Endocrine System | Endocrine System Disruptors Research and Dark Water Movie

Looking for meaningful endocrine system activities for your students? This bundle will connect the topic of the endocrine system to the real world problem of endocrine disruptors. Harmful toxins such as PFAS have been found in water supplies throughout the US as well as in everyday cosmetic and personal products.

Here's what is included in this bundle:

✏️ Resource 1. Everyday Toxins Packet and Project - Estimated time is 1 week.

These curated endocrine system activities motivated many of my students to take a much closer look at their favorite brands and start reading labels.

This mini-unit is designed to meaningfully engage students in real-world science through

• use of a video resource (a 17 min TED talk) with student questions

• an online student-friendly article from Science News for Students with student questions

• and a webquest using a rich, informative online database from the non-profit organization the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

This packet includes:

• a 10-page (PDF) student guide (with all necessary links and instructions)

• an assessment task where students create slides using online research to be submitted to their teacher (includes a simple scoring guide and sample student slide)

• and a detailed teacher key for comprehension questions and the webquest.

✏️ Resource 2. Dark Water Movie Questions - Running time is 2 hours.

This powerful true-story about poisonous Teflon chemicals is a must-see -- over 99% of us have "forever chemicals" linked to cancer in our bloodstreams. This film shows how that disturbing fact came to be... it is a story still playing out.

It was released in early 2020 (126 min; PG-13 for thematic content and a few instances of strong language).

There are multiple scenes that will provoke a response from students (cows dead from cancer; babies born with birth defects; a chemical company testing on its own workers). The film is rated "fresh" at 90% on the "Tomatometer."

The resource includes

• 3 pages (PDFs) of questions for students

• optional extension questions to facilitate discussion in class are included

• a detailed teacher key

Click here to watch a trailer for the movie; please note that this product does not contain a link to the film (which must be purchased or found on a streaming website).

The resources complement one another. I suggest showing the film first, then having students work on the online research as they will be more motivated to find out about potential endocrine disruptors in their favorite products.

I've also included a free PBS film guide about the lead crisis in Flint, MI. It is part of a larger project on water contamination (see below!).

Please reach out if you have questions! brilliantdustteacher@gmail.com

✏️ Related Resources for You

>> The PBS Poisoned Water movie guide is part of a Teach for Justice bundle, the Clean Drinking Water Unit (a 2-3 week unit that culminates in a student research project using a database of tap water contaminants in all US cities). It's perfect for chemistry and/or environmental science classes.

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Other Learning Resources

The Lorax Real-World Environmental Issues Research Project

The Mad Hatter Element Research Project

Rachel Carson Documentary Guide

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I’m a science educator with a background in lab research, a passion for the classroom, and now, homeschooling my little scientists. Thanks for checking out my resources!

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