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Vet School

Theeb the farm vet is checking that Farmer Michael’s cows are happy and healthy but he needs some help.

Your pupils are invited to become trainee vets for the day and assist Theeb whilst learning all about keeping animals healthy from the comfort of their homes or classrooms.

Broadcast on Fri 12 Mar 2021
  • 45 mins
  • Ages 7-11
Curriculum links
  • Discover and describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival
  • Identify that animals, including humans, need the right types and amount of nutrition, and that they cannot make their own food; they get nutrition from what they eat
Preparation

NFU Education has provided teacher resources for this lesson. The 'Cow Diagram' and 'DIY health check' student sheets can be used during the live lesson as your students assist Theeb as he carries out the health checks.

If you have never joined a live lesson before, see the guidance hub, where you will find technical and educational support.

Live lessons work best when students have some prior knowledge and have prepared questions. Read our ‘How to generate higher-order questions’ guide and give the children some time to generate some questions about Theeb, cows, dairy products, veterinary science, animal welfare etc. You might also like to explore our 3D tour of a dairy farm.

Discuss the differences and similarities between humans and cows and generate ideas about what all living things need to be healthy using humans and cows as specific examples.

Questions and shout outs can be submitted in advance via the Live Lesson tab in your Encounter Edu profile.

Session steps

1. Introduction (5 mins)
Jennie will open the lesson with a brief introduction to 'Vet School' and a welcome to our guest, Theeb the farm vet.

2. Subject knowledge (5 mins)
Theeb will explain that it is his job to check that cows have everything they need to stay happy and healthy.

3. Activity (15 mins)
The children will be asked to be Theeb's trainee vets and record his medical observations by annotating diagrams of a cow. Theeb will perform simple medical tests e.g. pulse rate, breathing rate and a temperature check on a cow and ask the children to join in by taking their own measurements and comparing them. They will then check the cow’s environment and assess whether it has everything it needs to stay happy and healthy.

4. Demonstration (5 mins)
Theeb will explain the importance of good nutrition for both humans and cows and he will demonstrate a simple cow faeces test.

5. Q&A and conclusion (15 mins)
After completing his health assessments, Theeb will answer some of the questions students have submitted.

Speakers

Jennie Divine head shot

Jennie Devine

Education Manager, National Farmers' Union

Theeb WEB SPEAKER

Navaratnam Partheeban

Dairy Veterinarian

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