Lesson 15.2: Chemicals, the Environment, and Your Health

Overview

This lesson focuses on understanding how chemicals can harm the environment and human health. This lesson also provides the information and opportunity to develop skills related to health promotion when encountering products that may contain harmful chemicals.

Learning Targets

  • LO6: Explain the dangers of toxic chemicals.
  • LO7: Explain how to identify toxic chemicals in personal care products.
  • LO8: Explain three ways to reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals found in household items.
  • LO9: Explain what to do if you are exposed to toxic chemicals.

Preparation

For the Warm-Up Activity: Write the Journal Question on the board or identify (and copy as needed) the worksheets you plan to use:

For the Content Focus: Open the Lesson 15.2 PowerPoint slides or make copies of the Lesson 15.2 Note-Taking Guide.

For the Lesson Focus: Copy the 15.2 Skill-Building Challenge Worksheet: Making Responsible Decisions.

Warm-Up Activity

Select a warm-up activity to help get your class focused and on task.

  • Journal Question: Have you ever considered whether the personal care products you use are safe? How would you feel if you found out that your shampoo, soap, or sunscreen contained dangerous ingredients? Would you try to change the products you use?
    • Option: Write or project the question and have students respond in their journal or on their “bell ringer” sheet as they enter class.
    • Option: Have students discuss the question with a partner or in a small group.
  • Vocabulary Review: Have students work individually, in pairs, or in small groups to complete the Lesson 15.2 Vocabulary Review Worksheet.
  • Quiz: Have students complete the Lesson 15.2 Quiz to assess their prior knowledge.
    • Option: Collect the quiz and use it alongside a posttest to demonstrate student learning.
    • Option: Have students share their answers with a partner and then go over the answers together as a class.

Lesson Content

Review the content from the textbook lesson.

Lesson Focus: Making Responsible Decisions

  1. Provide each student with a copy of the 15.2 Skill-Building Challenge Worksheet: Making Responsible Decisions.
  2. Review the directions for the worksheet with students.
  3. Point out the checklist on the bottom of the page. If students have completed the task correctly, all of the components on the checklist should be present in their story.
  4. Have students work in pairs to complete the task. After providing students time to write their short story, have them share with another pair. After a few minutes, ask for volunteers to read their story to the class or collect students’ short stories and read two or three aloud to the class unanimously. As students listen to each short story, ask them to identify whether all the elements from the checklist are present in the stories they hear.

Challenge Activity

Have students needing an additional challenge work on the following Thinking Critically task.

Why do you think chemicals are used in personal care products like shampoo if they are known to be potentially dangerous? Do you think products containing potentially dangerous chemicals should be sold in the United States? Explain your response, using specific examples when possible.

Reflection and Summary

Review the critical content from today’s lesson. Review the learning targets and ask students to answer each question posed.

Can you...

  • Explain the dangers of toxic chemicals?

    A toxic chemical is any chemical that can cause death, temporary incapacitation, or permanent harm to humans or animals.

  • Explain how to identify toxic chemicals in personal care products?

    It is important to check the ingredients for toxic substances and to research ingredients you don’t recognize. Common chemicals that could be toxic include parabens, fragrance, formaldehyde, sodium lauryl sulfate, polyethylene glycol, triclosan, ethanolamine and oxybenzone.

  • Explain three ways to reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals found in household items?

    You can become sick by touching, inhaling or accidently ingesting toxic chemicals. To reduce exposure you could protect your skin with gloves or other coverings, use chemicals in a well-ventilated area, or wear a proper mask. Also store chemicals away from food and drinks and out of the reach of children.

  • Explain what to do if you are exposed to toxic chemicals?

    Tell your doctor, school nurse, or a trusted adult, or call the Poison Control Center.

Assessment

Complete one or more of the following assessment tasks for this lesson.

Take It Home

Pick out three products that contain chemicals in your home. Study the label and its ingredients and determine whether they would be harmful to a pregnant woman or her fetus. Identify the potentially harmful effects of each product.