Lesson Plan: Pet Healthcare

Time Period: Flexible but we recommend at least 45 minutes

Age range: 7-9

About this lesson

The aim of this lesson, or short group of lessons, is to introduce some of the important similarities between humans and our pets and to ensure children recognise their responsibilities when caring for a pet.

Prior Learning

It would be useful if children have a basic understanding of the external parts of the bodies of humans and other animals, and that humans and animals both move, feed, grow, use our senses and reproduce.

Learning Intentions

The game will help you teach the basic similarities and physical differences between humans and animals. It concentrates on the care of three different and very popular pets - cats, dogs and rabbits.

Learning Outcomes

Children should have a good understanding of:

• External body parts, especially limbs, tails and ears
• Teeth care
• Parasites, fleas and worms
• Grooming hair
• What scientists do to help sick and injured animals

Links to the National Curriculum England and Wales

Subject

Science KS2 Sc2 Life processes and living things.

Syllabus Link

Life processes.

1. Pupils should be taught:

a) that the life processes common to humans and other animals include nutrition, movement, growth and reproduction.

b) that the life processes common to plants include growth, nutrition and reproduction.

c) to make links between life processes in familiar animals and plants and the environments in which they are found.

Links to the Scottish Guidelines

Subject

Science: The processes of life Level A (5-14 curriculum).

Syllabus Link

Give the conditions needed by animals and plants to stay healthy.

1. Pupils should be taught:

a) to talk and write about healthy eating, rest and exercise, personal hygiene, relationships with others, etc., and their provision for themselves and others.

b) to look after others, including pets, plants and animals in the environment, should be covered as part of developing informed attitudes.

Variety and characteristic features.

2. Pupils should be taught:

a) to recognise similarities and differences between themselves and others.

b) to name and identify the main external parts of the bodies of humans and other animals.

Interaction of living things with their environment.

3. Pupils should be taught:

a) to recognise and name some common plants and animals found in the local environment.

b) to give examples of how to care for living things and the environment.

Keywords

Body parts, similar to, different from, animals and humans, hygiene, responsibility, healthy/unhealthy, balanced diet, feeding, exercise, activity, movement, teeth, dental disease, grooming, parasites.

Resources

• Computer and data projector
• PDSA pet care tips
• Drawing materials (for extension activity)

Lesson Structure

Introduction and Warm-up (Timing: 10 mins)

Show the PDSA Introductory PowerPoint. It will describe in simple terms what PDSA does, the importance of proper pet care, the Five Freedoms enshrined in the Animals Act and the lesson to follow.

Ask children about their pets. Ask them about the similarities and differences between themselves and their pets - arms, legs, feet for example.

Move onto other similarities and emphasise that we all need to look after our bodies; when we are sick or injured we need help - and for animals that means specialist veterinary help.

Main (Timing: 25 mins)

Take the children through the online games involving them in decision making as much as possible.

At the end of each part of the game ask children to confirm what they have learnt and what action they can take to improve the care of their pets.

The video PetCasts are a very important learning tool in this game. They contain interviews with PDSA vets and nurses who show and explain, very clearly, some of the key learning points.

Plenary (Timing: 10 mins)

Confirm learning and introduce the extension activity (if required).

Encourage children to revisit the games online and to find out more about responsible pet care from the Young PDSA website.

Extension Activity

YUK - ask children to make drawings of fleas, ticks, worms and even (if you dare) different animal poos!!

Images for reference are easily sourced on the Internet by search engines such as Google and Yahoo. It's quite a fun homework activity to track down elephant poo!

Weave some of your other teaching about teeth, ears and limbs into one or more additional lessons where children can draw and compare sizes, shapes and likely reasons for the adaptation.

The Big Pet Show: children can create a fun game drawing large versions of animal body parts and then cut them up and repaste into imaginary animals. Dogs with elephant ears, elephants with rabbit teeth and so on - and then answer questions from you and the class as to why those choices were made (to hear better, eat grass better) as a way of drawing out the key learning points.

Competency Standards

As a result of these sessions children will be able to revise their understanding of the main body parts of humans and animals, especially cats, dogs and rabbits.

Children will also be led into more formal learning about the life processes common to all animals, particularly those that require consideration when caring for a pet.

Finally, children will be more aware of vets and veterinary surgeries - hopefully encouraging them to take a greater interest in science and scientists; and demystifying a visit to the vet should the need arise.