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Conservation Classroom: Wild Medicine
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.
Grades: K-5
Standards: Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, 3-LS1-1, 4-LS1-1
Topics: health, animal care
Cost: 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.
Engage
January 17, 2024 at 2 p.m. ET
In this free, live virtual program, students will learn more about animal health while watching an animal get a check-up! Program is hosted in Zoom webinar. Recording will be made available approximately 48 hours after the live program. Please note: audio and video are disabled for participants but students can still engage via polls, chat, Q&A and emojis.
Access: ASL interpretation and live captions
Language: English and simulcast in Spanish
Act
During or after the live program, compare items found in a doctor's and veterinarian's office in a sorting activity. Then practice reading radiographs with an x-ray matching activity.
Connect
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!
For Educators
Educator's Materials
Conservation Classroom: Aquatic Animal Adventures 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.