Environmental Health Unit – Pollution, Hazards, Chemicals, Worksheets

Engage your students in a comprehensive exploration of environmental health with the Environmental Health Unit! This dynamic resource unpacks essential questions like: “What is environmental health?,” “How do chemicals in our environment affect our health?” and “How can an outbreak of disease begin and spread?”

Why Teachers Love This Unit:

✅ Comprehensive & Engaging – A three-week, low-prep unit that covers a broad range of topics from toxins and disease outbreaks to epidemiology and environmental hazards.
✅ Real-World Relevance – Students connect theoretical concepts to real-world issues, understanding the immediate impact of chemicals, pollutants, and disease outbreaks.
✅ Hands-On Learning – A variety of activities, case studies, and labs that help students actively engage with environmental health topics.
✅ Informed Decision-Making – Empowers students to think critically about their well-being and the world around them, fostering a sense of responsibility for public health and environmental safety.

What’s Inside?

• Unit Pacing Guide – A structured outline to help you seamlessly deliver content over three weeks.
• “What is Environmental Health?” Lesson Plan – An introductory lesson that sets the stage for deeper exploration.
• DDT Activity – Investigate the historical and environmental impact of DDT.
• Environmental Health Overview Presentation & Guided Notes – Engaging slides with structured notes for active student participation.
• Animal Testing Probe Worksheet – Explore the ethics and impact of animal testing in environmental science.
• Biological & Social Hazards Practice Packet & Answer Key – Dive into hazards that impact public health and safety.
• Toxic Substances in the Environment Presentation & Guided Notes – Detailed insights into harmful chemicals and their effects on human health.
• Toxic Substances in the Environment Practice Packet & Answer Key – Reinforce key concepts with real-world applications.
• Environmental Chemicals and Their Impact on Human Health Lab & Answer Key – A hands-on lab that explores the effects of pollutants on human health.
• Microplastics Cleanup Challenge & Teacher Guide – Students investigate the challenge of removing microplastics from water by evaluating cleanup technologies through a hands-on environmental science investigation.
• Road Salt and the Environment Lab & Answer Key – Students explore real-world environmental trade-offs in this engaging road salt investigation lab.
• Environmental Health Quiz & Answer Key – Assess student understanding with an easily administered quiz.
• Case Studies Assignment – Investigate real-life environmental health cases.
• DIY Water Filter Lab – Students design and test a multi-layer water filtration system to remove pollutants.
• Cholera Outbreak Analysis: Causes & Spread Lesson Plan & Lab – A deep dive into disease outbreaks and their spread.
• Zombie Outbreak Epidemiology Simulation & Teacher Guide – Students become epidemiologists as they investigate a fictional disease outbreak through a hands-on simulation exploring disease spread, public health, and environmental health.
• Tuna’s Toxic Secret: Mercury’s Silent Threat Lesson Plan & Lab – Examine the hidden dangers of mercury contamination in tuna.
• Annual Pesticide Use Lesson Plan & Worksheet – Understand the environmental and health impact of pesticides.
• Malaria & Climate in Africa Lesson Plan & Worksheet – Explore how climate change influences the spread of malaria.
• Environmental Health Study Guide & Answer Key – A comprehensive review guide to prepare for the unit exam.
• Environmental Health Unit Exam & Answer Key – Evaluate student mastery of environmental health concepts.

Equip your students with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their health and the planet’s well-being. This unit fosters a deeper understanding of environmental science, public health, and the crucial relationship between humans and the environment.

What busy teachers like you have said:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Christine M. says, “I used this in a mixed summer school class that had students in grades 9 – 11 that needed to make up Environmental Science or Human Body Systems. It was easy to work with and had little to prep.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dana Koprowski says, “Great resource. My students were fully engaged throughout!”

Grades: 8–12 | Pages: 350 | Time: 1 month
NGSS Connections: MS-ESS3-1, MS-ESS3-3, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3, MS-LS2-1, MS-LS2-4, HS-ESS3-4, HS-ETS1-2, HS-ETS1-3, HS-LS2-7, HS-LS2-8, HS-LS4-6