Using NewsHour Extra Worksheets

Overview: NewsHour Extra worksheets can help students follow along and identify key points in NewsHour science broadcast pieces.

Warm Up: Introduce the topic of the broadcast piece and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Hand out the worksheet and have students answer the questions as they watch the NewsHour segment.

Need a DVD of the science segment?: Write to science@newshour.org.

Story: Chemical Used in Household Plastics Sparks Concerns, 10/30/07
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec07/bottle_10-30.html

Worksheet Questions: (click here for printout)

1. What kinds of products contain Bisphenol A (BPA)?

BPA is used to make polycarbonate plastics that are shatter-resistant and optically clear. These are found in baby bottles, CDs, DVDs, eyeglasses, dental sealants, bike helmets, shin guards, dinnerware, and plastic Nalgene water bottles. BPA is also used to make the resin that lines tin cans.

2. Why is National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences researcher Retha Newbold concerned about the use of BPA?

Because in lab tests, infant mice injected with BPA showed problems like ovarian cysts. Pregnant mice injected with BPA gave birth to mice with birth defects and health problems such as obesity.

3. Is Environmental Protection Agency toxicologist Earl Gray concerned about the use of BPA? Why or why not?

No, Gray does not believe that there is evidence that BPA causes health problems in humans.

4. Is there any way to tell for certain that a product does or does not contain BPA?

No, because the government does not require labeling. Consumers can make an educated guess about whether a product contains BPA--for example, most hard clear plastics do contain it.

For more NewsHour Science Reports, go to www.pbs.org/newshour/science.

For more science lesson plans and worksheets, go to www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/science.