'This curriculum supplement, from The NIH Curriculum Supplement Series, brings cuttingedge medical science and basic research discoveries from the laboratories of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) into classrooms. As the largest medical research institution in the United States, NIH plays a vital role in the health of all Americans and seeks to foster interest in research, science, and medicinerelated careers for future generations. NIH’s Office of Science Education (OSE) is dedicated to promoting science education and scientific literacy.
We designed this curriculum supplement to complement existing life science curricula at both the state and local levels and to be consistent with National Science Education Standards. It was developed and tested by a team composed of teachers, scientists, medical experts, and other professionals with relevant subjectarea expertise from schools and institutes from across the country; and by NIH scientists and curriculum-design experts from Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS), Edge Interactive, and SAIC. The authors incorporated real scientific data and actual case studies into classroom activities. A three-year development process included geographically dispersed field tests by teachers and students.
The structure of this module enables teachers to effectively facilitate learning and stimulate student interest by applying scientific concepts to real-life scenarios. Design elements include a conceptual flow of lessons based on BSCS’s 5E Instructional Model of Learning, multisubject integration emphasizing cutting-edge science content, and built-in assessment tools. Activities promote active and collaborative learning and are inquiry-based to help students develop problem-solving strategies and critical thinking.
Each curriculum supplement comes with a complete set of materials for both teachers and students, including printed materials, extensive background and resource information, and a Web site with interactive activities. The supplements are distributed at no cost to teachers across the United States. All materials may be copied for classroom use but may not be sold. '
