The challenges of remote learning encompass more than delivering standards…
The challenges of remote learning encompass more than delivering standards…
Texas A&M University PEER One Health Curriculum
Student-centered Online Learning Modules
for Middle School Science & Biology Students
The PEER Program’s new, standards-based, mobile-friendly curriculum frames middle school science and biology in the context of “One Health” (the interconnection of humans, animals, and the environment).
Discover the engaging features of these lessons! 
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clip art image displaying virtual learning with miniature teachers and students sitting and standing on the laptop and keyboard
Implementing the One Health Curriculum into Your Remote or Hybrid Class
The challenges of remote learning encompass more than delivering standards-based content to your students. Virtual curriculums should also address students' social well-being and ensure engagement over compliance. Below, we highlight unique methods for implementing features of the PEER One Health curriculum to promote such learning objectives.
  • Create a virtual book club with the Backpack Adventures learning object – these young adult fictional stories with science facts promote emotional connections which lead to more genuine dialogue among students. Hosting discussions in small breakout rooms also provides opportunity for much needed social interactions in this age group.
  • Meet a Scientist Speed Date – Assign different "Meet a Scientist" biographies to students and have them make notes about interesting facts related to their life and career. Small groups of students, each with a different scientist, meet in breakout rooms and are given 1 minute to introduce their scientist to the group. The goal is to provide details about the scientist so that he/she might be asked on a "first date". Follow up as a whole class asking students which scientist(s) they found most interesting and with whom they might like to "Netflix and chill". The brevity of this activity makes it ideal to use as an icebreaker or transition while introducing students to the lives and careers of scientists.
  • Scientist Videos as transitions – Turn dead air time into an opportunity for engagement. As your students sign-in to class and get set up, have a relevant “Scientist Video” playing. These short videos can help students review material or stimulate interest in a topic before class starts. Students will be less likely to disappear during transition/start times if they have something with which they can engage.
  • Practice until the virtual bell rings – Energize your students with friendly competition by utilizing a game or activity from the “Practice” section of a module. This keeps students thinking about the material and connected to their classmates throughout the duration of the class period.
We invite you to incorporate this exciting new curriculum into your classes by creating a free account here: peer.tamucet.org. Registration will allow you to drop our modules as SCORM packages into your school's existing Learning Management System (LMS) or allow you to use our LMS.
Teacher Requested Revisions
This summer, teachers attending the PEER Middle School Science & One Health professional development workshops provided us with excellent suggestions for revising our curriculum to optimize student engagement and learning outcomes. Based on this feedback, the following features are being added to each module: fill-in-the-blank notes, audio recordings of reading material, and video viewing guides. The revised Ecology module has launched with other existing modules to follow soon.

Clip art of scientists performing tasks in their respective fields
Coming Soon to the One Health Curriculum:
Genetics Module
The genetics module explores the concepts of heredity and variation in traits. Students will have the opportunity to learn from a scientist about the advancements in genetics which are leading to improved individualized healthcare.
"Learning objects" in every module enable students to guide their own learning while reinforcing critical thinking about and applications of required science standards.
One Health Curriculum Learning Objects
  • Essential Knowledge – Academic content covering the scientific method in accordance with TEKS and NGSS standards
  • Backpack Adventures – Science fiction story built upon Jenner's first smallpox clinical trial
  • Meet the Scientist – Biography of James Lind and others influential in the history of clinical trials
  • Scientist Video Presentation – Video presentation from research scientist Dr. William Klemm
  • Real Science Review – Guided simulated peer review of pre-clinical trials of a new pain reliever modified for middle school readability
  • Make a Note of That – Note-taking guides
  • Practice – Mnemonic tools and digital games
  • Show What You Know – Pre- and post- tests
Registration
We invite you to register to incorporate this exciting new curriculum into your classes. Registration will allow you to drop our modules as SCORM packages into your school’s existing Learning Management System (LMS) or allow you to use our LMS.
Register Now
Navigation Video
Teachers, learn how to navigate the PEER One Health Curriculum in the StepStone platform with this video tutorial! 
View Tutorial
screenshot of the new PEER Program online learning modules
Updated Biology and Environmental Science Lessons Now Available
These updated lessons include standards-based Biology and Environmental Science topics intended to teach middle school and high school science in a student-centered format. Each module contains multiple units consisting of interactive PowerPoint and Google Slides presentations, note-taking outlines (skeleton notes) in document and Google Doc form, interactive pre- and post- tests in Google Forms and PowerPoint, a study game, and activities to reinforce concepts. Documentation of associated TEKS and NGSS accompanies each unit. Ecosystems, Organ Systems, and Cells are US are student-ready with others coming soon!
View Lessons
screenshot of the new PEER Program website front page with children dressed as doctors and scientists
PEER Website Redesign
The newly re-designed PEER website includes the new One Health Curriculum as well as existing resources from the previous incarnation of peer.tamu.edu that have been updated to reflect current standards and technology.
Check out our modernized website!
Visit PEER
screenshot of the PEER One Health and Middle School science workshop website front page with clip art of various learning evnvironments
Asynchronous Professional Development Opportunities
You still have an opportunity to take part in Middle School Science & One Health Curriculum professional development through our asynchronous workshops! As part of this self-paced professional development, teachers will have access to instructional videos as well as Moodle accounts to explore the One Health curriculum and enroll their classes. Teachers who view the videos and complete the homework associated with reviewing a lesson module can receive 4 CPE credits.
Micro-credential sessions provide an additional avenue for teachers to learn about the One Health curriculum and gain CPEs. Teachers choose from a variety of short One Health-related activities to complete based on interests and time.
A digital CPE certificate is awarded upon completion of either the asynchronous workshop or micro-credential activity.
Find out more about these opportunities by visiting our website!
Register for Workshops
Field Testing
PEER has paid opportunities for science teachers to collaborate with us!
  • Review and provide feedback on our One Health modules
  • Field test One Health modules in your class
Be sure to share with other teachers you know who may be interested!
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Larry Johnson, PEER Principal Investigator (PI)
Tel: 979.854.2828 | Email: ljohnson1@tamu.edu
About PEER
The Partnership for Environmental Education and Rural Health (PEER) is a Youth Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) promotion program utilizing veterinary medicine and environmental issues to stimulate youth interest in learning about their own health (One Health). The project has reached 20,250 teachers in all 50 states and 2,046,250 students over its 20+ year existence. PEER has received both National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) grant monies, as well as funding from Texas A&M University and private foundations. These funds have allowed PEER: to develop a website hosting standard-based science and agriculture sciences lessons and scientist and veterinarian videos; provide teacher professional development; and near-peer mentoring of K-12 students.
PEER is funded by Science Education Partnership Awards (SEPA)
and by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS).
Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) National Institute of General Medical Sciences + Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA)
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Partnership for Environmental Education and Rural Health (PEER)
Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
4458 TAMU | College Station, TX 77843-4458 | peer.tamu.edu
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