What happens to a seal who has a toothache? How does an orangutan get a checkup? Wild Medicine invites students to Join our team of veterinarians and other animal health professionals to explore how animals go to the doctor, just like us!
This virtual school program is part of Conservation Classroom, a collection of monthly lessons for K-5 students. Each lesson has four elements: wonder (video), engage (live virtual program), act (activities), and connect (video). Follow along with all four parts or pick and choose the videos and activities you want to explore.
K-5
Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, 3-LS1-1, 4-LS1-1
Health, animal care, veterinary medicine
Patterns, cause and effect, systems and system models, structure and function
Free
Wonder
I wonder... Do animals at the Zoo go to the doctor? Bring your curiosity along on an exploration of the Zoo's animal hospital.
Preguntarse
Me pregunto... ¿Los animales del Zoológico van al médico? Traiga su curiosidad a explorar el hospital de animales del zoológico.
Engage
Access the recording to enjoy the program that aired on February 19, 2025.
In this free, live virtual program, students learned about animal health while watching two animals get a check-ups!
Want to watch with different animals? Check out last year's recording.
Language & Access: English, Spanish (simulcast), American Sign Language interpretation, and live English captions.
Comprometer
Accede a la grabación para disfrutar del programa que se emitió el 19 de febrero de 2025.
En este programa virtual gratuito y en vivo, los estudiantes aprendieron sobre la salud animal mientras observaban a dos animales hacerse chequeos.
¿Quieres mirar con diferentes animales? Mira la grabación del año pasado.
Idioma y acceso: inglés, español (transmisión simultánea), interpretación en lenguaje de señas americano y subtítulos en inglés en vivo.
Act
During the program, take doctor's notes on the two animals we will be viewing. Use one exam sheet for each animal. After the program, draw yourself as a veterinarian conducting an animal exam.
Extra Activities: You can also compare medical tools and practice reading radiographs.
Share your drawings or pictures of you completing the activities with us at nzp-education@si.edu.
Acto
Durante el programa, tome notas médicas sobre los dos animales que veremos. Utilice una hoja de examen para cada animal. Después del programa, dibújate como un veterinario realizando un examen de animales.
Actividades adicionales: también puede comparar herramientas médicas y practicar la lectura de radiografías.
Comparta sus dibujos o fotografías de usted completando las actividades con nosotros en nzp-education@si.edu.
Connect
Veterinarian and Veterinary technician:
Meet Veterinarian, Dr. Katharine, and Veterinary Technician, Dave, whose patients include animals big and small throughout the Zoo. Their "unZOOsual" careers use biology and technology to keep animals at the Zoo heathy!
Veterinary Pathologist:
Meet Dr. Kali, a Veterinary Pathologist who investigates diseases by looking at cells, tissues, and organs under a microscope. As part of her "unZOOsual" career, Dr. Kali uses her discoveries to improve the health of animals that live at the zoo and in the wild.
Conectar
Veterinario y Técnico Veterinario:
Conozca a la veterinaria, Dra. Katharine, y al técnico veterinario, Dave, cuyos pacientes incluyen animales grandes y pequeños en todo el zoológico. ¡Sus carreras "inusuales" utilizan la biología y la tecnología para mantener sanos a los animales del zoológico!
Patólogo Veterinario:
Conozca a la Dra. Kali, una patóloga veterinaria que investiga enfermedades observando células, tejidos y órganos bajo un microscopio. Como parte de su carrera "unZOOsual", la Dra. Kali utiliza sus descubrimientos para mejorar la salud de los animales que viven en el zoológico y en la naturaleza.
For Educators
Educator's Materials
Conservation Classroom: Wild Medicine is best suited for grades K-5. The full lesson consists of two videos, a live program, and two activities. Refer to the Smithsonian Learning Lab collection to help teach this lesson.
Letter to Guardians
After participating in the live program, print or send the following letter to guardians, explaining what their student learned in this lesson and how they can continue to engage from home.
Carta para el tutor
Después de participar en el programa en vivo, imprima o envíe la siguiente carta a los tutores, explicando lo que su estudiante aprendió en esta lección y cómo pueden continuar participando desde casa.
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Celebrations
Supports Head Start ELOF Goals
Exploring Neighborhood Birds
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2-8
Supports NGSS 2-PS1-2, 2-LS2-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS1-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1, MS-LS1-4, MS-LS1-5, MS-LS2-A
birds, migration, observation, tracking, bird banding
Patterns, Cause and Effect, Interdependence of science, engineering, and technology
Free