Veterinary Presentation: Physical Exam Lesson Overview and Application to Middle School Classroom
TEKS Covered by This Veterinarian Visit Presentation:
6th Grade: New TEKS for 2010
6.2 A-E Science Process Skills
6.3 A Scientific Investigation
6.5 D Matter and Energy – Temperature Change
6.9 A,B Force, Motion, Energy – Thermal Energy
6.11 A Earth and Space – Properties and Locations in Space
6.12 A,D Organisms and Environment – Structure and Classification
7th Grade: New TEKS for 2010
7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4(ALL) Science Process Skills and Scientific Investigation
7.7 C Force, Motion, and Energy
7.11 B Organisms and Environment –Variations in Populations
7.12 B Organisms and Environment – Structure and Function
7.13 A,B Organisms and Environment – Stable Internal Environment
7.14 A Organisms and Environment – Heredity
8thGrade: New TEKS for 2010
8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4(ALL) Science Process Skills and Scientific Investigations
8.5 A,E Matter and Energy – Structure, Evidence of Chemical Reactions
8.8 C Earth and Space – Wave Lengths, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Properties and Locations in Space
8.11 A-C Organisms and Environment – Relationships and Human Effects
How This Presentation Can Apply to a Classroom Lesson: Based on “5E” Lesson Plan model[1]
This lesson is full of engagement for the student because of the interaction with an animal and having an outside presenter. They will also see how the concepts they are working on mastering in their classroom are used daily by a veterinarian.
The veterinarian’s presentation on physical examinations covers the area of Life Science specific to Interaction of Systems. It also covers laboratory safety, tools, ethical practices, science through inquiry, scientific problem solving skills, and how to plan and implement scientific investigations.
This presentation can also lead in to lessons in the area of Physical Science specific to sound, waves, electromagnetic spectrum, temperature, thermal energy, and chemical changes.
This presentation explains the importance of gathering good background information, taking accurate measurements, making inferences,and drawing conclusions. Veterinarians must pay close attention to the details they collect about the animals’ past and present health conditions. This reinforces the need to master the scientific process skills.
Our goalsare to show students the real-world application of the objectives they are learning in class and to invoke a sense of excitement about science.
© Partnership for Environmental Education and Rural Health
College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, TexasA&MUniversity
Funding support from SEPA ( NationalCenter for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health
[1] See “Resources for Teachers” at end of “Teacher Follow-up Lesson Plan” for link to information on 5E model.