Educators
Curricula
CDC Resources
EXCITE! — Excellence in Curriculum Innovation through Teaching Epidemiology and the Science of Public Health
EXCITE! is a collection of teaching and reference materials developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to introduce and excite youth from kindergarten through 12th grade about the knowledge and skills utilized by public health professionals. The information presented in EXCITE! includes such academic subjects as life sciences, epidemiology, mathematics, social studies, language arts, and health education. Topics applicable to all levels of instruction include elementary statistical concepts, scientific method of inquiry, and outbreak investigation.
Infectious Disease Trading Cards
This set of cards has photos and information about some of the infectious diseases that CDC studies, such as anthrax, avian flu, ebola, tuberculosis, west nile virus and many more. You can view the set online OR download and print your own copy.
Kids Quest on Disability and Health
This site is intended to get kids to think about people with disabilities and some of the issues related to daily activities, health, and accessibility. The Kids’ Quests are designed for students in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. Parents and teachers can modify the materials to meet students’ learning styles and levels. The Quests can be used in lessons about health, social studies, and tolerance in society. Although students could do a Quest entirely on their own, we suggest that parents and teachers work with students to share ideas, talk about issues raised, and encourage students to reflect about themselves and others. Sample topics include: Autism, FASD, ADHD, hearing loss, mobility and vision loss.
National Center for Environmental Health
This site includes brief descriptions written for children describing some of the work conducted by the National Center for Environmental Health.
Science Ambassador Program
The Science Ambassador Program invites science teachers from nationwide middle and high schools to compete for the chance to collaborate with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) scientists on epidemiologic-based lesson plans. Together, CDC and science teachers craft relevant and up-to-date lessons engaging students by bringing discussions and activities addressing real public health problems into the classroom. By introducing students to public health at a young age, science teachers are able to nurture and foster future public health professionals. This web site includes lesson plans for both middle and high school students. The lesson plans not only meet National Science Education standards, but also challenge students to think about science in a new way. CDC’s public health topics offer students the chance to apply science in the real world. Lesson plans include a wide array of topics. A sampling of topics found include: autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, epidemiology, global nutrition, and skin cancer to name a few.
National Institutes of Health Resources
Brain Power! The NIDA Junior Scientist Program
Grades K-1
Grades 2-3
Grades 4-5
Grades 6-9
Brain Power! is designed to take students through a step-by-step exploration of the processes of science and how to use these processes to learn about scientists and the different work they do, the brain, the nervous system, and the effects of drugs on the nervous system and the body. Through hands-on science investigations, a videotape, and supplementary activities that are linked to other areas of the curriculum, students with different learning styles and strengths receive numerous opportunities to encounter the material. In addition, the overall goals of the project are to make learning fun and engaging and to instill in young students a lifelong interest in science. Curriculum materials can be found for grades kindergarten through Grade 9.
Office of Science Education
This web site contains free educational resources available to teachers listed by topics, grade levels and resource formats. Lesson plans, photos, graphics, presentations are just some of the many items that can be found on this web site. A sampling of topics include: bioethics, the digestive system, environmental health and toxicology and many more!
Other Resources
Brain PoP: Health, Your Body and How it Works
Founded in 1989, BrainPOP creates animated, curriculum-based content that engages students and supports educators. Resources include movies, quizzes, experiments, and activity pages. It is ideal for both group and one-on-one settings. BrainPOP is used in numerous ways, from introducing a new lesson or topic to illustrating complex subject matter to reviewing before a test. Content is aligned to academic standards. Several free trials are offered.
Kids Health in the Classroom
KidsHealth in the Classroom offers educators free health curriculum materials for all grades and subject areas. Each Teacher’s Guide includes discussion questions, activities, and reproducible handouts and quizzes – all aligned to national health education standards. Curriculum can be found from pre-school through high school. Teacher’s Guides are categorized in three main topic areas (human body, health problems, personal health) by grade level.
This page was last updated by Janice Troyer on February 06, 2012
