Standard of Learning

1.7 The student will explain that his/her personal decisions help contribute to a healthy environment. Key concepts/skills include

1. the proper disposal of trash;
2. the benefits of recycling;
3. the prevention of water pollution;
4. the effects of pollution on drinking water and marine life;
5. water conservation.

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Essential Knowledge and Skills

The student will:

• define environment. (everything around you)
• explain recycle, reuse, and reduce. (The three "R's" - you can recycle paper, glass, and cans - you can reuse something by using it again - and you can reduce how much of something you use)
• define pollution. (anything that harms the air, water, or land)
• explain how to conserve. (to use less of)
• define litter. (trash on the ground or in the water)
• describe how to keep your environment clean. (proper disposal of trash)
• identify how to stop pollution.
• list ways to conserve water:
  • turn off the water when you brush your teeth;
  • take showers instead of baths;
  • put a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap;
  • limit the running of sprinklers;
  • limit the amount of water while washing a car; and
  • do not run the dishwasher half full.

Sample Lessons

My Health My World
Grades K-4
Promote deeper understanding or relationships between environment and health while students ‘do science’. Four units include: My World Indoors (air quality issues); Water and My World (water quality); My Home Planet Earth (global warming); and Food and My World (food production, nutrition, and food safety). Sponsor: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Contact: http://www.bayloreducationaloutreach.org

Pollution & Recycling
Grades 2-3
This lesson focuses on three types of pollution and how students can work together to recycle.
Sponsor: Ask Eric
Contact: http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans – health – environmental health)
Free

Tox RAP
Grades K-9
Students understand basic environmental health sciences concepts and make informed decisions to reduce their health risks associated with potential environmental pollutants. Lesson uses a risk assessment framework. “Mystery Illness Strikes the Sanchez Household” (simulated health hazard) Grades 6-9
Sponsor: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Contact: http://www.eohsi.rutgers.edu/rc/toxrap/index.htm

Additional Instructional Resources

• "Environmental and Community Health" - http://www.healthteacher.com
• National Center for Environmental Health - http://www.cdc.gov/nceh
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences - http://www.niehs.nih.gov
• Social Skills – http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/(health & fitness k-2)

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

• create a picnic lunch and discuss how to dispose of the trash.
• make drawings and bumper stickers about one of the three "R's".
• sort the drawing and bumper stickers into each of the three "R's" and explain why they placed them in each "R."
• collect pictures of people disposing of trash properly, recycling, or conserving water.
• write a sentence to tell how each person is helping to stop pollution.

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