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 ›
The November 12, 2025 program was canceled due to the federal government shutdown. Please view our past recordings from 2024 and spring 2025.
In this free, live virtual program, students will learn about animal health while watching an animal get a check-up and be able to ask questions to our veterinary team!
Language & Access: English, Spanish (simulcast), American Sign Language interpretation, and live English captions.
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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K-5
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Mammals, animal groups, adaptations
Patterns, cause and effect, energy and matter
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Music and Sound
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K-5
Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, 2-LS2-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS1-1, 3-LS2-1, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-4, 4-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1
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Patterns, cause and effect, scale proportion and quantity, and systems and system models
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K-5
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endangered species, conservation
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K-5
Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, 1-LS1-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1
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