National Library of Medicine Resources for K-12 Science Teachers

Did you know that he National Library of Medicine (NLM), one of the 27 institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), offers FREE resources to K-12 science teachers?

Here is a sample of some of the resources by subject:

Biology:

·         MedlinePlus

(Grades 6 -12+)

Easy to read health information. An excellent source for all ages. Also available in Spanish.

·         PubMed

(Grades 11 – 12+)

A citation index for articles from medical and life science journals. View the PubMed tutorial for site navigation guidance.

·         Visible Human Project

(Grades 6 – 12+)

Complete, anatomically detailed, 3D representations of the normal male and female human bodies.

Environmental Health Science/Chemistry:

·         ChemIDplus

(Grades 7 – 12+)

View and manipulate chemical structures for over 388,000 chemicals. Create SIS and TRANS models, conduct structure similarity searches, and view chemical synonyms.

·         Environmental Health Student Portal

(Grades 6 – 8)

Connecting middle school students to environmental health information.

·         Household Products Database

(Grades 6 – 12+)

Learn about the potential health effects of chemicals in common household products.

·         TOXMAP

(Grades 9 – 12+)

Uses maps of the U.S. to visually explore data from the EPA. Includes classroom materials.

·         ToxMystery

(Grades 1 – 5)

Interactive site teaching elementary school students about toxic substances in the home. Includes lesson plans and activities. Also available inSpanish.

·         Tox Town

(Grades 6 – 12+)

Guide to commonly encountered toxic substances. Includes classroom materials. Also available in Spanish.

·         ToxLearn and Toxicology Tutorials

(Grades 9 – 12+)

Written at the introductory college student level and teaches basic toxicology principles.

Genetics

·         Genetics Home Reference

(Grades 6 – 12+)

Information about genetic conditions.

·         Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic and Medicine

(Grades 6 – 12+)

Explore the genetics of the characters and the roots of the creatures and magic in the Harry Potter book series in terms of Renaissance science and historical lore. Lesson plans included.

·         Help Me Understand Genetics Handbook

(Grades 6 – 12+)

Basic information about genetics in clear language and links to online resources.

·         Science Primer

(Grades 7 – 12+)

A basic introduction to the science and technology of genetics and genomes.

HIV/AIDS

·         AIDSinfo Homework Help

(Grades 6 – 12+)

Reliable homework help section to help students and teachers understand HIV/AIDS.

·         HIV/AIDS Portal

(Grades 6 – 12+)

Links to journal literature, clinical trials and treatment information, meeting abstracts, and other scientific and consumer-related resources.

Lesson Plans

·         Earth Day Lesson Plans and Activities (K-12)

Grades (K-12)

·         Making Connections: Human Activity, Environmental Impact on Human Health Lesson Plan (PDF 31.04 KB)

Grades (6 – 8)

The National Library of Medicine works with teachers and scientific experts to provide FREE reliable resources to help introduce, reinforce, and supplement education programs.

If you want more information or wish to speak with a member of the K-1 Team about NLM’s resources please let us know.

Andrew Plumer

Outreach Librarian

Specialized Information Services

National Library of Medicine

6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 440

Bethesda, MD 20892-5467

plumera@mail.nih.gov

Phone: 301-451-4451