Teacher Resources: Mercury, The Community, and Me
Overview
This educational package was a collaborative effort between our Superfund Research Program, the EPA, the London School in Cottage Grove, OR, and the Environmental Health Sciences Center at Oregon State University. The goal of the effort was to educate students about mercury in their community and the effects of mercury on human health. Developed in 2014, the package used existing educational resources around mercury and human health. Since then, some of these resources may no longer be available due to software incompatibility, or are no longer maintained by the original source.
Section 1: Environmental Health
The activities begin with connecting students to the environment and defining environmental health. Through reading educational, grade-appropriate books and working in groups, students will gain a basic understanding of toxicity and how toxic chemicals can impact our environment. Activities allow students to apply concepts to their own life. These principles will later be applied specifically to mercury as an environmental contaminant and health concern.
|
Module |
Activity Title and Link |
Topic |
Grade |
Resources |
|
1.1 |
Sharon Finds the Environment |
defining "environment", |
K-3 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sharon Cleans Up on-line book |
environmental responsibility, interdependence |
K-3 |
The Starfish Story video |
|
|
1.2 |
Your Environment, Your Health worksheet (pdf) |
defining "environmental health" |
4-8 |
Worksheet (doc) |
|
Learning the Language of Science |
toxicology, chemical exposure |
6-8 |
Worksheet (doc) |
|
|
1.3 |
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle |
waste, environmental responsibility |
K-3 |
|
|
Recycle City on-line game |
recycle programs |
K-8 |
||
|
EPA Healthy Homes |
chemicals in home |
4-8 |
||
|
What Makes a Product Hazardous? |
hazard substances and properties, signal words, routes of exposure |
6-12 |
Teacher Guide (doc) |
|
|
Healthy Classroom Assessment |
chemicals, routes of exposure, symptoms, reducing exposure risk |
K-8 |
Worksheet (doc) |
|
|
1.4 |
Crabby Kathy on-line book |
indoor environment, health, allergies |
K-3 |
No resources available |
|
What's Wrong with Whiskers? |
animals and chemicals in environment |
K-3 |
Pets and Pesticide Use (National Pesticide Information Center) |
|
|
Name that Environmental Hazard |
toxic air pollutants, carbon monoxide, lead, asbestos, mercury, arsenic |
4-8 |
Worksheet (doc) |
|
|
Household Chemical Survey |
data collection, written communication, chemical safety, pollution prevention |
5-8 |
Teacher Guide (doc) |
|
|
1.5 |
Radish Seed Dose Response Activity |
chemical mixtures, dilution |
4-8 |
Teacher Guide (doc) |
|
1.6 |
Careers in Environmental Health |
career development, science |
K-8 |
Section 2: Mercury in the Environment
This section on mercury and the environment gives student an overview of mercury and how it enters our environment and our food chain. There are diverse activities - on-line, worksheets, videos, games, and teamwork.
Included Activities:
| Module |
Activity Title and Link |
Topic |
Grade |
Resources |
| 2.1 The Black Butte Mine |
The Black Butte Mine (YouTube Video) |
mining, mercury tailings, contamination | 4-8 | Teacher Guide | Worksheet Map of Black Butte Mine Watershed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 Mercury and the Water Cycle |
How the Water Cycle Works Interactive on-line module (also used in 2.3 for 4-8 grades) |
water cycle process | K-8 | Coloring and Activity Worksheets from EPA, and NIEHS |
| 2.3 What is Mercury? |
Learning the Language of Science - Mercury Worksheet (pdf) |
types of mercury | 4-8 |
Worksheet (doc)
How can you be exposed to mercury? Background Reading |
| 2.4 Mercury in the Environment |
The Quicksilver Question Web Module |
fish consumption, contamination, health | 4-8 |
Curriculum (for teachers) PDF module booklet |
| 2.5 Mercury in the Food Chain |
Mercury in the Food Chain Game |
bioaccumulation and biomagnification of the chemicals | 4-8 |
Activities Mercury in Schools pg. 50
|
Section 3: Mercury and Human Health
Students will expand their learning about mercury and human health.
Included Activities:
| Module |
Activity Title and Link |
Topic |
Grade |
Resources |
| 3.1 Mercury in the Human Body |
Label Brain and Kidney Worksheet (doc) |
organs impacted by mercury exposure | K-3 | Background Information for Teachers (doc) Mercury in the SF Bay PBS Video and Worksheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2 Human Exposures to Mercury |
Alice's Mad Hatter Worksheet (pdf) |
mercury poisoning, symptoms of exposure | 4-12 |
Student Worksheet (doc) |
| 3.3 Mercury and Human Health Effects |
Mercury and Human Health Effects Worksheet (pdf) |
methymercury routes of exposure and symptoms of exposure | 4-8 | Student Worksheet (doc) Teacher Key (doc) |
| Human Anatomy Art Project Instructions (pdf) |
target organs where mercury is metabolized and excreted | 4-8 | Instructions (pdf) The Renal System How the Brain Works video (Part 1) (Part 2) Picture of the nervous system Picture of the digestive system |
|
| Mercury and Human Health Case Study Worksheet (pdf) |
methylmercury exposure from eating fish | 4-8 | Student Worksheet (doc) Teacher Key (doc) |