understanding health statistics. Also includes strategies for locating statistics. - Guide to Health Web Surfing
(Grades 6 -12+) What to look for when evaluating the quality of health information on the Internet. - Understanding Medical Words
(Grades 9 – 12+) Tutorial for consumers on understanding medical terminology.
HIV/AIDS
-- AIDSinfo
(Grades 6 – 12+) Reliable fact sheets to help students and teachers understand HIV/AIDS. - HIV/AIDS Portal
(Grades 6 – 12+) Links to journal literature, clinical trials and treatment information, meeting abstracts, and other scientific and consumer-related resources.
Lesson Plans
-- The Chemicals Around Us (PDF, 398 KB)
(Grades 9 - 12) In this lesson, students look at the chemical structures found in common household products, differentiate between organic and inorganic compounds, and identify functional groups of carbon molecules. - Earth Day Lesson Plans and Activities (K-12)
(Grades K-12) Find already made lesson plans to help introduce concepts related to Earth Day. - Making Connections: Human Activity, Environmental Impact on Human Health Lesson Plan (PDF 31.04 KB)
(Grades 6 - 8) Research activity to inform students about the effects of human activity on the environment and human health. - Tox Town-Based Curriculum Units/Science Club
(Grades 6 - 8) Discovering the Connection: Your Environment, Your Health is an afterschool science club curriculum for middle school students. It can also be used in a science classroom or in an interdisciplinary program that connects science and society. - Why Worry About Climate Change? (PDF, 761 KB)
Grades (6 - 8) In this lesson, students will conduct research to identify the causes and process of global warming, and be able to describe the impact on weather, the environment, and human health.
Projects
-- Adopt-A-School Program
- Distance Education Program
- Health Information High School Peer Tutoring
Peer tutoring for high school health information literacy. A guide for assessing if this program can work for you.
Spanish-Language Resources
-- AIDSinfo
(Grades 6 - 12+) - MedlinePlus en Español
(Grades 6 - 12+) - Tox Town en Español
(Grades 6 - 12+) - ToxMystery en Español
(Grades 1 - 5)
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