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Vets: Animal Care Heroes!

Warm Up

What's Up, Doc (Animal Doc)?

Think about a time you or someone you know had a pet that was sick or hurt. What happened? Who helped the pet get better?






What kind of things do you think someone needs to know or be able to do to help sick animals?






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Reading

A Day in the Life of a Vet: Animal Care Heroes!

Have you ever wondered who helps animals when they are sick or hurt? That would be a veterinarian, often called a vet!

Vets are special doctors who take care of all kinds of animals, from tiny hamsters to big horses, and of course, our beloved cats and dogs! Just like you go to a doctor when you don't feel well, animals go to a vet.

What Do Vets Do?

Vets do many important things every day:

  • Check-ups: They give animals regular check-ups to make sure they are healthy. They listen to their hearts, check their teeth, and make sure they are growing well.
  • Give Shots: Just like you get shots to stay healthy, pets get vaccinations from vets to protect them from getting sick.
  • Help Sick Animals: If an animal is sick, a vet figures out what's wrong and gives them medicine or special treatments to help them feel better.
  • Fix Injuries: If an animal breaks a bone or gets hurt, a vet can perform surgery to fix them up.
  • Teach Owners: Vets also teach pet owners how to best care for their animals, including what to feed them and how to keep them happy and healthy.

Where Do Vets Work?

Vets can work in different places:

  • Animal Hospitals/Clinics: Many vets work in clinics where pet owners bring their animals for care.
  • Farms: Some vets travel to farms to care for farm animals like cows, pigs, and chickens.
  • Zoos: Other vets work in zoos, making sure exotic animals like lions, tigers, and monkeys are healthy.

Being a vet is a very rewarding job. It takes a lot of learning about animals and science, but it's a wonderful way to help our furry, feathered, and scaled friends live long, happy lives! These animal care heroes make a huge difference in the lives of animals and their human families.

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Lesson Plan

Vets: Animal Care Heroes!

Students will be able to identify what a veterinarian does and list at least three types of animals veterinarians care for. Students will understand the importance of veterinary care for animal health.

Understanding the role of a veterinarian helps students appreciate animal welfare, recognize the importance of healthcare professionals, and introduces them to a valuable career path early on, sparking potential future interests in STEM and animal care.

Audience

Elementary School Students

Time

60 minutes

Approach

Through reading, discussion, and an interactive activity, students will explore the world of veterinarians.

Materials

Whiteboard or Projector, Markers or Pens, What's Up, Doc (Animal Doc)?, A Day in the Life of a Vet, Vet Superpower Activity Sheet, My Animal Health Check-up Worksheet, Veterinarian Vocabulary Cool Down, and Vets: Animal Care Heroes! Slide Deck

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: What's Up, Doc (Animal Doc)?

10 minutes

Step 2

Introduction to Veterinarians

10 minutes

Step 3

Discussion: Vet Roles and Responsibilities

15 minutes

  • Lead a discussion based on the reading, using guiding questions from Slide 6 of the Vets: Animal Care Heroes! Slide Deck:
    • "What are some of the main jobs a veterinarian does?"
    • "What kind of animals do vets help?"
    • "Why is it important to have veterinarians?"
    • "Where might a veterinarian work?"
  • Encourage students to share their thoughts and connect the reading to their personal experiences with pets or animals.

Step 4

Activity: Vet Superpower Challenge

15 minutes

  • Introduce the Vet Superpower Activity Sheet. Explain that students will imagine they are veterinarians and identify the 'superpowers' (skills and tools) vets need.
  • Distribute the activity sheet.
  • In small groups or individually, have students draw or write about a veterinarian's superpower and what animal they would help. Use Slide 7 of the Vets: Animal Care Heroes! Slide Deck.
  • Circulate and provide assistance as needed.
  • Allow a few groups or students to share their 'Vet Superpower' with the class.

Step 5

Worksheet: My Animal Health Check-up

15 minutes

Step 6

Cool-Down: Veterinarian Vocabulary

5 minutes

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Slide Deck

Welcome, Animal Enthusiasts!

Get ready to explore the amazing world of animals and the people who keep them healthy!

Welcome students and prepare them for the warm-up activity. Explain that today we will be thinking about animals and people who help them.

Warm-Up: What's Up, Doc (Animal Doc)?

  1. Think about a time you or someone you know had a pet that was sick or hurt. What happened? Who helped the pet get better?
  2. What kind of things do you think someone needs to know or be able to do to help sick animals?

Display the warm-up questions. Give students a few minutes to think or write. Circulate to encourage participation.

Meet the Animal Doctors!

Today, we're going to learn about very special doctors: veterinarians!

They are also called vets for short.

Transition to the topic of veterinarians. Ask if anyone knows what a veterinarian is.

Who are Veterinarians?

Vets are doctors who take care of animals when they are sick, hurt, or just need a check-up!

They help pets like cats and dogs, farm animals like cows, and even wild animals in zoos!

Explain the role of vets in simple terms. Emphasize that they help all kinds of animals.

Reading: A Day in the Life of a Vet

We are going to read about what a vet does in their day.

Listen carefully or read along to find out!

(Refer to the A Day in the Life of a Vet Reading)

Introduce the reading. Explain that it will give them more details about a vet's job.

Let's Chat: Vet Life!

  1. What are some of the main jobs a veterinarian does?
  2. What kind of animals do vets help?
  3. Why is it important to have veterinarians?
  4. Where might a veterinarian work?

Facilitate a class discussion based on the reading. Use these prompts to guide the conversation.

Activity: Vet Superpower Challenge!

Imagine you are a veterinarian! What special 'superpowers' (skills or tools) would you use to help animals?

Draw or write your vet superpower and the animal you would help.

(Refer to the Vet Superpower Activity Sheet)

Introduce the activity. Explain that students will imagine they are vets and think about their 'superpowers'.

Worksheet: My Animal Health Check-up

Now it's your turn to be the vet!

Imagine an animal needs a check-up. What would you do? Draw or write about it!

(Refer to the My Animal Health Check-up Worksheet)

Introduce the worksheet. Explain that students will practice giving a check-up.

Cool-Down: Veterinarian Vocabulary

What new vocabulary word did you learn today about veterinarians or animal care?

Write the word and draw a picture to help you remember it!

(Refer to the Veterinarian Vocabulary Cool Down)

Wrap up the lesson with the cool-down. Ask students to reflect on new vocabulary.

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Activity

My Vet Superpower!

Imagine you are a fantastic veterinarian! What special 'superpower' (a unique skill, tool, or even a magical ability!) would you use to help animals feel better and stay healthy?

Draw your Vet Superpower here:












What kind of animal would you use your superpower to help?






Describe how your Vet Superpower helps the animal:











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Worksheet

My Animal Health Check-up!

Imagine you are a veterinarian and your patient is a pet. Draw your patient in the box below and then list 3-5 things you would check to make sure they are healthy.

My Patient:













What I would check:
















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Cool Down

Veterinarian Vocabulary Cool Down

What is one new or interesting word you learned today about veterinarians or animal care?



Draw a picture that helps you remember this word:












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Vets: Animal Care Heroes! • Lenny Learning