Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Risk

Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Risk module helps students explore the different aspects of environmental and human health risks that affect their everyday lives. It incorporates science, social studies, math, geography, and language arts. The module is designed to be infused into existing curriculum and is correlated to the national science standards.

Through eight hands-on activities, students analyze, explore, discover, and learn about risk assessment, risk communication, risk perception, and risk management. In addition, there are three special topics that encourage students to apply the knowledge they develop from the activities to actual risk issues. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making are stressed throughout the activities.

A Biotechnology supplement to this module is currently in its late development stages. The supplement is expected to be published by the end of 2008.

Here's what's inside the Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Risk module:

• Introduction

• Background Information

• Student Activities
  1. What Is Risk?
  2. Things Aren't Always What They Seem (2005 Activity Revision)
  3. Chances Are…Understanding Probability and Risk
  4. Risk Assessment: Tools of the Trade
  5. Communicating Risk
  6. Weighing the Options: A Look at Tradeoffs
  7. Decision Making: Ecological Risk, Wildfires, and Natural Disasters
  8. Taking Action: Reducing Risk in Your School or Community

• Special Topics
  
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Chlorine: Looking at Tradeoffs
  • Plastics, Risk/Benefit Analysis, and Environmental Legislation

• Appendices:
1. References Cited
2. Additional Resources
3. Glossary
4. Suggestions for Using the Internet as a Resource
5. Suggestions for Conducting a Debate
6. Biographies of Risk Professionals
7. Supplemental Readings
8. The Monte Carlo Method
9. Metric Conversion Chart
10. Subject Matrix
11. Activity Links
12. PLT Conceptual Framework

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