Since 1988, the Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences (SMILE)
Program at Oregon State University (OSU) has provided science and math enr
ichment to over 2,400 precollege and low-income school children in Oregon.
in 1996, OSU received a four-year grant from the National Institute of Envi
ronmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to improve teachers', students', and comm
unity members' understanding of environmental health science issues. This e
ffort represents a collaboration Of science educators from the SMILE progra
m, environmental health scientists from OSU's Department of Public Health,
and the OSU Environmental Health Sciences Center. Each year, a different en
vironmental health science topic is highlighted, Topics have included house
hold chemicals, water quality, indoor air quality,and food safety. The them
e for the 1997-1998 school year was indoor air quality. Year-long education
al activities associated with the NIEHS grant are curriculum development, t
eacher training workshops, and a variety of hands-on, after-school exercise
s for elementary, middle, and high school students. This paper describes an
innovative approach used to help high school students develop critical thi
nking and real-world problem-solving Skills while learning about indoor air
quality.