Overview of Activities
Level III

 

1 - HYGIENIC CARE FOR OUR PET

 

Objectives :
- Realize the amount of germs on food left uncovered in pets' bowls and on anything a pet uses.
- Be aware of the need to wash frequently anything our pets use.

Material : Pupil's sheet no. 1

Time : 45 minutes

Method :
- Question the children on their pets: What do they eat? Who feeds them? Where do they sleep? What do they play with?
- Hand out the sheet and do the exercises.
- Emphasize the risk of contamination and the importance of regularly washing food bowls, baskets, litter trays, cages and pets' toys. And a thorough hand wash after caring for a pet!
(Optionally link with pictures of personal hygiene routines.)

Correction :
- FLEA.
- Bubonic plague

2 - DID YOU SAY "ALLERGIES" ?

Objectives :
Find out principal causes of allergies and how they are linked to pets.

Material : Pupil's sheet no. 2

Time : 30 minutes

Method :
- Question the children on allergies: is anyone in the class allergic? To what? What are the symptoms?
- Question the children on allergic symptoms (skin irritations, itching, sneezing, nettle-rash, asthma attacks, swellings, etc.).
- Go over main sources of allergies (pollen, mites, pets, food, chemicals, insect stings, etc.). Point out that animals secrete substances which can cause allergic reactions and, because their fur or feathers collect pollen from outside and also contain mites, they are prime carriers.
- With the children, make the distinction between being allergic to animals and being frightened of them. At this point, review definitions of the words "allergy / allergic" and "phobia / phobic" studied in the exercise.
- The teacher can extend the activity by asking the children to research specific subjects in an encyclopedia or on the Internet (e.g. mites, anti-histamines, skin disorders, etc.).
- All together, conclude that good hygiene with pets can limit the presence of mites in the home and the risk of allergies.
- Emphasize:

• The need to brush a pet regularly and bath it when necessary.
• The need to clean regularly baskets, blankets and anything where a pet could leave hairs or feathers, but these should not be washed together with the family laundry.
• The need to keep pets away from certain areas of the house (bed, sofa, armchair, etc.)
• The need for air circulation, so air rooms every day.
• The need to clean the house regularly to get rid of dust and the mites it contains.

Correction :
- Mites.
- Pollen.
- Allergens / cats / pollen / coat / pets / reactions / contact / frequents.
- Definitions:

• Allergy: Hypersensitivity of body tissues previously sensitized to a pathogen.
• Phobia: Persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it.
• Phobic: Of or pertaining to a phobia or phobias.

- Someone allergic to animals is not at all the same as someone who is phobic. The latter is afraid of animals, while the former suffers a physical reaction to substances found on them.

3 - GET TO KNOW THE RISKS

Objectives :
- Be aware that we risk catching germs from animals.
- Find out how to be hygienic with animals.

Time : 45 minutes

Method :
- Discuss aspects of hygiene with pets: people most vulnerable to germs carried by pets, pet food, pets' belongings and litter trays and the most hygienic way of avoiding problems.
- Relate the discussion to the children's own experience:

• Do you have a pet?
  
• Do you know if it is vaccinated?
  
• Does it often get out of the house?
  
• Who feeds it?
  
• Where does it sleep?
  
• Do you ever feed it at table?
  
• How many times a month do you bath it?
  
• Do you wash your hands after stroking it?
  
• Are any family or friends allergic or at risk? Etc.
  

- All together, list the 10 golden hygiene rules for pets. Write the list on the blackboard.
- Each child then writes it down and illustrates it.

4 - WHO SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM PETS ?

Objectives :
- Make the children aware that pets can be dangerous to certain people.
- Be aware of protective hygiene to minimize potential contamination from pets.

Material : Pupil's sheet no. 3

Time : 30 minutes

Method : The activity can be done individually or collectively.
- Hand out the sheet and do the exercise.
- With the children, go over the list of people at risk and their susceptibility to pathogens carried by animals:

• Babies (not sufficiently immunized).
  
• Pregnant women (care needed to avoid any illness dangerous to the unborn child, e.g. toxoplasmosis from cats, which is extremely dangerous for the baby).
  
• Older people (weak immune system).
  
• Sick people (weak immune system).
  
• Allergic people (better to avoid repeated contact, with unpleasant reactions).
  

- Emphasize the need to act sensibly and how to behave with pets (our own or other people's).
- All together, agree on hygienic behaviour with pets. Revise the rules:

Correction :
- Babies, / pregnant women / older people / sick people / people with allergies. Because they cannot easily fight off germ contamination!
- 1 - F / 2 - T / 3 - F / 4 - F / 5 - T / 6 - T / 7 - F / 8 - T / 9 - T / 10 - F.

5 - HYGIENE POSTCARDS

Objectives :
- Consolidate knowledge of hygiene with pets.

Material :
- Sheets of drawing paper cut into four.
- Photographs of animals.
- Magazines to cut out.
- Glue.
- Plastic film.

Time : 45 minutes

Method :
- Ask the children to think up headlines or slogans for basic pet hygiene. Write them on the blackboard.
- Each child creates a collage on a piece of drawing paper, illustrating a favourite pet.
- Then each sticks a small cut-out circle of white paper on his collage and on it writes one of the slogans from the blackboard. He can also make up a new one.
- To protect them, cover the collages with plastic film.
- On the reverse, the children outline positions for address and stamp as on a postcard.
- The postcards are ready to be sent!

6 - HYGIENE AND PETS EXHIBITION

Objectives :
- Consolidate knowledge of hygiene with pets.
- Make other pupils and parents aware of the importance of hygiene with pets.

Material :
- Poster paper in different colours, large sheets of drawing paper.
- Felt tips, paint.
- Magazines to cut out.

Time : Variable

Method :
- Suggest that the children put on a Hygiene and Pets exhibition.
- List the various exhibits (posters, captions, drawings, photos, etc.).
- Discuss with the children one particular aspect of hygiene with pets:

- Each child chooses a pet and draws it.
- Under the drawing, the child writes one piece of hygiene advice.
- Stick all the drawings on posters / boards.
- The exhibition should demonstrate the need for good hygiene with pets and how to achieve it.
- Show the exhibition to the school so other pupils and parents are made aware that hygiene with pets is important for health.

7 - PET HYGIENE GAMES

Objectives :
- Consolidate knowledge of hygiene with pets.

Material : Pupil's sheet no. 4

Time : 10-15 minutes per game.

Correction :
- Vaccination.

Correction :
1) Their illnesses. But seldom. Animals mostly pass on germs or parasites found on their coat.
2) Should not be eaten, unless thoroughly washed.
3) They eat them.
4) Rabies.
5) Thoroughly clean our pet's bowl.
6) Because of an allergy.
7) An illness passed by cats to humans that can be very serious for unborn babies.
8) Only some animals. Some, such as chinchillas which clean themselves in fine sand, need special treatment so as not to damage their skin or coat. Seek professional advice on the best way to care for your pet.

8 - ANIMALS AND SOUNDS

Objectives :
- Recognize animal cries.
- Consolidate knowledge of hygiene with pets.

Material :
- Tape recorder.
- Netoon stars.

Time : 30 minutes

Method :
- Beforehand, ask the children to record various animal cries (farmyard, farm, pets, etc.). The teacher can also organize a trip to a farm (or elsewhere) and with the children record cries of the different animals.
- On the day of the activity, play back the cries one by one. The children have to identify the animal.
- As soon as a child has an answer, he raises his hand and calls it out:

• If the answer is correct, he has to state one of the hygiene rules discussed in previous lessons. He wins a Netoon star.
• If the answer is wrong, another pupil can try an answer.