Standard of Learning

2.3   The student will describe the influences and factors that impact health and wellness. Key concepts/skills include:

1. heredity;
2. the environment;
3. germs and diseases;
4. different customs and traditions;
5. self-image related to personal success;
6. disappointment, loss, grief, and separation.

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Understanding the Standard

The student will learn how to protect the environment and how pollution impacts our health.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

The student will:

• define the environment. (air, land, and water)
• define pollution. (harmful matter or noise that gets into the environment)
• describe how pollution impacts one's health. (certain gases, noise, or smoke in the air; trash or chemicals in our water; and waste materials and chemicals dumped on our lands may make us sick)
• describe why it is important for everyone to protect the environment. (because we all create pollution)
• identify how to save resources and prevent pollution. (conserve, recycle, or reuse items and properly dispose of chemicals and trash)

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. Lessons use a risk assessment framework.
“The Case of the Green Feathers” (air pollution) Grade 3
“What is Wrong with the Johnson Family?” (investigate unexplained health problems) Grades 3-6
“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

• “The Environment and the Community” – http://www.healthteacher.com/lessonguides/2-3_index.asp
• National Center for Environmental Health - http://www.cdc.gov/nceh
• Teaching Children About Health, A Multidisciplinary Approach -http://www.morton-pub.com - "Environmental Health"

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

• create posters with drawings that show how our physical environment affects our health and how to reduce pollution.
• set goals to reduce pollution in their school and community.

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