| Sumario: | Since 1988, the Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences (SMILE) Program at Oregon State University (OSU) has provided science and math enrichment to over 2,400 precollege minority and low-income school children in Oregon. In 1996, OSU received a four-year grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to improve teachers', students', and community members' understanding of environmental health science issues. This effort represents a collaboration of science educators from the SMILE program, environmental health scientists from OSU's Department of Public Health, and the OSU Environmental Health Sciences Center. Each year, a different environmental health science topic is highlighted. Topics have included household chemicals, water quality, indoor air quality, and food safety. The theme for the 1997-1998 school year was indoor air quality. Year-long educational activities associated with the NIEHS grant are curriculum development, teacher training workshops, and a variety of hands-on, after-school exercises for elementary, middle, and high school students. This paper describes an innovative approach used to help high school students develop critical thinking and real-world problem-solving skills while learning about indoor air quality.
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