What You Will Need

Note: You will need to search the Internet for images of “Aboriginal art of a lizard” and animal x-rays.

• Images of Aboriginal art – from an Internet search                                                                                                     
• Animal x-rays – from an Internet search
• Stethoscope
• Empty medicine bottles
• Bandages
• Colored glue – 2 bottles
• Small, shallow cups – 1 per 2 children
• Paper – 1 sheet per child
• Cotton swabs – 4 per child
• Bingo markers – 1 per child

What To Do

1. Tell the children they will be learning about a community helper who is a special kind of doctor called a veterinarian.
2. Explain that a veterinarian takes care of animals in much the same way as a doctor takes care of people (see Did You Know?).
3. Display the stethoscope, medicine bottles, and bandages, and ask whether the children recognize these tools and their use (see Guiding Student Inquiry).
4. Display an animal x-ray, and explain how a veterinarian might use an x-ray.
5. Display the artwork, and ask children what they see.
6. Point out the bones and organs in the artwork, and explain that this type of artwork resembles an x-ray (see Did You Know?).
7. Tell the children they will be making x-ray artwork.
8. Distribute paper and bingo markers.
9. Have the children use the bingo markers to draw an animal of their choice on the paper.
10. Distribute cotton swabs and cups of colored glue.
11. Have children dip both ends of a cotton swab in the glue and place it on their animal’s body to create bones. Allow children to place 5–10 swabs on their artwork.

Guiding Student Inquiry

• Explain who uses this tool (stethoscope, x-ray) and what it might be used for.
• Describe the artwork. What do you see?
• Tell me something you see in the artwork that you might see in an x-ray.
• Tell me some other community helpers that you know.

Explore, Extend & Integrate

• Find images of animals that match the animal x-rays you used in your lesson. Place the x-rays and images in the science area for the children to match.
• Create a veterinarian’s office in your dramatic play area with the stuffed animals. Provide button-down white shirts (for use as lab coats), play stethoscopes, empty medicine bottles, bandages, and x-rays. Paper, crayons, and clipboards can be used to write “reports.” Children can pretend to be veterinarians and take care of the stuffed animals.

Check for Children’s Understanding

• Could children explain who might use a stethoscope (or x-ray) and what it is used for?
• Could children describe the artwork as depicting bones and organs?
• Could children state that bones and muscles are seen in both the Aboriginal artwork and in an x-ray?
• Could children name other community helpers?