The My Health, My World Program

What is My Health, My World?

My Health, My World is an early elementary curriculum development project of Baylor College of Medicine in partnership with the American Physiological Society and the Texas Medical Association. It is funded, in part, by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The overall goal of My Health, My World is to promote a deeper understanding of environmental effects on human health, while conveying the excitement of "doing science," to students in grades K-4. Problem-solving and decision-making skills are emphasized, and the materials have been developed in coordination with the National Science Education Standards.

Currently, four My Health, My World units are available. The units -- and the activities in them -- can be used as a coordinated curriculum or as "drop-in's." Additional units are under development. The topics for the three current units are:

My World
Indoors (Unit 1) This unit explores the influence of personal surroundings on health, with a special focus on air quality issues. Students learn both the physical and chemical aspects of air (air pressure, etc.) and how they can help keep the air in and around their homes clean.

Water and My World (Unit 2) This unit explores the effects of contamination of natural resources on personal and community health. It especially focuses on the importance of clean water and how students can contribute to water quality in their communities.

My Home, the Planet Earth
(Unit 3) This unit explores the effects of global systems -- especially the upper atmosphere -- on our health. It especially focuses on the layers of the atmosphere, global warming, and how we can contribute to the health of our atmosphere.

Food and My World This My Health My World^Ž Food unit allows students to have fun learning about food sources, healthy eating, safe food preparation and handling, food groups and overall nutrition.

What do the curricular materials include?

Each unit includes three components -

Science adventure story book: These full-color, paperback books follow the adventures of Riff and Rosie, two squirrels, and their friends and neighbors, as they solve mysteries about the interaction of living creature and their environment. The story books also contain activities that students can do along with Riff and Rosie, to learn about their bodies and how they work, to explore the environment around them, and to just have fun with science. Each unit has a unique story: Mr. Slaptail's Secret (Unit 1); The Mystery of the Muddled Marsh (Unit 2); and Mr. Slaptail's Curious Contraption (Unit 3).

Teacher activity guide: Each unit has 10 hands-on, problem-solving science activities that explore the physical, chemical, and biological/health aspects of the unit topic. Step-by-step instructions and black and white master pages for reproduction of handouts and overhead transparencies are included for each activity. Activities require only everyday materials and are designed to be done in small groups. Guides for integrating the activities with social studies, math, reading, and art are included.

Explorations Mini-magazine: This 8-page, glossy handout can be used in class or at home. It includes additional activities for students to do and additional information on environmental and health issues related to the unit topic. If desired, Explorations can be purchased in quantity to allow each student to have his/her own copy.

All materials have been field tested by elementary teachers in diverse classrooms at multiple field test sites across the nation. Teacher suggestions have been incorporated into the field test materials.

For information on My Health, My World contact:
Marsha Lakes Matyas, Ph.D.
Director of Educational Programs
The American Physiological Society
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814-3991
(301) 634-7132

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	My World Indoors (Unit 1)	This unit explores the influence of personal surroundings on health, with a special focus on air quality issues. Students learn both the physical and chemical aspects of air (air pressure, etc.) and how they can help keep the air in and around their homes clean.
	Water and My World (Unit 2)	This unit explores the effects of contamination of natural resources on personal and community health. It especially focuses on the importance of clean water and how students can contribute to water quality in their communities.
	My Home, the Planet Earth (Unit 3)	This unit explores the effects of global systems -- especially the upper atmosphere -- on our health. It especially focuses on the layers of the atmosphere, global warming, and how we can contribute to the health of our atmosphere.
	Food and My World	This My Health My World^Ž Food unit allows students to have fun learning about food sources, healthy eating, safe food preparation and handling, food groups and overall nutrition.