Chemicals, the Environment,
and You: Explorations in
Science and Human Health
developed under a contract from the
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
5415 Mark Dabling Boulevard
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
BSCS Development Team
BSCS Administrative Staff
Nancy M. Landes, Principal Investigator
Carlo Parravano, Chairman, Board of Directors
Anne L. Westbrook, Project Director
Rodger W. Bybee, Executive Director
Debra A. Hannigan, Curriculum Developer
Janet Carlson Powell, Associate Director, Chief Science
Ann C. Lanari, Research Assistant
Education Officer
Carol Vallee, Project Assistant
Larry Satkowiak, Associate Director, Chief Operating Officer
Karen Bertollini, Project Assistant
Mary Crist, Project Assistant
Videodiscovery, Inc. Administrative Staff
Carrie Hamm, Project Assistant
D. Joseph Clark, President
Raphaela Conner, Project Assistant
Shaun Taylor, Vice President for Product Development
Barbara Resch, Editor
Ric Bascobert, Editor
National Institutes of Health
Diane Gionfriddo, Photo Research
Allen Dearry, National Institute of Environmental Health
Lisa Chilberg, Graphic Designer
Sciences (NIEHS)
Sandra Matthews, Evaluator
Bruce Fuchs, Office of Science Education (OSE)
William Mowczko, OSE
Videodiscovery, Inc. Development Team
Liam O’Fallon, NIEHS
Shaun Taylor, Vice President for Product Development
Gloria Seelman, OSE
Michael Bade, Multimedia Producer, Project Director, Videographer
Frederick Tyson, NIEHS
Greg Humes, Assistant Multimedia Producer
Cathy Saum, Graphic Designer
Field-test Teachers
Lucy Flynn Zuccotti, Photo Research
Bernard Bastick, Beckley-Stratton Junior High School, Beckley, WV
Michele Moore, Assistant to Project Director
Joey Beckett, Beckley-Stratton Junior High School, Beckley, WV
Jennifer Hunt, Costumes and Makeup
Louisa Bliss, Gilman Middle School, Gilman, VT
Mike Commins, Gaffer (Lighting)
Alice Cook, Moundsville Junior High School, Moundsville, WV
Chet McKnight, Sound
Cassie Cox, Moundsville Junior High School, Moundsville, WV
Lee Strucker, Script Writer
Rose DiCenso, Sabin Middle School, Colorado Springs, CO
Anthony DiSipio, Jr., Octorara Middle School, Atglen, PA
Advisory Committee
Claireen Espinoza, Taos Day School, Taos, NM
Allen Dearry, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,
Anna Kong, Stone Academy, Chicago, IL
Research Triangle Park, NC
Susan Long, Frankfort Middle School, Ridgeley, WV
David Eaton, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Greg Nichols, New Options Middle School, Seattle, WA
Juliane Hill, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Josina Romero O’Connell, Challenger Middle School,
Larry Johnson, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX
Colorado Springs, CO
Greg Nichols, New Options Middle School, Seattle, WA
Barrington Ross, Shepard Magnet Middle School, Durham, NC
Josina Romero O’Connell, Challenger Middle School,
Jan Ryan, Brandeis Hillel Day School, San Francisco, CA
Colorado Springs, CO
Mehar Safvi, Shepard Magnet Middle School, Durham, NC
Jan Ryan, Brandeis Hillel Day School, San Francisco, CA
Gina Ward, North Layton Junior High School, Layton, UT
Karen Steinmetz, SUGEN, Inc., South San Francisco, CA
Susan Wooley, American School Health Association, Kent, OH
Special Thanks to:
W. Richard Ulmer of InVitro International, Irving, CA, for
Writing Team
providing the photograph of the Corrositex® assay (page 45).
Juliane Hill, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Deputy Chief Vickery of the Seattle Fire Department and the
Charlene A. McQueen, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Seattle Fire Department Hazmat Team for their participation in
Josina Romero O’Connell, Challenger Middle School,
and staging of the Ride Along with HAZMAT mini-documentary.
Colorado Springs, CO
Shaun Taylor, Videodiscovery, Seattle, WA
This material is based on work supported by the National Institutes
Mike Trush, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of
of Health under Contract No. 263-98-C-0056. Any opinions,
Public Health, Baltimore, MD
find ings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this
publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily
Artists
reflect the view of the funding agency.
Susan Bartel
Lisa Chilberg
Copyright ©2000 by BSCS and Videodiscovery, Inc. All rights
reserved. You have the permission of BSCS and Videodiscovery,
Cover Design
Inc. to reproduce items in this module (including the software)
Martha Blalock, Medical Arts and Photography Branch,
for your classroom use. The copyright on this module, however,
National Institutes of Health
does not cover reproduction of these items for any other use.
For permissions and other rights under this copyright, please
Design and Layout
contact BSCS, 5415 Mark Dabling Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO
Angela Greenwalt, Finer Points Productions
80918-3842, www.bscs.org, info@bscs.org, (719) 531-5550.
Kyle McKibbin, Graphic Prints, Inc. (2012 edition)
Revised December 2012
Photo Credits
Michael Bade
Carlye Calvin
Please contact NIH with questions
about this supplement at
supplements@science.education.nih.gov.
Contents
How Does the 5E Instructional Model Promote Active, Collaborative, Inquiry-Based Learning? . . . .6
How Can Teachers Promote Safety
iii
Foreword
This curriculum supplement, from The NIH
active and collaborative learning and are inquiry-
Curriculum Supplement Series, brings cutting-edge
based to help students develop problem-solving
medical science and basic research discoveries
strategies and critical-thinking skills.
from the laboratories of the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) into classrooms. As the largest
Each of our curriculum supplements comes
medical research institution in the United
with a complete set of materials for teachers
States, NIH plays a vital role in the health of
and students, including extensive background
all Americans and seeks to foster interest in
and resource information, detailed lesson plans,
research, science, and medicine-related careers
masters for student worksheets, and a Web site
for future generations. NIH’s Office of Science
with videos, interactive activities, updates, and
Education (OSE) is dedicated to promoting
corrections (as needed). The supplements are
scientific literacy and the knowledge and skills
distributed at no cost to educators across the
we need to secure a healthy future for all.
United States upon request. They may be copied
for classroom use but may not be sold.
We designed this curriculum supplement to
complement existing life science curricula at both
We welcome your comments. For a complete
the state and local levels and to be consistent
list of curriculum supplements and ordering
with the National Science Education Standards
information, or to submit feedback, please visit
(released by the National Academy of Sciences
http://science.education.nih.gov.
in 1996). It was developed and tested by a team
of teachers, scientists, medical experts, and
We appreciate the valuable contributions of
other professionals with relevant subject-area
the talented staff at BSCS and Videodiscovery,
expertise from institutes and medical schools
Inc. We are also grateful to the NIH scientists,
across the country, representatives from the
advisors, and all other participating professionals
National Institute of Environmental Health
for their work and dedication. Finally, we thank
Sciences, and curriculum design experts from
the teachers and students who participated in
Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) and
focus groups and field tests to ensure that these
Videodiscovery, Inc. The authors incorporated
materials are both engaging and effective.
real scientific data and actual case studies into
classroom activities. A three-year development
I hope you find our series a valuable addition to your
process included geographically dispersed
classroom and wish you a productive school year.
field tests by teachers and students. For the
2012 edition, key sections of the supplement
Bruce A. Fuchs, Ph.D.
were updated, but the Student Lessons remain
National Institutes of Health
basically the same.
supplements@science.education.nih.gov
The curriculum supplements enable teachers
to facilitate learning and stimulate student
interest by applying scientific concepts to
real-life scenarios. Design elements include a
conceptual flow of lessons based on the BSCS 5E
Instructional Model, cutting-edge science content,
and built-in assessment tools. Activities promote
v
About the National Institutes of Health
Founded in 1887, NIH is the federal focal point
research and clinical investigators, as well as the
for health research in the United States. Today,
myriad professionals in the many allied disciplines
NIH is one of the agencies within the Department
who support the research enterprise. These efforts
of Health and Human Services. Its mission is
also help educate people about scientific results so
science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge
that they can make informed decisions about their
about the nature and behavior of living systems
own—and the public’s—health.
and the application of that knowledge to extend
healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and
This curriculum supplement was one such
disability. NIH works toward meeting the mission
education effort. It is a collaboration among
by providing leadership, direction, and grant
the National Institute of Environmental Health
support to programs designed to improve the
Sciences, the NIH Office of Science Education,
health of the nation through research.
Biological Sciences Curriculum Study, and
Videodiscovery, Inc.
NIH’s education programs contribute to ensuring
the continued supply of well-trained basic
For more about NIH, visit http://www.nih.gov.
vi
About the National Institute
of Environmental Health Sciences
The National Institute of Environmental Health
the conditions that allow it to occur. NIEHS
Sciences (NIEHS) is one of 27 institutes and
takes a holistic approach to health, viewing it
centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
as an integrated response of all organ systems
The mission of NIEHS is to reduce the burden of
of the body to the environment. A key strategy
human illness and disability by understanding
for preventing many diseases or minimizing
how the environment influences the development
their effects is to eliminate or reduce exposures
and progression of human disease. Headquartered
to chemicals and other toxic agents in our
in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina,
environment, especially our food, water, and air.
NIEHS supports environmental health research at
To help reduce exposure to these agents, NIEHS
universities, independent laboratories, and centers
supports environmental public health activities
throughout the United States.
that increase public awareness about the nature
of the chemicals and how they may affect our
NIEHS is unique within NIH because its
health and that empower communities to take
primary focus is on the public health impact of
action to manage environmental health issues.
environmental exposures, rather than on one
or two specific organs such as the heart or liver
Environmental public health is defined as the
and finding ways to treat illnesses people already
science of conducting and translating research
have. Promoting public health and preventing
into action to address environmental exposures
disease is one of the most important services the
and health risks of concern to the public.
government can provide to its citizens. Protecting
NIEHS recognizes the importance of working in
people from avoidable illness and death spares
partnership with community groups to address
suffering, saves money, and improves the quality
their environmental health concerns. The institute
of life for society as a whole.
supports programs that build the capacity of
community groups and researchers to work
NIEHS provides the sound scientific foundation
together, advance environmental health literacy,
for defining the health effects of a broad array of
increase awareness of environmental health
environmental agents. Translating these findings
concepts, and engage community residents as
into effective public health and prevention
partners in the research process.
strategies requires that NIEHS communicate its
discoveries to federal regulatory agencies such as
NIEHS supports environmental public health
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
activities through
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well
• Grants to support university-community
as to public health agencies such as the Centers
partnerships that address local environmental
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These
health issues.
organizations, in turn, use this information to
• Outreach activities NIEHS requires of academic
calculate new standards to protect health and
research institutes it supports.
communicate public health messages to the
• Communication tools such as the science
public. This information is also the scientific basis
journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
for many laws passed by Congress to protect the
nation’s health.
Research areas of special interest to NIEHS are
environmentally related diseases and disorders
The most effective way to promote public
such as cancer, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease,
health and prevent disease and disability is to
autism, and the potential effects on human
understand the cause of an illness and change
health of endocrine disruptors, metals, pesticides,
vii
nanotechnology, and climate change. To fully
For more information see
understand these diseases and conditions,
environmental health research must examine
NIEHS Science Education:
the interface of exposure, genetic susceptibility,
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/scied/index.cfm
and time and duration of exposure.
Environmental Health Perspectives
NIEHS has a vested interest in developing
Science Education:
and training the next generation of diverse
http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/static/scied.action
environmental health scientists who will be
needed to solve the complex problems mentioned
Summers of Discovery:
above. The Chemicals, the Environment, and
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/research/summers/
You curriculum is just one example of NIEHS’s
efforts to improve science education and literacy,
increase the nation’s understanding of the role of
NIEHS Web site:
the environment in disease, empower teachers
and other communicators to translate science,
and provide the most current and credible
information on environmental health science.
viii
About Biological Sciences
Curriculum Study
Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado,
Instructional Model and inquiry are hallmarks
BSCS was founded in 1958 as a curriculum study
of its materials, placing students at the center of
committed to an evidence- and inquiry-based
their learning.
approach to science education. BSCS instructional
materials and professional development services
The BSCS mission is to transform science teaching
are based on current research about teaching and
and learning through research and development
lea